Sydney (AFP) – The Women’s World Cup ends on Sunday August 20 with an unprecedented final, between two novices, England and Spain, closing a month in Australia and New Zealand marked by the elimination of favorites and the rise in power new nations. A look back at five of the tournament’s best moments.
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. Germany beaten by the yellow wave
The Germans, world champions in 2003 and 2007, took the door in an unprecedented way from the group stage. By suffering in particular the most significant defeat in its history against the surprising Colombia (2-1). Certainly THE match of the World Cup, by the intensity and the technique of the Colombians, carried by an audience which filled the Australian stadiums.
The climax of the meeting is the sublime goal of the nugget Linda Caicedo, a double contact in the surface before a strike in the opposite corner. After this feat, the Colombians were easily eliminated in the quarter-finals by England.
Like the Germans, the Canadians, reigning Olympic champions, did not pass the group stage, in favor of Nigeria, another surprise pushing the English to penalties in the eighth (0-0 aet, 4-2 tab).
. Team USA, the end of the era
The Americans had come to Oceania to try to score a hat-trick and retain their 2015 and 2019 title. It soon became clear that the players of Vlatko Andonovski, who resigned, were not the formidable team of years past. They were close to elimination in the group stage, after two sad draws against the Netherlands and Portugal.
In the eighth, they woke up against Sweden, dominating the Scandinavians but without scoring. As a symbol, it is Megan Rapinoe, figure of an era, aged 38, and the young Sophia Smith who notably missed their shot on goal, pushing Team USA towards the exit. After winning four of the first eight World Cups, it was the first time the United States had been eliminated before the semi-finals.
. The endless France-Australia penalty shootout
Six days later, Australia qualified for the semi-finals after an interminable session of 20 shots on goal (0-0 after, 7-6 on pens). A duel between the two goalkeepers for the longest penalty shootout in the history of the Women’s World Cup: the Australian Mackenzie Arnold, who has become a “national heroine”, and the French goalkeeper Solène Durand, who came into play especially for the session.
As she missed her attempt against Durand, Arnold stopped her former West Ham team-mate Kenza Dali’s and forced Vicki Becho to fire at the post, sending Australia through to the semi-finals.
. Sam Kerr’s sublime goal
Expected since the start of the World Cup because of a calf injury, Australian icon Sam Kerr, starter against England on Wednesday, brutally woke up the 75,700 spectators at the Australia stadium. After a race started before the center line, she scored a sensational goal: a strike at 95km/h from 24m, which lodged just below the crossbar of Mary Earps.
Insufficient for a dream final in his country, where nearly half of the population watched part of the semi-final (11.5 million), a record.
. consolation
Unless there is a flurry of red cards in Sunday’s final, rival players consoling each other after games are part of the defining images of the World Cup.
Comforting hugs and words of sympathy were often visible at the final whistle. Like the Lionesses who consoled Sam Kerr, Chelsea’s Australian striker after their qualification for the final on Wednesday August 16.
Far from the bad gesture of the English nugget Lauren James, suspended, who voluntarily stepped on the top of the buttocks of the Nigerian Michelle Alozie, lying on the ground after contact between the two players during the round of 16.
With AFP