# Women's World Cup 2023 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [June 30, 2023, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333 "2023-06-30T02:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/381 "2023-08-20T11:49:13Z")
13 minutes of overtime! Is this some kind of record? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/382 "2023-08-20T11:53:13Z")
For this tournament, yes. In the last men’s World Cup, England had 14 minutes in one match, and that was just in one half, they had 13 in the other half. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/383 "2023-08-20T12:15:39Z")
Nice game, Spain won. I can live with that. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/384 "2023-08-20T12:16:48Z")
Deserved win for Spain. The first half was excellent, in the second Spain was a little too passive, but strong enough in the defense to allow almost no opportunities for England. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/385 "2023-08-20T12:21:54Z")
Good game, Spain! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/386 "2023-08-20T12:32:57Z")
Great game. Spain really dominated in the first half, England had some good chances and a great PK save. I love that Spain didn’t just sit back and delay, delay, delay after they went up. Lots of attacking, even when they had the lead. And, I really love how there’s just no theatrics and diving in the women’s game. That crap makes some men’s games almost unwatchable. To answer the question about America’s early dominance, it was basically Title 9 of the Civil Rights Act that did it – schools have to spend the same amount on men’s and women’s sports in the US, so women’s team sports get much, much more funding than they do in other countries. The best women players in the world come to American universities to compete. Most women’s team sports elsewhere get very little funding. I think Team USA can still be great with better coaching, but obviously USA won’t be the unstoppable juggernaut it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/387 "2023-08-20T12:47:32Z")
Best team won. On the day and over the tournament. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/388 "2023-08-20T16:53:20Z")
A very good final. Both teams got some decent opportunities but Spain just dominated possession, passing very fluidly and using the wings better. I was glad it was such a genuinely entertaining final but the better team won. Now that England, Spain, Sweden and Australia have seemingly cracked the code I think the sport will become yet more entertaining. The United States and Canada are going to have to rely on excellence, not excuses. Earps did get a Golden Glove and the Lionesses should be proud. She played well. I am impressed by Paralluelo’s running ability. She’s everywhere on the pitch. And at the risk of being patronizing, I love the photo of Carmona after scoring the goal. She clearly wanted to rip her shirt off then realized this might not be the wisest thing. And her hair adds, like, eight inches to her height. This takes nothing away from her accomplishment. It was a perfect shot. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/389 "2023-08-20T16:58:09Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > …England had some good chances and a great PK save. The keeper came off her line early. Wasn’t it England that got a second penalty kick earlier in the tournament for that? I still think that’s called inconsistently, even with the video review. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/390 "2023-08-20T17:02:57Z")
FWIW I wouldn’t have called it. But it is a bit inconsistent. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/391 "2023-08-20T17:05:53Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > but obviously USA won’t be the unstoppable juggernaut it used to be. People keep saying things like this but… USA was never an unstoppable juggernaut. USA won 2 of the first 5 WWCs. Which is impressive, sure, but clearly not unstoppable. For a long time (and arguably still, this tournament aside) the USA was the best team in the world. But never by so much that it was as shocking upset when they failed to win a big tournament, as they very often did. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/392 "2023-08-20T17:06:38Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > And at the risk of being patronizing, I love the photo of Carmona after scoring the goal. She clearly wanted to rip her shirt off then realized this might not be the wisest thing I was curious what was going on there. Looked to me like she was pointing at the Adidas logo on her shirt, so I was wondering if it was some sponsorship thing, which would definitely cheapen what was obviously a legitimately big moment. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/393 "2023-08-20T17:09:50Z")
My interpretation is not definitive. She was wearing a shirt and something underneath it. Ecstatic, she started to pull up the _innermost_ layer then seemed to think better of it, paused, and then slightly lifted the outer layer. She did vaguely point at the Adidas thing but this didn’t seem to me to be her primary focus. It’s hard to believe that was her mindset after such an emotional goal; she could just have easily been pointing at the España. Of course, I am often wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/394 "2023-08-20T17:22:03Z")
It read MERCHI, a dedication to a friend’s mother who recently passed away. > **[What is 'MERCHI'? Explaining Olga Carmona's World Cup final celebration](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/what-is-merchi-explaining-olga-carmonas-world-cup-final-celebration)** > > What did Spain goalscorer Olga Carmona have written on her shirt in the World Cup final? Here's the answer. > ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/395 "2023-08-20T18:04:46Z")
Thanks for that. It wasn’t clear to me in the moment there was something written there. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/396 "2023-08-20T18:05:29Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > USA won 2 of the first 5 WWCs. True, but… Including this year, there have been nine WWCs, beginning in 1991. USA has won four of them, and had won the previous two before this year, in 2015 and 2019. They also won in 1991 and 1999. So, yes, the USA won 2 of the first 5, but they also won 4 of the first 8. Which might be considered juggernaut status. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/397 "2023-08-20T18:34:07Z")
On rewatching the tapes: 1. No way you could read the black writing on the shirt. Hard to see even when you know it’s there. 2. The English goalkeeper moved off the line at the exact moment the ball was struck and not before. Clean save. No foul. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/398 "2023-08-20T18:37:39Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > So, yes, the USA won 2 of the first 5, but they also won 4 of the first 8. Which might be considered juggernaut status. Obviously just a pedantic quibble, but the US women’s olympic basketball team is an unbeatable juggernaut. If anyone but them wins the gold, it’s a shock. The Jordan/Magic/Bird dream team was an unstoppable juggernaut. It was never a shock when the USWNT lost. Heck, their most iconic victory ever was in a penalty shootout, so… obviously a match they could have lost. This time they lost much earlier in the tournament, and yes, looked pretty toothless. But there’s a difference between “how is it remotely possible that they lost, what an unbelievable outcome” and “it’s kind of surprising that they lost this early and scored so few goals”. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/399 "2023-08-20T18:56:54Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The English goalkeeper moved off the line at the exact moment the ball was struck and not before. Clean save. No foul. The highlights are here: > **[Spain vs. England Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Final](https://www.foxsports.com/watch/play-696d3e2ba00096c)** > > Spain and England faced off in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, looking to bring to glory to their nations. Check out the top moments and highlights here! There’s a clip of the penalty kick from behind the goal at about 3:45. Looks to me like the keeper is off the line before the ball is struck. Her trailing foot is definitely off the ground; maybe you could make a case that it’s still over the line. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333/400 "2023-08-20T19:20:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Her trailing foot is definitely off the ground; maybe you could make a case that it’s still over the line. It looked it to me, and that’s the rule. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-world-cup-2023/986333.md?page=21)