[To the tune of the last bit of the Champions League theme]
It's the fiiiiiiinaaaaaaaal,
The final is heeeeeeeere,
The fiiiiiinaaaaaal!
Yeah whatever. The biggest Women's Draft World Cup yet has lead to this moment.
It's the fiiiiiiinaaaaaaaal,
The final is heeeeeeeere,
The fiiiiiinaaaaaal!
Yeah whatever. The biggest Women's Draft World Cup yet has lead to this moment.
Apparently Group is the dominant one, as the two teams to progress - USA and England - are the ones to make this year's final. Both sides have 4-goal and 1-goal wins in the knockout stages, whilst in the group stage it was USA who edged their clash 3-2.
In short, there's not much between the two sides.
Neither team makes a change ahead of the final. The big test will be whether USA will be able to exploit England's lack of width.
In short, there's not much between the two sides.
Neither team makes a change ahead of the final. The big test will be whether USA will be able to exploit England's lack of width.
Sam Kerr, previously part of the USA team before this year, kicks it back to Kim Little and we're underway! The signs early on are a bit worrying for England as USA do exploit the wings - Megan Rapinoe switching it to Tobin Heath to create space, and it's worked to Marta in the box but she places it wide. However, England show what they can do straight after with a flowing move leading to a sight of goal for Kerr, but Alyssa Naeher pushes the shot behind.
Meghan Klingenberg picks up a knock and is replaced by Kelley O'Hara. Soon after, USA fail to clear a cross and Jill Scott heads it back into the box. Either O'Hara or Becky Sauerbrunn should get to it, but they allow it to bounce, and Vivianne Miedema pounces to put England into the lead!
Meghan Klingenberg picks up a knock and is replaced by Kelley O'Hara. Soon after, USA fail to clear a cross and Jill Scott heads it back into the box. Either O'Hara or Becky Sauerbrunn should get to it, but they allow it to bounce, and Vivianne Miedema pounces to put England into the lead!
Julie Ertz nearly immediately gets USA level with a header from a free kick, but Manuela Zinsberger tips it over. From the resulting corner there's a fierce goalmouth scramble that England are just able to defend. Zinsberger is action again to deny Alex Morgan from a tight angle.
USA continue to apply pressure, but 10 minutes before half time England chain together a rapid counter attack. It comes to Kerr, and Sauerbrunn covers with a strong challenge. However, Kerr is quickest to get to the loose ball, gets into the box and beats Naeher at her near post! England double their lead!
USA continue to apply pressure, but 10 minutes before half time England chain together a rapid counter attack. It comes to Kerr, and Sauerbrunn covers with a strong challenge. However, Kerr is quickest to get to the loose ball, gets into the box and beats Naeher at her near post! England double their lead!
USA need to get back into the game the sooner the better, and from kick off they work the ball neatly upfield. A high cross towards Rapinoe is hooked away by Magdalena Eriksson, and it comes to Kerr, who neatly plays it forward to Miedema. She beats Sauerbrunn for pace, and slots it home to make it 3-0! A wonderful counter attack, and a hammer blow to USA's chances!
USA fashion half-chances, but fail to test Zinsberger from them. Just before the break England earn a free kick halfway into the USA box. Houghton chips it in, but no-one meets it... but the referee spots a shove by Sauerbrunn on Kerr and gives a penalty! Here's Miedema's chance for a final hat trick... and she puts it away! A whopping 4-0 lead at the interval for the underdogs!
Regardless of the final score, Miedema becomes the first player to grab a hat trick in the final of a DWC tournament, men's or women's.
Surely USA can't overturn a 4-0 deficit? They bring on some much-needed defensive reinforcement as Abby Dahlkemper replaces Rose Lavelle. But it has no effect as England grab a fifth 10 minutes into the half in simple fashion - Leonie Maier breaks down the right and crosses it in for Kerr to head in. What a performance this is!
Surely USA can't overturn a 4-0 deficit? They bring on some much-needed defensive reinforcement as Abby Dahlkemper replaces Rose Lavelle. But it has no effect as England grab a fifth 10 minutes into the half in simple fashion - Leonie Maier breaks down the right and crosses it in for Kerr to head in. What a performance this is!
USA earn a corner, and Marta's ball is headed in by Rapinoe - it's one back for USA, but it's a bit early to say the comeback's on...
England believe the only route to defeat is if they lose someone to a red card, so they replace Houghton and Scott - who have picked up bookings - with Demi Stokes and Keira Walsh. Meanwhile, Carli Lloyd replaces Heath for USA.
In the 78th minute England press USA well, and Jess Fishlock gives the ball away with a loose ball. Jordan Nobbs hits a first-time pass into the path of Kerr, who breezes past Dahlkemper and blasts it past Naeher to complete her own hat trick!
In the 78th minute England press USA well, and Jess Fishlock gives the ball away with a loose ball. Jordan Nobbs hits a first-time pass into the path of Kerr, who breezes past Dahlkemper and blasts it past Naeher to complete her own hat trick!
Each side has a couple of efforts go wide, but there's no more real action as the clock winds down, and the final whistle confirms that ENGLAND ARE THE 2020 WOMEN'S DRAFT WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!
Final score: USA 1-6 England
Player of the match: Sam Kerr (ENG)
Player of the match: Sam Kerr (ENG)
What an unexpected result. USA - the pre-tournament favourites every year - have still yet to win the WDWC. A bit like England in the men's tournament.
England's gameplan in the final really came to fruition, with Kerr and Miedema utterly unstoppable on the counter. With many world stars moving to the WSL in real life, their team next year could be fearsome.
Time for some quick awards:
Golden boot (top scorer):
Golden ball (best player):
Team of the tournament:
Zinsberger; Maier, Tounkara, Ertz, Popp; Rapinoe, Nobbs, Little, Graham Hansen; Kerr, Miedema
England's gameplan in the final really came to fruition, with Kerr and Miedema utterly unstoppable on the counter. With many world stars moving to the WSL in real life, their team next year could be fearsome.
Time for some quick awards:
Golden boot (top scorer):
- Sam Kerr (ENG), Alex Morgan (USA) - 7 goals
- Vivianne Miedema (ENG) - 6 goals
Golden ball (best player):
- Sam Kerr (ENG)
- Megan Rapinoe (USA)
- Vivianne Miedema (ENG)
Team of the tournament:
Zinsberger; Maier, Tounkara, Ertz, Popp; Rapinoe, Nobbs, Little, Graham Hansen; Kerr, Miedema
Anyway, that's it for DWC football this year. Fittingly, the FM21 beta has just been released. There will be new DWC and WDWC tournaments in due course, once I have created the scores of teams required for them.