THE USA were the hot favourites to win the Fifa Women’s World Cup and proved why when they defeated the Netherlands 2-0 to lift the title for the fourth time.
Following yesterday’s victory in Lyon, the world’s best women’s team have now moved two ahead of Germany in the number of World Cups they have secured. There is little doubt that the defending champions and best team of the tournament won a deserved victory.
Now they have caused a problem for President Donald Trump, no less. Does he invite them to the White House when the team’s captain and feminist campaigner Megan Rapinoe has insisted that she will not attend?
Rapinoe has had a superb World Cup and finished it in style, scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot just after the hour mark. The spot kick was awarded after Stefanie van der Gragt’s high kick on Alex Morgan. French referee Stephanie Frappart gave the penalty and booked the Dutch player after assessing replays on the controversial VAR system – one of the tournament’s talking points.
The goal meant Rapinoe clinched the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals. She also won the Golden Ball for being what the Americans call the most valuable player of this World Cup.
An excellent second goal from Rose Lavelle in the 69th minute sealed the victory for the USA, and hard though the Netherlands tried, they just could not find a route to goal.
There were anxious moments for the USA when Kelley O’Hara had to be substituted following a head clash and Becky Sauerbrunn had to go off to have a bleeding cut bandaged. But the highly experienced Americans held on for victory and indeed could have had more goals had it not been for a terrific performance by Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal.
The USA had beaten England in the semi-final and the English then lost Saturday’s play-off for third place against Sweden.
READ MORE: British Army 'Dunkirk' tweet misses mark
Scotland went out of the tournament in the group stage but their gritty performance in their first ever World Cup finals augurs well for the future.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel