For a start, let's just call this event the Women's World Cup. Referring to it as the FIFA Women's World Cup does not amount to a value-adding moniker.

After a rest day – no matches played – and a restart, let's assess. Is this event working? Is it a hit? Has there been entertainment, drama and an abundance of great skill exhibited on the fields of play? Is women's soccer getting a big boost in respect and attention?

Well, yes and no to all. As it moves into the final few days of the first round, with 24 countries still competing, it's a competition on the ropes. Not a disaster, not falling apart, but not a triumph. Far from it.

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The tournament needed a reset button after the opening days. The casual soccer fan who watched the ballyhooed opener between Canada and China, a match sandwiched on TV between the European Champions League final and several evening MLS games, might have been appalled.

It was dull and dreary stuff, the soggy bit in the middle of the sandwich, an awful advertisement for women's soccer and this World Cup.

Then Germany put 10 goals past Ivory Coast in Ottawa. It was 5-0 in 35 minutes. And Norway cruised to a 4-0 win over Thailand. That could have been an 8-0 win, given that a penalty was saved by Thailand's 'keeper and Norway hit the woodwork twice. Also, it's just that Norway, unlike Germany, is a tad reluctant to do overkill, lopsided victories and cause acute embarrassment to their opponents.

The old complaint against the women's game was front and centre – only a tiny handful of teams are truly skilled; the competition is so uneven it's not rewarding viewing; and the same small gang of superpowers emerge quickly as dominant forces.

The reset button appeared to click with the game between Sweden and Nigeria. A 3-3 tie, end-to-end action, with Nigeria playing beautifully, in fluid motion constantly.

The United States against Australia had an excellent first half of thrills and skills, with the Matildas admirably declining to be awed by the superstar Americans. But, seized by the facts of the situation at half time, the United States focused and eventually defeated Australia with ease.

France against England looked, on paper, to be a delicious contest. It proved to be much less and one had the sense, in the stadium here in Moncton, that France hadn't moved out of first gear.

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Brazil looked way too comfortable, too, in a 2-0 victory over South Korea. It was a ragged game and, for all the hyperbole that surrounds Brazil's Marta – a five-time FIFA women's world player of the year – the 29-year-old striker seems to be fading in pace and passion.

Take away the hype and the laudable hope for this tournament and a realist would say a 24-team tournament is an overreach. The quality is uneven. No world soccer event should have a 10-0 result.

It's great that attendance at venues is solid. It's nice that the slogan "Live your goals" is reverberating. There is a lot of chatter and buzz on social media. TV ratings are excellent in Canada and the United States.

But there's a lot of competition for attention in international soccer. The Copa America is now under way. Neymar leading Brazil and Lionel Messi leading Argentina. That's stiff competition. Qualifying for Euro 2016 is back and intense in the next days. And, meanwhile, this Women's World Cup is struggling to find a vibe, a sizzle, outside of social media.

This column was written before Canada played New Zealand and, who knows, that match might have been a cracker. But Thursday's other games weren't thrillers.

Germany looked unstoppable for the first half against Norway. After a peach of a free-kick goal, Norway hung on for a dogged 1-1 draw. Of China's game against the Netherlands, the less said the better.

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Perhaps it's fatigue with weak teams succumbing to humiliating losses. Perhaps it's just time for a quick reality check. Promises were made – there has been a rapid rise in playing standards in the women's game, and thrills were stipulated.

Perhaps it's just that the promises were made by the definition of dubiousness that is FIFA, but we have to ask – is this tournament a big disappointment?