I would like to congratulate the USA women’s national soccer team on their 3rd place victory in he 2007 Women’s World Cup by defeating Norway this past weekend by a score of 4-1 .  Maybe it is me, but a victory for 3rd place just does not sound like a victory to me.  Does it sound better than 4th place?  I still do not understand its place in sports. 

Last summer, I was fortunate enough to be in Germany during the semi-finals and finals of the 2006 World Cup.  After Germany won the 3rd place match against Portugal, there was a huge celebration and Germans were so proud of their national team and hailed Jurgen Klinsmann a hero.    It was 3rd place!!!!   Should a team feel better about a 3rd place “win” than the team that loses in the finals and finishes 2nd ?? 

This is just another example of how “money talks” in sport as this is the only reason why in both the men’s and women’s World Cups, they still play this meaningless game.  Thank goodness we do not see 5th place, 7th place, and 9th place matches!  There is no place in sports for these meaningless victories.

I just do not understand that 3rd place victory feeling.