LITERAL CHILLS. THROUGHOUT. THEREAFTER. FOREVER UPON REMINISCING THESE TIMES.
Reiterating what has been emphasised by the organisers, players, and us fans: this was(is!) more than just a World Cup. It learned from the past to get better, it became a celebration for months, and is a glimpse of what the future of women’s sports will become. For now, as “Tones and I” sang in the closing ceremony, WE MADE IT.
But firstly, the FINAL.
The match was meteoric from the start to the last English throw-in of the 14th added minute. The sheer pace! Without divulging in technicalities I’m not even educated enough to opine about, SPAIN WAS A MONSTER ON THE FIELD. Never have I seen such confidence about, control over and trust for her field and her football! The red jerseys were literally playing out passing sprees within their boxes and even under pressure they rarely made hasty clearances but instead, played flawless well-aimed shots to their fellows waiting calmly behind the English attack, ready for a swift counter. Nerves of steel?! More like whatever’s a 1000 times tenacious. The speed in Bonmati’s strides, precision in Olga’s sole world-cup winning strike, Paredes’ faith in her command of the ball and the terror of Paralluelo, were all delightful sights! Spain pressed on the entire match time, with almost twice the number of on-target shots and half the ball recovery time. They were swift, sturdy, smart and above all, calmly clinical!
Mary Earps was the star England needed to keep their hopes alive till added time. Saving a crucial penalty (and thus, Keira Walsh’s pride!) and halting the Spanish attack, a re-enactment somewhat of all the times she has stepped up for the Lionesses, could at least win her a golden globe, if not a similar colored medal!
England never gave up, creating chances till the very last second, but it was just not meant to go home with them! It was a close one in so many ways, but in many more, it just wasn’t.
Whatever strings of the Universe played for this to harmonise, the song remains of Spain’s victory, and what a melodious album this World Cup has been for them!
Next, epilogue for FIFA WWC 2023
What a riot this has been. While revolutions never stopped happening, this tournament has fired up and accelerated quite a few of them! The surprise exits, unfamiliar quarterfinal settings, crowds exceeding expectations and a new Cup winner are a few on the list of why this was a rollercoaster 🎢! Chloe Kelly’s record-smashing strike, the number of clean sheets for GKs, so many matches ending goalless or going to extra-time/penalties and the hearts going into these matches are testament not only to the players’-coaches’ perseverance, but also the improving investments in women’s sports- both monetary and sentimental. While these may be nowhere near the support for their male counterparts, but it’s a start, we’ll get there 76,000 at a time!
These recent musings of mine might make it look as if I’m content and settling, it’s quite the opposite, but I do realise and appreciate how far we’ve come. To be degraded as a group altogether is stifling, unjust and stupid, but to see women rise above it all, take on the bull by its horns and catapulting crappy vile stupid mindsets away is inspiring, joyous and beautiful!
Every warrior who has graced the football field, or the sidelines, or the raucous crowds, or the newspapers’ “reported by” has made me believe in a brighter, fairer future. I love how far we’ve come since the 2015 edition, and I can’t wait to broaden my already teethy-but-happy smile in the editions to come!
To be a woman in these times! ❤️
Trailblazers! 
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