Women's World Cup: end of an era and emerging nations... The five highlights

Sydney (AFP) - The Women's World Cup ends 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 of new nations. A look back at five of the best moments of the tournament.

American Megan Rapinoe (r) at the 2023 World Cup. © AFP - SAEED KHAN

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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. In particular, by suffering the most significant defeat in its history against the surprising Colombia (2-1). Certainly THE match of the World Cup, by the intensity and technique of the Colombians, carried by an audience that filled the Australian stadiums.

The highlight of the match was the sublime goal of the nugget Linda Caicedo, a double contact in the box before a strike into the opposite window. After this feat, the Colombians were hardly 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 a.p., 4-2 tab).

. Team USA, the end of the era

The Americans had come to Oceania to try to make a treble 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 past years. They came 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 was 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe, a figure of an era, and the young Sophia Smith who missed their penalty kick, pushing Team USA towards the exit. After winning four of the first eight World Cups, it was the first time the U.S. had been eliminated before the semis.

. The endless penalty shootout France-Australia

Six days later, Australia advanced to the semi-finals after an interminable 20-shot penalty shootout (0-0 a.p., 7-6 tab). 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 became "national heroine", and the French goalkeeper Solène Durand, who came into play especially for the session.

While she missed her attempt against Durand, Arnold stopped that of her former West Ham team-mate Kenza Dali and pushed Vicki Becho to hit the post, sending Australia into the semi-finals.

. Sam Kerr's sublime goal

Expected since the beginning of the World Cup because touched a calf, the Australian icon Sam Kerr, starter against England on Wednesday, woke up the 75,700 spectators of the Australia stadium brutally. After a race started before the halfway line, she scored a sensational goal: a strike at 95km/h at 24m, which lodged just below Mary Earps' crossbar.

Not enough 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 surge in red cards in Sunday's final, rival players consoling themselves after matches are among the highlights of the World Cup.

Comforting hugs and words of sympathy were often visible at the final whistle. Like the Lionesses who consoled Sam Kerr, Australian striker of Chelsea after their qualification in the final Wednesday, August 16.

Far from the bad gesture of the English nugget Lauren James, suspended, who voluntarily stepped on the top of the buttock of the Nigerian Michelle Alozie, lying on the ground after a contact between the two players during the eighth final.

With AFP

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• Women's World Cup 2023
• Football
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