Paris (AFP) – The United States cemented their position as the dominant force in women’s football on Sunday by winning their fourth World Cup in eight editions, beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
AFP Sport looks at the biggest stars and stories from France as a landmark tournament comes to a close:
– Rapinoe steals show –
If there is one person to come out of the tournament with their profile raised to that of a global star it’s Megan Rapinoe, winner of the Golden Ball and Golden Boot as she conquered her second World Cup on the pitch and won hearts off it.
The 34-year-old, who broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on Sunday, became the face of the tournament for her decisive performances and the way she handled being attacked online by Donald Trump.
Rapinoe scored braces in the USA’s wins against Spain and France before being ruled out of their triumph over England in the semi-finals with a hamstring injury.
Her double against France came in the middle of a media storm after her comments about not going to the White House elicited a furious reaction from Trump, who accused her of disrespecting the country.
Rapinoe did not back down and became an icon with her commitment to social justice, goals and what she described as a “shit-eating grin”.
Trump’s congratulatory message for the USA team on Sunday is unlikely to change her opinion of the president.
– VAR causes anger, heartache –
It was fitting that the penalty from which Rapinoe scored in the final came from a VAR-assisted decision following a tournament in which the video technology and the application of new laws have attracted criticism.
After a relatively smooth use of VAR at the men’s World Cup last year, there were accusations that FIFA were using the women’s tournament as a testing ground for law changes.
VAR punished several goalkeepers for stepping off the line at spot-kicks, while razor-thin offside and penalty decisions proved decisive in matches as big as the USA’s semi-final win over England.
First Ellen White’s leveller was chalked off for offside by what looked like millimetres, before VAR gave her a penalty for a foul that slipped by the referee — a spot-kick missed by Steph Houghton.
Scotland were hit hardest with VAR spotting minimal infractions from goalkeepers on penalties, as Florencia Bonsegundo’s retaken kick following her missed first effort sealed a comeback from three goals down for Argentina to draw 3-3 and dump the Scots out.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/30mMXMS
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