Travel Review 5

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Travel Review 5

Overtime!

by Jeremy Ruane

England versus Germany. As soon as the fixture came to be, the immediate reaction was "Penalty shoot-out!" History and tradition demanded it, and a German win on spot-kicks, of course!

The thing was, England had never beaten Germany in women's football, but all that changed in Edmonton. Yes, we got a classic Motherland-Fatherland clash, and extra-time, and a penalty too, with Liverpool's Fara Williams sending Nadine Angerer the wrong way to clinch a 1-0 win - and third place - for Mark Sampson's charges.

This was great reward not just for the squad, but for all who've contributed to the massive sea change in English women's football in recent years, which has seen the establishment of, amongst other things, the FA Women's Super League.

All the programmes they've introduced have had strong showings on the world stage as their ultimate objective, and at Canada 2015, England's strong showing suggested that this third placing won't be a one-off - they're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the women's game for a wee while yet, make no mistake.

With that, it was goodbye to Edmonton, in particular to the Edmonton Journal's ace women's football writer Alicja Siekierska - a real diamond, this lass! - and a final domestic flight to Vancouver on Air Canada.

Just as the national paper "The Globe And Mail" has provided plenty of quality reading on my travels, the national airline has provided great service to me throughout my travels around their homeland, but there is one practice in particular they employ which I found rather bizarre.

On at least two occasions on my travels, I've been waiting to board when announcements have been made saying that my Air Canada flight was overbooked, and asking if anybody wished to volunteer to take a later flight to the same destination, for which they'd receive compensation in the form of a $400 travel voucher.

Amazingly, there was one instance I can recall of a couple taking them up on the offer! Which meant their bags went on my flight, while they caught up with their luggage after taking a later one … odd! Definitely odd!

So to my final stop in this lovely country, the city which was my first stop en route to the first of the Football Ferns' fixtures here in Canada. Naturally, it would have been wildest dreams territory to see them playing on the very last day of the tournament, a real "I was there" moment.

I had to settle for realising two such moments on the last day of Canada 2015, thanks to Team USA captain Carli Lloyd, who was far and away the best player at these Finals, a fact confirmed by her receiving four Live Your Goals Player of the Match awards, each one earned in the knockout stages.

The 53,341 fans present at BC Stadium on July 5, not to mention the numerous dignitaries, international media, stewards, etc., at the ground, had the pleasure of being able to tick two items off their footballing bucket lists thanks to the irrepressible Miss Lloyd, as the 2011 runners-up trounced their conquerors on that occasion, Japan, 5-2 in a match which will go down in history as "The Carli Cup Final"!

World Cup Final hat-trick - in just thirteen minutes, by the by. Tick. Hat-trick clinching goal in a World Cup Final struck from the half-way line. Tick.

It. Does. Not. Get. Much. Better. Than. That.

I'll never forget the sight of Team USA's media officer, Aaron Heifetz, going nuts in the media booth after Lloyd's hat-trick strike! It felt incredible knowing you were witnessing history at first hand, in this case just the second-ever hat-trick in a World Cup Final, Sir Geoff Hurst's treble at Wembley in 1966 being the other.

In my near-thirty year involvement in women's football, I've savoured some amazing experiences, and been to a few places I doubt I'd never have visited otherwise. Make no mistake, this very special World Cup Final is

England celebrate after beating Germany

Spot the Scousekiwi in da house at Edmonton!

Alicja Siekierska - a real diamond

Another of my Air Canada flights awaits

Two of the best celebrate winning the Final - Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo

Carli Lloyd conducting her post-Final TV interview, with Team USA media officer

Aaron Heifetz looking on

Time to say goodbye!

Abby Wambach (USA) and Homare Sawa (Japan) catch up in the mixed zone after the Final, the last one for both of them

right up there with the very best of them.

To their credit, Japan never gave up, despite finding themselves four goals down after just sixteen minutes. But after the heartache of four years ago in Germany, and roared on by their fans, Carli and company ensured there was going to be no repeat triumph by "Nadeshiko". Team USA was on a mission in Canada, one they accomplished in quite some style.

The final whistle brought an end to a terrific tournament, one in which I was on hand to report on 24 of the 52 matches played. Had the budget allowed, I could have made it to 27 games in total, but as things panned out I don't think there were too many other media folk at Canada 2015 who attended as many fixtures.

Out of the 24 teams present, I missed out on seeing Cameroon, Colombia and Switzerland in live action, although I did see them on TV. There was one venue I didn't get to - Moncton. By and large, though, I had a ball, something I trust you've gathered over the course of this five-part travel review.

One of the biggest concerns I had going into these Finals was ACL injuries, and the frequency with which they occur on turf pitches, the surface on which every game at Canada 2015 was played. I was dreading witnessing yet another one - I've seen too many as things stand.

Thankfully, there were no such setbacks at this event, but it's an issue which will not go away - if you recall, there was quite a to-do pre Canada 2015 with a group of players filing a lawsuit challenging the use of turf pitches. They withdrew their action, but their concerns shouldn't be ignored.

While in Canada, another issue regarding turf pitches came to my attention - a potential link to blood cancer caused by exposure to the carcinogens contained in the crumb rubber pellets which no synthetic turf pitch can do without.

Little research has been conducted on this issue to date - it has only recently come to light - but it's certainly something to be concerned about, given the increasing number of matches which are taking place on turf pitches, which are seen, amongst other things, as a means of allowing play to continue on days when the elements would render natural playing surfaces unplayable.

There were a few players who were unplayable in Canada, that's for sure, with the Golden Ball winner topping that particular pile. Based on the action I saw throughout the month, following is my Team of the Tournament, complete with substitutes:

Hope Solo (USA) in goal. A back four (right to left) of Saori Ariyoshi (Japan), Annike Krahn (Germany), Wendie Renard (France) and Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada). Anchoring a midfield diamond is Amandine Henry (France), with my team's captain, Carli Lloyd (USA), at the tip. On either side, Simone Laudehr (Germany) and Louisa Necib (France). And up top, Celia Sasic (Germany) and Alex Morgan (USA).

On the bench, "Supersub" Mana Iwabuchi (Japan) is joined by goalkeeper Nadine Angerer (Germany), defenders Lucy Bronze and Stephanie Houghton (both England), midfielders Melanie Leupolz (Germany), Aya Miyama (Japan) and Megan Rapinoe (USA), and striker Eugenie Le Sommer (France).

Methinks that combination would take a fair bit of beating, and hand out a fair few beatings to the vast majority of teams facing them. One of these days, I'll take immense pleasure in including a Football Fern or two in this squad, and seeing the girls' efforts recognised in the FIFA Technical Study Group's tournament selection.

Farewell and thankyou, Canada. It's been a terrific experience, packed with memories and souvenirs - all in all, one I've thoroughly enjoyed. But it's time to link up with NZ1 in Los Angeles for the flight home, which will very quickly be followed by another never-to-be-forgotten experience …

The Reds on tour in Brisbane and Adelaide. Can. Not Wait!

2015