Though the difficulties faced by each co-host were vastly different, both overcame them on the pitch.
New Zealand 1-0 Norway
Hearing the news of a shooting just down the road from where you’re staying is not the best way to prepare for your day. That is what this reporter faces as a shooting at a construction site at the Auckland Central Business District occurred before 7:30am New Zealand time that killed two and injured eight. The shooter also died. What in all likelihood was an isolated workplace shooting caused major disruption because of its location–in the middle of a major transportation hub where ferries, trains, and buses converge–and the occasion that was going on that day–the start of the Women’s World Cup. A planned event for media put on by New Zealand’s tourism department that was to take place near the site of the shooting was cancelled.
At Eden Park, flags were at half staff in memory of the lives lost and a minute’s silence was observed. The the tournament started at Eden Park and it was an electric atmosphere. Fans cheered every time New Zealand make a takeaway or was going for goal. Once they got their goal, the stadium erupted as if the All Blacks scored a game-winning try. It would erupt in joy at the final whistle at well. For New Zealand, the first goal was to get a first-ever win at a World Cup and that job is now done. Now, the Football Ferns stand a good chance of getting to the Round of 16 with the Philippines next up on Tuesday in Wellington.
Indeed, it was a chance to lift the spirits of a nation that was shook by the morning’s incident in its largest city.
“What happened [Thursday] morning was really devastating and really sad, and we send a lot of our love and condolences to the families that were affected,” said New Zealand forward Gabi Rennie. “I think it was something that kind of brought us together and we had to refocus and think like we’re doing this for so much more than ourselves. We’re doing this for our country. Having the crowd out there, we heard them so it really helped.”
It was indeed a fabulous night for New Zealand, even though it started with a tragedy that we in the United States know all too well and need to address.
For Norway, the road to the last 16 just got a bit tougher. They now go to Hamilton to face Switzerland who start their World Cup campaign on this Friday against the Philippines in Dunedin (midnight CT, FS1/NBC Universo).
Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Before the end of the match of Auckland, we in the media tribune got the news that Sam Kerr would be out for the first two matches with a calf injury sustained in training. Though in the grand scheme of things, it is not as serious as what happened in Auckland, it was a shake-up for Australia. This was supposed to be Sam Kerr’s tournament in her home country, but now she would be on the touchline cheering on her team.
Australia’s 1-0 victory over Ireland can be viewed as the team managing to show mental toughness to get a result without Kerr, but it could also be one where the team could likely struggle without Kerr. However, if the Matildas can get the result against Nigeria on Thursday, and Kerr returns against Canada, that would be an obstacle overcome. Finishing second in the Group of Death could mean a Round of 16 match with England.
Republic of Ireland now have the more difficult path if it wasn’t so already since they will travel more miles than any team in the World Cup with many of them going to and from Perth (a five-hour flight from Sydney).
In the end, it was victory over difficulties, though granted, the difficulties faced were vastly different by the co-hosts. Both look in better standing now to advance in this tournament. What was true until 2010 on the men’s side is still true for the Women’s World Cup in that no host country has ever failed to get out of the first round.
Next up: three matches with Nigeria opening against Canada in Melbourne, Philippines debuting against Switzerland in Dunedin, Spain against Costa Rica in Wellington.
