You can find Jo Khan’s report from the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium here. Congratulations to the Reggae Girlz, who made it to the knockout stage for the first time; commiserations to the Seleção, who suffered their earliest exit since 1995; and thanks to you for reading this MBM. See you again soon.
Jamaica manager Lorne Donaldson speaks to ITV. “I tell you what, this is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life! To see these girls, to see a country like Jamaica, to be able to do this, is unbelievable to just watch it while I am alive, right here, standing. I thank the girls to do this for their country, and the country should be proud. The resilience! The fight! We know it’s a war and we have to be ready. We stayed in the battle and we won the war. We have some more work to do but we’ll enjoy tonight. I did a cartwheel [Donaldson had promised to do one if Jamaica got through] but I don’t know if it was a good one. I can’t do two cartwheels, I might hurt myself! A cup of beer and I’m good, I’m not a big drinker. I will enjoy it!”
We can exclusively report that Donaldson executed a perfectly serviceable roly-poly … and also that Panama are currently cavorting in delight to celebrate their three-goal haul against France, as well as their first appearance at a finals. Party time in Jamaica, Panama and France, then. Cups of beer all round … with another raised to commiserate with Brazil, of course. They played their part and came up short, but their time will come.
