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|will atheist nations underachieve in team sports?

|will atheist nations underachieve in team sports?

|In women's soccer, heavy favorites Great Britain struggled early but narrowly beat New Zealand 1-0 in their first game. Meanwhile, France blew an early 2-0 lead and lost 4-2 to the United States. In the second group stage game, Great Britain easily beat Cameroon, although that was expected. More shockingly, France defeated North Korea 5-0, in blowout fashion. However, there is no organized religion in North Korea, either. They are not on the "increasingly atheistic" list because this has been the case for decades.  

|In women's soccer, France finished with two wins and a loss and came in second in their group, which also included the United States (see below). They will face Sweden in the quarterfinals. Great Britain finished with a perfect 3-0-0 record and will face Canada in the quarterfinals.  

On the men's side, Great Britain, who was heavily favored to win their first game against [[Senegal]] shockingly had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Uruguay is currently in first place in that group thanks to their win over [[United Arab Emirates]] earlier in the day. Great Britain and Senegal are tied for second. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout quarterfinal stage.

 

 

On the men's side, Great Britain tied its first game against Senegal and defeated the United Arab Emirates in its second game. They need at least a tie against Uruguay to advance to the quarterfinals. France failed to qualify.  

Australia failed to qualify for either soccer event. This was their first time attempting to qualify out of the Asian Zone instead of the significantly weaker Oceanic Zone, so this may have been a factor. They will, however, send teams in most other team sports, since they qualify from the Oceanic Zone in those.  

Australia failed to qualify for either soccer event. This was their first time attempting to qualify out of the Asian Zone instead of the significantly weaker Oceanic Zone, so this may have been a factor. They will, however, send teams in most other team sports, since they qualify from the Oceanic Zone in those.  

On the first day of women's basketball, Australia defeated heavy underdogs Great Britain, while France defeated Brazil.  

In women's basketball, France is 2-0, Australia is 1-1, and Great Britain is 0-2. All three are in the same six-team group, from which the top 4 advance to the quarterfinals.

In women's handball, Great Britain was blown out by [[Montenegro]], 31-19. However, the British team only made the Olympics due to getting the host country's automatic spot,C and this poor performance was expected. Meanwhile, France narrowly defeated Norway, 24-23.  

 

In women's handball, Great Britain is 0-2 and France is 1-1. The top four in each of the two groups advance to the quarterfinals.

France lost to the United States in the opening men's basketball game, while Australia narrowly lost to Brazil in a minor upset.

On Day 3 (Monday, July 30), Australia, who was considered the second best women's basketball team after the United States, shockingly lost to France, 74-70. However, it is unclear whether there is any "atheist effect" here, since both countries are increasingly atheistic. Great Britain lost to Russia in women's handball, 37-16, a blowout. France tied Spain, 18-18.  

In men's basketball, Great Britain and Australia, both in Group B, are 0-2. France, in Group A, is 1-1. The top four in each group advance to the quarterfinals.  

In men's volleyball, Australia and Great Britain each lost their first game in straight sets. On the women's side, Britain also lost in straight sets, while the Aussies failed to qualify.  

In men's volleyball, Australia split its first two games, while Great Britain is 0-2. The top 4 in each group advance to the quarterfinals. In women's volleyball, Great Britain is 1-1. Again, the top 4 teams out of 6 advance to the quarterfinals.  

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|Similarly, will atheist nations underachieve in general?

|Similarly, will atheist nations underachieve in general?

|After Day 4 (July 31), increasingly atheistic Great Britain had won 0 gold medals despite having all the advantages of being the host nation. Despite having more than three times the population of the United States and despite having a national program designed to produce champion athletes, atheistic China is merely tied with the United States in total medals (22) after Day 4 (July 31). Somewhat atheistic France is a distant third in total golds with 4. Australia has 1 gold and 5 total medals.

|After Day 4 (July 31), increasingly atheistic Great Britain had won 0 gold medals despite having all the advantages of being the host nation. China, an officially atheist and communist country, leads the standings with 13 gold medals. Despite having more than three times the population of the United States and despite having a national program designed to produce champion athletes China is merely tied with the United States in total medals (22) after Day 4. Somewhat atheistic France is a distant third in total golds with 4. Australia has 1 gold and 5 total medals.

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|women's soccer

|women's soccer

|ranked #1 and won the gold in the last two Olympics, most recently with a foreign coach. Now that this [[U.S.]] team is [[politically correct]], will it underachieve?<ref>A foreigner, reportedly a lesbian, was selected as the head coach of the already champion American Olympic women's soccer team in 2007, and in the following year that team repeated its gold medal-winning performance of 2004.  Aren't there American, although perhaps not politically correct, soccer coaches good enough to run the Olympic team?</ref>  Major rivals will be Japan, Brazil and France.

|ranked #1 and won the gold in the last two Olympics, most recently with a foreign coach. Now that this [[U.S.]] team is [[politically correct]], will it underachieve?<ref>A foreigner, reportedly a lesbian, was selected as the head coach of the already champion American Olympic women's soccer team in 2007, and in the following year that team repeated its gold medal-winning performance of 2004.  Aren't there American, although perhaps not politically correct, soccer coaches good enough to run the Olympic team?</ref>  Major rivals will be Japan, Brazil and France.

|Went 3-0 in their group to advance to the quarterfinals. They will face Canada, New Zealand, or Cameroon in the quarterfinals.  

|Went 3-0 in their group to advance to the quarterfinals. They will face New Zealand on August 3 at 2:30 PM local time, which is 9:30 AM on the East Coast of the USA.  

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|Men's Handball

|Men's Handball

|Will heavy underdogs [[Tunisia]] overperform in Group A? Group A should perhaps be dubbed the "Group of Left", since the other five teams are Sweden, Iceland, and Argentina, where same-sex marriage is legal, and increasingly atheistic Great Britain and France.

|Will heavy underdogs [[Tunisia]] overperform in Group A? Group A should perhaps be dubbed the "Group of Left", since the other five teams are Sweden, Iceland, and Argentina, where same-sex marriage is legal, and increasingly atheistic Great Britain and France.

|They lost to Sweden in their first game, 28-21. This was followed by a 32-22 loss to Iceland. Next up is France on August 2 at 11:15 AM local, 5:15 AM on the East coast of the United States. It is unlikely they will finish in the top two and advance to the medal stage, but anything other than last place would be unexpectedly good.  

|They lost to Sweden in their first game, 28-21. This was followed by a 32-22 loss to Iceland. Next up is France on August 2 at 11:15 AM local, 5:15 AM on the East coast of the United States. The top four in each six team group advance to the quarterfinals, which are single elimination. They are a long shot, but other than last place would be unexpectedly good.  

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