During the open forum of the Women's World Cup organizers' briefing for the Diplomatic Corps in Sydney last May, a representative from the UK Embassy cheekily asked "so just to confirm the arrangements, you will be immediately sending our PM an invitation to attend WHEN England qualifies for the Final?"
Jolly good, that! But it wasn't the only case of British footy prescience leading up to this World Cup, as the fam and I blindly bought tickets for the knock-out matches in Sydney a year in advance with no idea which teams would be playing and which players we'd be seeing. Well, our bold managerial decision paid off in the form of:
Quarter-Final: England v. Columbia
Our train trip to the stadium ran smack at the same time as host Australia's own quarter-final match and epic penalty shootout with France, and I thought I'd actually be able to record one of those cool where-were-you-when-it-happened winning reaction videos. Alas, not all Australian mobile internet provider speeds were created equal, so different parts of the train got their feeds at different times as the others, and the moment was spoilered for many.
But s'all good vibes once at the venue, because nothing unites like Football...and Coldplay/Backstreet Boys stadium rock.
The match itself was a tight, thrilling affair, with flamboyant Columbia taking a shock lead while imperious England just kept calm and carried on
So Lionesses rally, and we all engage in some shameless bandwagoning
Semi-Final: England v Australia
I can't show any love for the Brits this time, because they face hosts Australia and the beloved Matildas
Takot ko lang. It's also a school night so I have to go to the match on my own and try to blend in with the home fans
The atmosphere was tense and electric from the start -- no surprise given the countries' histories and fierce sporting rivalries (like, there was actual trash talk being carried over from Australia's recent win over England...in Netball)
But once the match started, it was the Matildas who fell behind early and who looked nervous and who just couldn't finish
Australia also surprisingly looked physically overmatched and easily knocked off the ball -- even the LLDD-Baby's armchair analysis said so
But then...early in the second half...Beyond Greatness happens...
...everyone in the stands loses their minds...
And I mean EVERYONE
Alas, even after that moment of insane magic, Australia's defense stays nervy and vulnerable, and England soon takes back control and coldly finishes their opponents off.
Still...well done, Tillies!
And if nothing else, that song is now on everyone's nerves
The implications of the match result also begin sink in
Final: England v Spain
Here we go! (Olé Olé Olé!) The Final! The big one! The one we waited a year for without knowing what actually we were waiting a year for! Well, the pre-match show alone was already worth it, with a Vivid-esque light-display...
...a unity beat thing FIFA's trying to make happen...
...Tones and I(!)...
...plus a hype video that ended with the Filipinas' goal celebration!
And finally, the flags and fireworks...
...leading to the nakakatindig-balahibo players entrance to the haunting strains of "Sweet Dreams"
Game on! And it's an entertaining, action-packed affair. England look like the favorites, but Spain plays with confidence and class. All the makings of an unforgettable match are there...including a pitch invader who faceplants and gets bundled off right in front of us.
Neither team seems particularly bothered by the interruption, and soon after...Spain strikes!
Uno-Nil! For the rest of the match, England appears to dominate possession, but Spain remains unflappable and dangerous, and seems to have more chances created...
...as well as wasted
And it was Spain's knock on an England player that caused some momentum-sapping stoppage-in-play and waving-in-crowd
That led to 13(!) minutes of added time, where wave after wave of brute English attacks were turned back by composed, resolute Spanish defense, until finally....
Campeones, Campeones, Ole Ole Oleeeeee!
Now, I'm not saying Spain's victory song is any worse or better than "Sweet Caroline", I'm just happy it isn't "Sweet Caroline"
So Viva Espanya! Viva tiktok, este, tiki taka! No vivo es pitch invader! Vamos a comer!
Si se puede!
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