A very subjective look into AWFC

World Cups can teach us a lot of things about teams, countries, cultures, footballing systems, strategies and more. Furthermore, if we really pay attention it can teach us about ourselves and it can also challenge us directly, well beyond the surface level thoughts and feelings… This is my lame attempt at sounding deep.. what I truly mean is that sometimes World Cups can reveal how big a douchebag I am, but you knew that.

This tournament was magical. Full of everything we could’ve ever hoped for. As usual, I think it’s natural to interject ourselves in these type of sporting occasions and I am no different. We wrongly assume that our feelings matter, or that the vibes we get from a team or match are accurate or should have any credible foundations behind it. Deep down inside we know that isn’t the case… just like wearing your lucky shirt has literally no effect whatsoever. You can’t possibly believe that, can you?

Since the day that our girls got injured and were ruled out of the tournament, I had a series of conflicting feelings about their respective countries doing well. And actually, it was specific to England, since I have no stock in them. The Netherlands is another story… I wanted them to win with or without Viv, but England? Maybe, kinda, sorta?

I would’ve loved to see England win and I could sit here and criticize the best women’s coach in history but I won’t. But I was actively rooting for them when Russo was on the pitch, but after there were no arsenal players on the pitch aka her, I kinda checked out. I wasn’t as invested and I was actually bitter that Russo wasn’t on the pitch, not that I wanted them to lose, but I was expecting it so that I could be proven right somehow. It’s absurd, I know, but I also didn’t want Beth and Leah to miss out on winning this. It just didn’t feel fair for me and if it means new signing Russo and former player Nobbs not winning then I’ll take that.

I understand this rallying behind “our girls” but at the same time they aren’t for me. Russo isn’t yet the same way that Amanda isn’t or Cloe… ok maybe Amanda is already. But no, I do not think that every arsenal player weighs the same. I will not lose sleep over LWM not winning the world cup yet I’m extremely dissapointed that she didn’t get a single minute out on that pitch. It’s very lame, specially after clearly being good enough to make the squad AND there being matches where the goals came by the half dozen.

LWM has done so damn much for the community, for kids and for the equality of women in sport. Don’t you think that merits at the very least coming on with 2 minutes to go?? What about Jordan? An absolute legend and she also didn’t get a single minute. This is what is tragic for me and feels like the footballing karma came back to bite England in the ass.

What about the whole mess with no members of the Royal Family making the trip? Wow, was that an insult to these trailblazing women.

Anyway, I have no idea what I’m saying. I’m delirious. I’m writing this at 6am and I’ve been up since 2am.

Need more sleep and you deserve better.

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