My husband and I are fairweather football fans. He, a Spaniard from Seville, supposedly supports Real Betis but when I ask him why, he shrugs and says “erm, because my friends do.” I don’t think he knows how they’ve performed in La Liga this season or even who their star players are.
I don’t care much for Premier League football anymore either. I used to — I’d go to matches, tune in for Match of the Day, watch games at the pub, but I became disillusioned with the blokiness of it all. How angry people became after their team lost. The beautiful game was actually rather ugly. Yet we’ve both been transfixed by the Women’s World Cup.
Watching the determination and skill possessed by these women felt exhilarating
As you might imagine, yesterday was a spirited day in our house. England v Spain: bring it on! As we debated whether Prince William, as president of the FA, should have flown out to Australia for the final — as he undoubtedly would have for the men’s team — and we tried to google every last detail of what’s really been going on with divisive Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, the mood wasn’t tense, as it might have been for a men’s World Cup final. It was joyful.
We felt we were witnessing a turning point in the women’s game and it was our two countries at the centre of it all.
Even as the Lionesses began to struggle and the only goal of the game was conceded, I continued to love every second. Watching the determination and skill possessed by these women — who have fought to get women’s football on the world stage with grace and grit — felt exhilarating. Then Mary Earps entered the chat with her battle cry: “F*** Off.” It was a moment of visceral determination that was being immortalised into memes before she’d even finished bellowing. The England keeper’s swagger and passion earned her the Golden Glove and the respect of a nation. If Nike could be bothered to sell her shirt, I’d wear it proudly. We should all be more Mary.
As the game went deep into injury time, even my husband was cheering on England — hoping for a goal so that we could keep enjoying this history-altering moment. Felicidades, Spain! And to our Lionesses, thanks for everything.
