Japan's Saki Kumagai scores the decisive goal past United States goalkeeper Hope Solo during the penalty-shootout. (Michael Sohn/Associated Press)
FRANKFURT, GERMANY: Scarily ridiculous costumes and drunken fans aside, last night's final game of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup left me shaking - literally.
Between the flashing lights of cameras, and non-stop cheering, drums, and singing, the atmosphere was charged with adrenaline. The intensity of the game shot up in the opening moments, as each team stepped up to sing their national anthem.
Both countries were playing for national pride, but for Japan, which has faced one disaster after another - earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster - it was about more. It was about doing everything possible to give their nation a little good news, something to smile about. I must admit I got a little teary-eyed.
During the game, the fans flip-flopped with their support. Goalie wasting time? Jeers. Beautiful play? Cheers.
There were times where the stands were filled with American optimism, the attitude which has fed the American team throughout the qualification rounds.
"USA, USA, USA," the fans screeched, their faces smeared with paint and expectation.
After 22-year-old Alex Morgan's goal, everyone was on their feet. Many people didn't sit down for the remainder of the game. It actually dented the impact of the Mexican waves humming through the stadium, over and over.
But Japan never gave up. And after each beautiful possession, "relying on precise passing patterns to paper-cut [their opponents] to death", it was hard not to be won over, especially by Homare Sawa, who after 18 years playing of for her country, is getting better and better.
"Schoen, Schoen," (beautiful, beautiful) the German fans behind me cheered every time Sawa got the ball.
The cheer "Nippon, Nippon, Nippon..." permeated the stadium, slowly, magically, accompanied by a base drum and a haunting oriental flute. It reminded me of an old Western movie, forewarning more action, more drama.
There was more drama all right.
From Carli Lloyd's Baggio to three saved penalties by Hope Solo and Ayumi Kaihori, it wasn't clear who was going to take it till the very end.
When it went to Japan [and I'll admit I was rooting for them], the stands were bathed in euphoria. Glitter and golden streamers shone down on every corner. Then there were the fireworks and the disco balls, which transformed the entire stadium into a party.
It was my first World Cup final in a stadium, and I couldn't help but get wrapped up in the moment. I took out my computer to write down my final thoughts, but as the Pink anthem "Raise your glass," poured out of the stadium's speakers, my whole body started to shake. I struggled to hit the right keys.
It was the perfect ending to the most successful Women's World Cup in history. Another action-packed and exciting game that exhibited the best of women's football - technique, physicality, heart and team spirit.
"We gave the crowd a good game today - so it will be a final to remember," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said after the game. The tournament as a whole has "been phenomenal, even though we didn't win the gold."
"So happy for Japan," Canadian player Christine Sinclair Tweeted. "When [you] beat Germany, Sweden and USA in 1 tourny, I'd say [you] deserve the title."
Ramblings
It's been a treat writing about the Women's game over the last month. I've had the opportunity to learn a little more about the women's game, Germany and my stepsister (Canadian player Rhian Wilkinson)'s world. Thank you for tuning into my random travel adventures, discussions about sex and soccer, and quest to understand the German psyche, among others.
I was impressed by the traditional powerhouses of the game - Sweden and the USA, in particular - with their direct but effective soccer. Cross to Abby Wambach, Header, Score. You can't knock it if it works. But I guess what really struck me at this tournament was the possession ball being played by the up-an-coming teams like France and Japan - the women's game has never been more beautiful to watch.
When I think about the memorable moments of the Women's World Cup, I'm often taken all the way back to 1999, when USA was in shootouts for the title against China.
When Brandi Chastain scored that final penalty kick and ripped off her shirt, there were over 90,000 people in the stands and millions more watching the moment at home and later on youtube.
This year's World Cup can't be epitomized by a moment. And that's a good thing. The highlight reel of the tournament is full of picture-perfect plays and beautiful goals.
It's not surprising then that 'everyone' was watching and tweeting about the final game - from President Obama to a bunch of my friends across the African continent (many of whom I don't think have ever seen a women's game).
"Stunning ball skills; what a great show," said Bo, who was watching the game from Cameroon.
"I even watched the extra time instead of watching Brazil-Paraguay [the men's Copa América game]," said Christian, who was watching the game in Accra, Ghana.
"This is a-m-a-ziing!!!!," my friend Wuwa from Austria added.
Visibility of the game
The Women's World Cup was given so much air time this year (it was broadcast in over 200 countries and was being streamed online by people around the globe) that audiences got to know and appreciate not just the top players like Marta and Abby Wambach, but Homare Sawa, the Brazilians Christiane and Fabiana, Anonman from Equatorial Guinea, the list goes on and on.
It's good for the players: more visibility means more marketing potential for the women's game, which means more female players will be able to command workable salaries by playing professionally.
But it's also good for the development of the game from a grassroots level. There wasn't even a Women's World Cup when I was a girl. I think I was in my early teens when I first realized Canada had a women's team. I didn't see our national team on television or in the stadium, but rather at our local patchy turf in suburban Montreal. I was pointed in the direction of Charmaine Hooper after the game, and I remember asking for her autograph.
After that encounter, however brief, there was a fundamental shift in the part that soccer played in my life. It went from pastime to full-time. I couldn't get enough.
As more young players have connections to the women's game (either on the field or on TV), at least some of them will aspire to more. Not only will they want to play soccer as a pastime, they will strive to play for their region, their province, their country - and in four years time at the next World Cup in Canada.
More people participating, means more people watching the sport - more people that get to enjoy the awesomeness that has become women's soccer.
Between the flashing lights of cameras, and non-stop cheering, drums, and singing, the atmosphere was charged with adrenaline. The intensity of the game shot up in the opening moments, as each team stepped up to sing their national anthem.
Both countries were playing for national pride, but for Japan, which has faced one disaster after another - earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster - it was about more. It was about doing everything possible to give their nation a little good news, something to smile about. I must admit I got a little teary-eyed.
During the game, the fans flip-flopped with their support. Goalie wasting time? Jeers. Beautiful play? Cheers.
There were times where the stands were filled with American optimism, the attitude which has fed the American team throughout the qualification rounds.
"USA, USA, USA," the fans screeched, their faces smeared with paint and expectation.
After 22-year-old Alex Morgan's goal, everyone was on their feet. Many people didn't sit down for the remainder of the game. It actually dented the impact of the Mexican waves humming through the stadium, over and over.
But Japan never gave up. And after each beautiful possession, "relying on precise passing patterns to paper-cut [their opponents] to death", it was hard not to be won over, especially by Homare Sawa, who after 18 years playing of for her country, is getting better and better.
"Schoen, Schoen," (beautiful, beautiful) the German fans behind me cheered every time Sawa got the ball.
The cheer "Nippon, Nippon, Nippon..." permeated the stadium, slowly, magically, accompanied by a base drum and a haunting oriental flute. It reminded me of an old Western movie, forewarning more action, more drama.
There was more drama all right.
From Carli Lloyd's Baggio to three saved penalties by Hope Solo and Ayumi Kaihori, it wasn't clear who was going to take it till the very end.
When it went to Japan [and I'll admit I was rooting for them], the stands were bathed in euphoria. Glitter and golden streamers shone down on every corner. Then there were the fireworks and the disco balls, which transformed the entire stadium into a party.
It was my first World Cup final in a stadium, and I couldn't help but get wrapped up in the moment. I took out my computer to write down my final thoughts, but as the Pink anthem "Raise your glass," poured out of the stadium's speakers, my whole body started to shake. I struggled to hit the right keys.
It was the perfect ending to the most successful Women's World Cup in history. Another action-packed and exciting game that exhibited the best of women's football - technique, physicality, heart and team spirit.
"We gave the crowd a good game today - so it will be a final to remember," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said after the game. The tournament as a whole has "been phenomenal, even though we didn't win the gold."
"So happy for Japan," Canadian player Christine Sinclair Tweeted. "When [you] beat Germany, Sweden and USA in 1 tourny, I'd say [you] deserve the title."
Ramblings
It's been a treat writing about the Women's game over the last month. I've had the opportunity to learn a little more about the women's game, Germany and my stepsister (Canadian player Rhian Wilkinson)'s world. Thank you for tuning into my random travel adventures, discussions about sex and soccer, and quest to understand the German psyche, among others.
I was impressed by the traditional powerhouses of the game - Sweden and the USA, in particular - with their direct but effective soccer. Cross to Abby Wambach, Header, Score. You can't knock it if it works. But I guess what really struck me at this tournament was the possession ball being played by the up-an-coming teams like France and Japan - the women's game has never been more beautiful to watch.
When I think about the memorable moments of the Women's World Cup, I'm often taken all the way back to 1999, when USA was in shootouts for the title against China.
When Brandi Chastain scored that final penalty kick and ripped off her shirt, there were over 90,000 people in the stands and millions more watching the moment at home and later on youtube.
This year's World Cup can't be epitomized by a moment. And that's a good thing. The highlight reel of the tournament is full of picture-perfect plays and beautiful goals.
It's not surprising then that 'everyone' was watching and tweeting about the final game - from President Obama to a bunch of my friends across the African continent (many of whom I don't think have ever seen a women's game).
"Stunning ball skills; what a great show," said Bo, who was watching the game from Cameroon.
"I even watched the extra time instead of watching Brazil-Paraguay [the men's Copa América game]," said Christian, who was watching the game in Accra, Ghana.
"This is a-m-a-ziing!!!!," my friend Wuwa from Austria added.
Visibility of the game
The Women's World Cup was given so much air time this year (it was broadcast in over 200 countries and was being streamed online by people around the globe) that audiences got to know and appreciate not just the top players like Marta and Abby Wambach, but Homare Sawa, the Brazilians Christiane and Fabiana, Anonman from Equatorial Guinea, the list goes on and on.
It's good for the players: more visibility means more marketing potential for the women's game, which means more female players will be able to command workable salaries by playing professionally.
But it's also good for the development of the game from a grassroots level. There wasn't even a Women's World Cup when I was a girl. I think I was in my early teens when I first realized Canada had a women's team. I didn't see our national team on television or in the stadium, but rather at our local patchy turf in suburban Montreal. I was pointed in the direction of Charmaine Hooper after the game, and I remember asking for her autograph.
After that encounter, however brief, there was a fundamental shift in the part that soccer played in my life. It went from pastime to full-time. I couldn't get enough.
As more young players have connections to the women's game (either on the field or on TV), at least some of them will aspire to more. Not only will they want to play soccer as a pastime, they will strive to play for their region, their province, their country - and in four years time at the next World Cup in Canada.
The next World Cup will extend knowledge of the sport even more, at home and abroad. As host nation, games will be coming to cities across Canada. And internationally, eight more countries will be taking part. The next tournament will host 24 rather than 16 teams in the group round.The men's World Cup currently has 32 teams in the group round.
Of course the additional teams may "drop the standard of play a little bit," but it's important for the development of the sport and several regions such as Europe, Asia, South America and Africa already have "great depth."More people participating, means more people watching the sport - more people that get to enjoy the awesomeness that has become women's soccer.
