Lionesses amongst Kiwis book

Want to remember England at the under 17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand? The photobook Lionesses amongst Kiwis is now available from www.jamesprickett.co.uk

The Quest for El Dorado book

You can relive the memories of England at the under 20 Women’s World Cup in Chile in the photobook The Quest for El Dorado, available now from www.jamesprickett.co.uk

Some memories of the odyssey

Things I did not expect to see in Chile…

Just how luminous a goalkeeping kit can be – thank you Japan.

Just how tall a goalkeeper can be – Japan’s number 21 Erina Yamane – a giant at 1.87 metres – the tallest player in the tournament.

England’s Rebecca Spencer being given a rabbit (a toy one) by a fan after the New Zealand match.

Germany’s Julia Simic being thrown a boxed Barbie doll by fans after the third place match. She picked it up and kept it.

The band in the square in Coquimbo playing “When the Saints go marching in” on the morning of the USA-Germany semi final.

Things I have lost count of…
The number of claps in the England team warm-up.

The number of crowd ‘waves’ around the stadiums in Chile.

The number of whistles the VIPs got for not joining in the ‘waves’.

The number of times the stadium appeared almost empty at kick-off but by 20 minutes into the match was almost full in Chile.

The number of times I have packed and unpacked my bags.

Some favourite England moments…
The carnival atmosphere at the Brazil-England game in Wellington. (under 17)

Isobel Christiansen’s miracle goal to take the game against Japan into extra time. (under 17)

Lauren Davey’s penalty shoot-out save against Japan in the quarter final. (under 17)

The crowd volume before the Chile-England game in Coquimbo, and how quiet it was when England scored. (under 20)

Toni Duggan’s late, late goal against New Zealand. (under 20)

Haven’t I seen this final before?

So the day of the under 20 World Cup Final arrives. Korea DPR v USA. The same two countries contested the under 17 final just a few weeks’ ago, although of course the players are different. Having seen the Koreans once and the Americans twice in this tournament, I wouldn’t like to try and predict the result. But it is being played on artifical turf – in Santiago where the Koreans have played earlier in the tournament, and the Americans have not. It will be hot, although there is a breeze. The third place match kicks off at 3.30pm local time (France v Germany) but by 6.30pm (local time) it may be slightly cooler. So the last two matches of the oddessy (to add to the twelve matches I have seen in Chile so far, and the thirteen I witnessed in New Zealand.) Ten of those matches have involved England, and I shall be picking some favourite moments from both tournaments in the next day or two. Let’s hope today’s final is a good one…

The quest continues…

So semi final day arrives. England did not quite make it this far, but they certainly made their mark on the tournament. They will be back. The last ditch goal by Toni Duggan against the Kiwis will live long in the memory, and many other moments too. The quest continues for that elusive El Dorado, on another continent in some future year. Viva Inglaterra!

If you can’t bear to watch…

… there’s a rodeo going on right now across the road from the stadium here in Chillan. Music, applause, and the odd neigh and whinney from the horses. Can only see a little bit of the action between the trees – Chillan is much greener than Santiago. As for the stadium – it’s a carbon copy of Santiago, only this time with real grass. It’s been very hot here today, but cooling down now as we head towards the 7pm (local time) kick off.

At the foot of the Andes

Santiago… La Florida Stadium. A good view of the Andes behind the stand, although they are rather hazy, but clearing a little. Sunny as always. The artificial pitch is getting a good watering from 4 men with hoses. The pitch is the best artificial surface I have seen. The Germany v Japan game on Sunday was a classic between two passing sides, and the Japanese thoroughly deserved their win. What a number 10! First up today at 4pm local time is Argentina v France, Argentina with two players suspended.

The atmosphere on Sunday was pretty good, lots of chanting and several waves, which is all credit to the locals who generated most of it. Let’s hope for more of the same today.