FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: The best and worst moments of the epic tournament
The Matildas’ run through the World Cup had Aussies dreaming of glory and a public holiday, but did it curse our heroes? ERIN SMITH gives her likes and dislikes from the whole tournament.
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Record ticket sales, a new champion, insane goals, penalties galore and plenty of off field drama this Women’s World Cup is one that won’t be forgotten easily.
While Spain took home the trophy, there have been plenty of other wins this tournament.
But the biggest would have to be the growth of women’s football and sport.
Surprise performances from countries such as Nigeria, South Africa and Colombia proved how much the women’s game is growing – with blowout scores very limited this tournament when compared to others.
The grandstands were packed regardless of who was playing. Men, boys, women and girls were sporting their favourite players’ jerseys.
Sure there were some unpleasant moments this tournament – the Zambian coach being investigated for sexual misconduct a definite low.
Fans will also never forget the moment England hero Lauren James was sent off after losing her cool and standing on the back of a Nigerian player, VAR controversies or the fact Jamaica had to crowdfund their travel to the tournament.
But the low moments were far overshadowed by the positives – creating one of the best Women’s World Cups in history.
Here are some of the best and worst moments of this World Cup.
Likes
SAM KERR
Will she or won’t she play? Will she start or come off the bench? The whole situation with Sam Kerr’s injured calf muscle will no doubt be one of the sticking points from the World Cup. It probably wouldn’t have been as big a talking point if coach Tony Gustavsson and Kerr hadn’t neglected to inform the media of her injury the day before the opening match. Instead waiting until the teams were announced to reveal she had strained her calf muscle. The captain missed the first four games – coming on off the bench against Denmark in the Round of 16 clash. The reception to Kerr finally making an appearance was deafening. She got the same boisterous cheers when she stepped on the field for the quarterfinal game with France – eventually scoring a penalty. Then she scored an incredible goal- one that is contender for goal of the tournament in the semi-final loss to England. While Australia lost the match the goal from Kerr has certainly been etched into sporting folklore.
SPANISH SIESTA
Spain played some of — if not the most — captivating football of the World Cup despite internal turmoil which threatened to explode at any point. Several Spanish players were at odds with their coach Jorge Vilda throughout the tournament after an earlier mutiny against him and his methods. Despite the chaos, Spain reigned supreme against an almighty England side which almost never loses under its master coach Sarina Wiegman. They have all the makings of a women’s football powerhouse for many, many years to come.
MARTA
This World Cup was Brazilian superwoman Marta’s last. It certainly didn’t end how she wanted it to – with Brazil bowing out in the group stage. Marta played her first World Cup when she was 17 – she is now 37. It was Brazil’s earliest exit from the tournament since 1995. But Marta’s post match speech, one of the most powerful of the tournament, will be what everyone remembers over their shock departure.
“When I started playing, I didn’t have an idol, a female idol. You guys didn’t show any female games,” Marta said. . “How was I supposed to see other players? How I was I supposed to understand that I could arrive at a national team and become a reference?”
“Today we have our own references,” she said. “This wouldn’t have happened if we had stopped at the first obstacles that we faced. … And it didn’t start just with me, but with a lot of the women back then.
“I’m very happy with all that has been happening in women’s football in Brazil and in the world. Keep supporting,” she said, tears glazing her eyes. “Because for them, it’s just the beginning. For me, it’s the end of the line now.”
EPIC SHOOT OUT
The penalty shoot out between Australia and France in the Round of 16 found its way to the record books as the longest shoot out in the history of a Women’s World Cup. It lasted 20 shots with Cortnee Vine dispatching the winner for Australia. It was a shoot out as intense as they come with misses from both teams and key saves from both keepers. But it was Matildas keeper Mackenzie Arnold who rose to the occasion- her saves outweighing the fact she missed her dot shot.
NEW ZEALAND WIN
A win – it was the fairytale start to the World Cup for co-hosts New Zealand. The nation had never won a World Cup game before, in the men’s or women’s competition. Yet they pulled off the seemingly impossible against tough opposition Norway – in one of the biggest upsets of the Cup. The 1-0 victory was New Zealand’s only win of the tournament but it won’t be forgotten. It was Hannah Wilkinson who scored the historic goal in the 48th minute.
OWN GOAL SHOCKER
Spanish defender Laia Codina’s spectacular goal will forever be part of the highlights reel- only problem is she scored it in the wrong net. The own goal was scored in Spain’s Round of 16 clash with Switzerland. Codina was attempting to pass the ball back to her goalkeeper, from halfway, but she put a little too much power behind it, sending it flying into the net. Thankfully Codina did go on to score a goal in the right net, with Spain winning 4-1. Spain will play England in the final on Sunday. Spain’s women’s team have never won a major tournament before.
NIGERIA
First they held on for a 0-0 draw with Canada, then they bulldozed the Matildas and drew with Ireland to finish second in the group – taking Olympic champions Canada out of the tournament. Next they battled with England – keeping them goalless before eventually falling in a penalty shootout. But they shook some of the World’s biggest teams this World Cup – forcing people to notice. Their performance is even more impressive when you take into account the off field drama surrounding the team, including the ongoing pay dispute between the players and their federation.
GOALKEEPERS
Goalkeeping in women’s football has often been heavily criticised but two keepers silenced the doubters this World Cup. Matildas’ keeper Mackenzie Arnold and Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović. Both have been referred to as brick walls this tournament – proving that women are just as capable as men between the sticks. Arnold’s efforts in Australia’s quarterfinal with France is simply unforgettable – not just for her three penalty saves in the shootout – but for her match saving efforts during the match which kept Australia alive. Not unlike Arnold, Musovic has waited five years for her turn to be called up as the first choice keeper. She pulled off three matchwinning saves in the Round of 16 win over USA. She made a total of 11 saves in the one game, which Sweden won on penalties.
SPORTSMANSHIP
It is perhaps one of the most endearing memories of the tournament and it happened on so many occasions. Players, who had a right to be celebrating, instead taking the time to give a hug or embrace to the heartbroken players on the losing team. Images of Matildas’ Ellie Carpenter consoling her Lyon teammates after Australia knocked France out in a penalty shoot out are among the best shots of the Cup. There are similar images of England players embracing Australian’s after their semi-final defeat. Or the Lionesses sprinting to hug Nigerian keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie after the penalty shootout in the Round of 16. Swedish defender Jonna Andersson comforted Japanese player Maika Hamano after they went toe to toe. Spanish players then took turns to console Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfo after they lost their semi-final clash – Rolfo plays for Barcelona and is a teammate of many of the Spanish team.
Dislikes
ZAMBIA’S COACH
This tournament should have been a cause of celebration for Zambia with it being their first World Cup- instead it ended with FIFA being called in to investigate their coach for sexual misconduct. Bruce Mwape has been accused of similar behaviour in the lead up to the tournament as well. It overshadowed the fact Zambia recorded a win at their debut Cup, 3-1 against Costa Rica.
EMPTY STADIUMS
Tickets sales far surpassed those of the 2019 French World Cup. There was hardly an empty seat at the games played in Australia but it was not as popular across the ditch with New Zealand struggling to fill the stadiums. There was great attendance for New Zealand’s opening game but it went downhill after that. The match between Spain and Costa Rica attracted just 23000, about 70 per cent of the stadium’s capacity. Just half of the seats were filled for the Sweden and South Africa game.
PUBLIC HOLIDAY JINX
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to deliver a public holiday if the Matildas won the Cup- but the move seemingly jinxed them- bowing out in 3-1 in the semi-final to rivals England. Talk of the public holiday took over the news headlines after the Matilda’s beat Denmark with leaders getting too far ahead of themselves.
TRUMP’S MISPLACED ANGER
Former USA president Donald Trump took things too far after the US women’s team was knocked out in a penalty shoot out in the Round of 16. The reigning champs had been tipped to pull off the competition’s first three-peat but never really found their top gear. It’s hardly worth repeating his nonsense but in a nutshell he claimed the players were hostile to America and too “woke”. Making reference to Megan Rapinoe- an advocate for LGBTQ rights.
LAUREN JAMES BRAINSNAP
Lauren James had been a standout for England- stepping up to fill a void created by several big names missing the Cup with injuries. She had three goals and three assists in her four matches. It all came unstuck when the 21-year-old had a brain snap in the Round of 16 game with Nigeria. She had been niggled by their defence all game. After attempting to get past a Nigerian player and failing both of them ended up on the ground. On the way back up James stood on the back of the Nigerian player earning a red card. It was uncharacteristic for the youngster, a poor decision made in the heat of the moment.
CAICEDO COLLAPSE
Teen Colombian superstar Linda Caicedo collapsed during a training session in the opening week of the World Cup. The 18-year-old who beat ovarian cancer, was a standout for Colombia scoring two goals and an assist. But with Colombian medical staff saying the collapse was due to fatigue it begs the question about how closely they were monitoring their players.
Originally published as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: The best and worst moments of the epic tournament
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