Is Euro 2005 changing how people perceive women's football? We asked four contributors for their opinions. See below if their views are changing as the tournament progresses...My expectations before this tournament were so low I thought the only way was up.
Watching the opening game reaffirmed my opinion of the women's game.
There was the panicky, rushed style of play. They sprinted around in a Robbie Savage gung-ho fashion as if they were chasing the lead, but not really getting anywhere.
No team I've seen so far can keep the ball for long periods of time and bring the game to their speed.
They link together four or five good quick passes and then lose the ball needlessly - there is a real lack of consistency.
Most of the goals come from bad defending, poor clearances, bad judgment and positional play that would make Alan Hansen fume.
The opening goal of the competition by Sweden - an own goal - summed up the severe lack of defensive ability.
Consistently hitting the target is a specialist skill that only France's Marinette Pichon has displayed so far, with most chances going begging.
The generally low quality of goalkeeping shows how much improvement is needed.
The team that will win this tournament will be the team that defends better.
Teams so far have always got goals from their opposition's sloppy defending, even if they didn't have the majority of possession or many shots on goal.
This is why the Germans are tipped so heavily to lift the cup, regardless of the attacking quality they have in Birgit Prinz.
It's because they are not making so many costly errors at the back.
Some things in life are almost certain, like death and taxes...and an England national team playing themselves out of a tournament.
After their games against Finland and Denmark, that's exactly what the England ladies team seem to have almost done!
In front of the huge crowd in Manchester, they lined up against Finland in a match they were widely expected to win.
Even though they won 3-2, they will be relieved to have come out of it with three points.
England looked nervous and tentative at the start, almost as though they were scared to play in case they made a mistake.
Smith, White, Carney, Yankey played amazingly well, but I felt others seemed totally overawed by the big occasion.
The normally reliable Mary Phillip seemed to be thinking about something else.
To let a lead slip against the Finns, and then again in losing to the Danes was very frustrating.
Some will say that the men wouldn't have done that, but I can assure you they have done and will again.
That is football, though - anyone can have a bad day.
Yes, there were mistakes. But for the men's game, I give you Djimi Traore, Roy Carroll, Ronnie Rosenthal, and even Ryan Giggs.
People make mistakes - it's all part of what keeps the game interesting.
Comparing the ladies game with the men's game is like comparing apples and oranges - you just can't do it.
Does tennis integrate both sexes to play directly against each other? Of course not!
If you must make direct comparisons, read Eniola Aluko for Wayne Rooney and Karen Carney for a young David Beckham.
I agree the ladies game is not what some would describe as "pure football", but love it or hate it, it is competitive and entertaining.
Anyone watching the Finland game cannot tell me that they were not exhilarated by the game was won!
Looking for an England hero? Two words - Karen Carney.
With barely seconds left and after blowing a 2-0 lead, they needed their David Beckham to make something happen for them, and boy, did she!
Bring on Sweden, we only need a point. How many times have we heard that one?
Fingers crossed now, it's going down to the wire.
After being at the England vs Finland game, I have now formed my own opinion about women's football.
It was a very enjoyable outing, and I think that actually being there in the thick of it, experiencing the atmosphere of a stadium as big as The City Of Manchester, definitely makes a difference.
I have to admit I haven't been following the tournament on the TV, as I wouldn't choose to watch it over other things.
It was great to see talented female players at the match though.
A friend I watched it with commented that the skill of the players was certainly evident. It was equally great to see all the young girls at the match.
They far out-numbered the male spectators.
It will be interesting to see how England do after such a good start to the tournament, but I won't be following the action closely.
MMIX
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