That the FIFA Women’s World Cup no longer seems like the exclusive property of the United States feels like a step forward for the game on a global scale.
That Spain won the trophy for the first time after roughly half its player pool stayed home to protest substandard treatment by the country’s federation and coaching staff feels like a step back.
That Spain and England would play their way to a World Cup final relatively soon after major clubs in each country devoted substantial interest and investment in the women’s game feels like a massive step forward.
That captain Ivana Andres would tumble off the edge of the medal stand immediately after lifting the World Cup trophy in celebration of Spain’s achievement felt like a step forward and a step back at the same time.
Fortunately, she was fine. She did not let her stumble interrupt the festivities in the least, because too much work went into this triumph, and one never knows when a ceremony of this degree again will be warranted.
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Spain are the world champions. This is something that’s been accurate only once before in the history of the game, when they defeated the Netherlands in 2010 at South Africa. That the Spanish women’s team would win their first…
