Independence Day Weekend gets Better for USA: World Champions!

If you’re American, you’ve probably had one incredible weekend.

Not only have you been celebrating the 4th of July – here’s to hoping you saved a fair few fireworks for yesterday as well because after 16 years, the USA are FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions! The occasion marks the third time it’s happened, making them the most successful nation in the competition.

It started off all too perfect for the Americans – Carli Lloyd putting her side up by 2 goals after just 5 minutes, with Lauren Holiday getting a third before Lloyd completed a remarkable hat-trick – only the second ever in a senior World Cup Final behind Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 – with a shot from almost the halfway line to put them 4-0 up after just 16 minutes!

Japan woke up from that point on, but it was all too little too late – despite ending USA’s incredible clean sheet streak which had been going since their second match of this tournament – with a shot after 27 minutes, plus an own goal to give them a second – Tobin Heath would add a fifth for the Americans after 60 minutes to really put the game to bed.

USA could’ve had more, too – more chances came very close but just wide. The 5-2 scoreline matches that of the biggest World Cup Final score for the Men’s tournament too, when Brazil beat Sweden in 1958.

Elsewhere in the third place match, England and Germany ended up with a very tough battle with no breakthrough possible until the 108th minute, when Germany conceded a penalty to the English, converted by Fara Williams. As a result, England’s Women’s Team of 2015 officially go down as the 2nd most successful senior team for the nation, behind the World Cup winning Men’s team of 1966.

The most important thing from this tournament however, is Women’s Football has made it on to the map, where it belongs. Let’s hope for bigger and better things in the future for incredible stars who have shone bright on Canada’s wonderful stage!

Ashley Redman
Tired at work this morning