Unleashing the Powerhouses: Women's World Cup Reveals Jaw-Dropping Upsets and Stellar Keeper Showcase

Order of international football changed forever

The 2023 Women's World Cup will be remembered as a groundbreaking tournament that revolutionized the hierarchy of women's football on the global stage.

When FIFA announced the expansion of the tournament to 32 teams, there was initial skepticism. However, this decision has proven to be a stroke of genius, providing opportunities for "smaller" nations to create historic moments for their countries. These teams have proven that they are not mere participants, but worthy contenders.

During this World Cup, eight teams made their debut appearances - the Republic of Ireland, Zambia, Vietnam, Haiti, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, and Portugal. Additionally, after 16 years, Denmark successfully qualified for the tournament once again.

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Katie McCabe, the captain of the Republic of Ireland, made history by scoring the team's inaugural goal in the Women's World Cup against Canada. Morocco, the first Arab nation to qualify for the tournament, defied odds by advancing to the last 16, despite being placed in a challenging group alongside Germany, South Korea, and Colombia.

Teams like Republic of Ireland and Haiti demonstrated their resilience and proved to be formidable opponents. Additionally, it was a joyous moment when Panama and the Philippines celebrated scoring their first goals of the tournament.

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Jamaica progressed from their group, despite needing to fundraise to send them to the World Cup

It wasn't just the debutants who stood out. Jamaica, participating in only their second World Cup, achieved a significant milestone by reaching the knockout rounds, even though they required a Crowdfunding page to finance their journey to Australia and New Zealand.

Similarly, South Africa also won over the hearts of World Cup enthusiasts. Switzerland also made it two for two by advancing to the knockout rounds.

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South Africa accomplished their first-ever qualification for the knockout stages, showcasing that, although not recognized as part of the women's football elite, numerous teams possess equal levels of determination, dedication, and skill to compete on the grandest platform.

Why didn't the top nations perform?

The World Cup was filled with excitement, anticipation, and unforgettable moments, bringing joy to fans around the world. Let's hope that this excitement continues to flourish.

For every joyous moment experienced by a lower-ranked nation, there were several unexpected upsets for the highly favored teams.

Brazil suffered their earliest World Cup exit since 1995 as they were eliminated in the group stages. Despite their need for a victory against Jamaica in their final group game, Brazil failed to convert numerous opportunities and had previously lost to France. This marked a sorrowful conclusion to the remarkable World Cup journey of women's football icon, Marta. With an astounding record of 17 goals, Marta holds the title for the highest goal scorer in the history of both men's and women's tournaments.

After the match, she strongly emphasized the bright prospects for women's soccer, stating, "The journey of women's soccer continues. Brazilian women's soccer continues. It is imperative that we grasp this concept."

In a surprising turn of events, Germany faced an early elimination from the group stage, marking their first time experiencing such a setback. Following a convincing 6-0 victory against Morocco in their initial game, it seemed that the previous two-time World Cup champions were on track to achieve similar triumphs as reaching the finals of last year's Euros.

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Germany's exit from the World Cup in the group stages marked a significant milestone as it had never happened before. However, their untimely downfall came as a shock following a 2-1 defeat to Colombia and a subsequent 1-1 draw against South Korea, who also struggled throughout the tournament. Various factors such as injuries prior to the event, alterations in their playing system, and the underperformance of key players all played a role in their disappointing outcome.

The biggest surprise, however, was the USA's exit. Despite losing to Sweden, who were ranked third in the tournament, it was unexpected that the World Cup champions would finish second in their group and be eliminated before the semi-finals for the first time. In the final group game against Portugal, they were just a post away from elimination, and their inability to convert three penalties during the shootout highlighted the struggles of this transitioning team. As a result, Vlatko Andonovski has stepped down as manager.

Goalkeepers prove their worth

The Need for Adaptation and Improvement

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Mary Earps, the England goalkeeper, emerged victorious with the prestigious Golden Glove award at the World Cup. This tournament has showcased the vital role goalkeepers play in determining match outcomes, emphasizing their significance in the sport.

Mary Earps, from England, showcased exceptional goalkeeping skills throughout the tournament, earning her the prestigious Golden Glove award. Her remarkable consistency and outstanding performances were evident in every game, as she made crucial saves that often meant the difference between victory and defeat. Some of her notable saves include those against Melchie Dumornay and Roselord Borgella from Haiti, Katrine Veje's corner for Denmark, Ashleigh Plumptre and Asisat Oshoala from Nigeria - performances which rightfully earned Earps the title of Player of the Match. Additionally, her exceptional save against Lorena Bedoya in the quarter-finals further solidified her reputation as a top-tier goalkeeper.

In Sunday's final, Jennifer Hermoso's penalty was an incredible save that kept the Lionesses in the game at a crucial moment, even though England couldn't score on the opposing side.

Although Earps had the best overall tournament, the most outstanding individual performance in a match was by Sweden's Zecira Musovic against the USA, resulting in the elimination of the reigning champions.

The last-16 encounter was a match between two strong teams, which many had anticipated would take place in the final. The USA put forth their utmost effort, with players like Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan, and Sophia Smith being thwarted by the exceptional skills of the Chelsea goalkeeper.

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Zecira Musovic produced one of the tournament's best goalkeeping performances against the USA

Eleven out of the 22 shots they took were successfully blocked by Musovic. This achievement sets a new record at the Women's World Cup since records began in 2011 for a goalkeeper maintaining a clean sheet in a single game. Consequently, Musovic was awarded the Player of the Match title.

Similarly, Jamaican goalkeeper Becky Spencer also received recognition for her outstanding performance. She earned the same accolade during the goalless draw against Brazil in the final group game, which propelled the Reggae Girlz into the knockout rounds. Throughout the group stages, Spencer managed to keep three clean sheets, only conceding one goal against Catalina Usme in the last 16.

A tournament without a stand-out star

Standout Goalkeeping Performances: More than meets the eye. In a sport where goalscorers typically dominate the spotlight, it is the incredible efforts of the number one goalkeepers that often prove to be decisive and deserving of acknowledgement.

Standout stars are often remembered at most tournaments.

Carli Lloyd stood out at the 2015 World Cup, while Megan Rapinoe gained international stardom in 2019. Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly made a name for themselves while representing England at Euro 2022. Additionally, Marta has earned international recognition for her accomplishments at World Cups.

Instead of one player in 2023, it will be a group of players that will be extensively discussed for years to come. These players, including Linda Caicedo, Lauren James, and Salma Paralluelo, have made a significant impact on the international stage during their senior debuts. In addition, captains Catalina Usme and Olga Carmona have scored important goals at crucial moments, while Alex Greenwood and Amanda Ilestedt have been dominant in both defense and attack. Hinata Miyazawa of Japan won the Golden Boot, followed closely by France's Kadidiatou Diani, who displayed impressive performance throughout the tournament.

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Catalina Usme from Colombia played a crucial role in scoring important goals for her team, leading them to the quarter-finals. On the other hand, Sam Kerr from Australia entered the World Cup as the face of the team. Although she scored an amazing goal against England that will be remembered throughout the tournament, her impact was limited due to an injury, which resulted in fewer playing minutes for her and the Matildas.

In a World Cup where team togetherness has been more prevalent than ever, it's perhaps no surprise that a collective have shone this summer.

The biggest Women's World Cup ever

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The Australian public has been captivated by the success of the Matildas in their home tournament.

The Women's World Cup surpassed expectations in terms of attendance, viewing figures, and reach, making it the largest one to date. This was not surprising considering the rapid growth of women's soccer.

The success of the Matildas' journey to the semi-finals was evident in Australia, where it captured the attention of the public. The match against England became the most-watched program across all genres on Australian television, reaching an audience of 11.15 million people, with an average viewership of 7.13 million.

Meanwhile in the UK, the BBC reported a peak audience of 12 million viewers for the highly anticipated final between England and Spain on Sunday. This makes it the broadcaster's second most-watched event of the year, surpassing even the coronation of King Charles in May. In addition, there was a significant 75% increase in online streaming during this World Cup compared to the previous tournament in 2019.

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The World Cup 2023 witnessed a significant increase in attendances compared to four years prior. The average attendance for games in Australia and New Zealand reached 30,911, a notable rise from the 21,756 recorded in France. FIFA celebrated the triumph of the tournament.

Chief Women's Football Officer, Sarai Bareman, expresses that the momentum surrounding this event is relentless. The World Cup of 2019 is being overshadowed by the astonishing numbers, data, and overall impact of this year's tournament. Remarkable attendance records, extensive viewership worldwide, and astounding digital metrics have been observed in the past few weeks, demonstrating the profound global reach of this pioneering occasion.

Issues still remain despite World Cup success

Despite the joy of setting new records in women's football, it is crucial to acknowledge that the challenges faced by these players continue to persist in the World Cup.

Cast in a shadow of doubt, Spain's triumph in the World Cup is marred by controversy. Approximately a year ago, 15 players made a decisive stance by refusing to participate under the leadership of Jorge Vilda, attributing their decision to concerns regarding training and the conditions of international camps.

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Jorge Vilda has been a controversial figure in Spanish football, with divisions among players and fans.

Despite player concerns, the Spanish football association, known as the RFEF, has consistently supported Vilda as the manager. However, this unwavering support has resulted in the exclusion of some of Spain's top players, such as Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon, and Patri Guijarro, who have played crucial roles in the team's achievements.

Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales caused controversy when he was photographed passionately embracing and kissing Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup final trophy celebrations. Following the incident, Hermoso expressed in an Instagram live video that she did not find enjoyment in the encounter. However, she later defended Rubiales in quotes provided to AFP by the RFEF. On Monday, Rubiales issued an apology for his actions.

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Spain's Jennifer Hermoso observed the Women's World Cup final against England with a contemplative gaze, as noted by Spanish football specialist, Semra Hunter. Hunter emphasized the importance of addressing the larger issue at hand if Hermoso genuinely experiences discomfort and is unable to openly express her thoughts.

Reactions to this have been polarizing, with some downplaying its significance while others express absolute horror and demanding the resignation of the Spanish FA president.

Meanwhile, outside of Spain, numerous challenges persist. Several countries, including Nigeria, Jamaica, and Canada, are still battling for resource access and fair compensation. England is also poised to resume discussions with the FA regarding player bonuses.

In addition to that, Bruce Mwape, the coach of Zambia, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct, with one of them being made during the tournament. Despite the successful World Cup, the struggle for women's football and its players continues, and it appears that it will take quite some time for the crucial issues to be addressed.