The goal, when it came eight minutes into stoppage time at the end, had every Colombian inside Sydney Football Stadium on their feet. The screams were deafening. Germany, one of the most recognizable names in women’s football, had been beaten by Manuela Vanegas’ emphatic header.
It was a moment to put Colombian women’s football on the map.
The South Americans’ victory felt like the biggest upset in a tournament brimming with surprises. The finals have already delivered New Zealand’s win over Norway, and the Philippines’ subsequent success over the co-hosts. Australia have been floored by Nigeria, victorious from a goal down. Now, remarkably, the Germans have been humbled.
But for fans of Colombian football, and their national team’s indefatigable players who pushed through relentlessly into the contest’s final seconds, this 2-1 win was less of a shock. It was the culmination of years of careful, calculated development with an emphasis put on encouraging youth to flourish.
Colombia’s stated long-term aim is to claim the World Cup. That feels an ambitious goal, even after finishing as runners-up to Brazil at the Copa America exactly a year ago. To offer proper context, the group game against the Germans — two-time champions on this stage, having lifted the…
