Match report
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 Final: USA 2-0 Netherlands
She Kicks, issue 55, August 2019 pp.26–29
The United States won a fourth World Cup and a first back-to-back title by beating the Netherlands 2-0 in Lyon on 7 July 2019, Megan Rapinoe converting a penalty on 61 minutes and Rose Lavelle adding a second eight minutes later. Jill Ellis became the first coach to win consecutive World Cups since Vittorio Pozzo in 1938. She Kicks builds the coverage from both dressing rooms. Rapinoe uses her platform to push past the equal-pay argument towards what FIFA should now do for women’s federations and leagues worldwide. Kelley O’Hara calls winning a World Cup mental gymnastics for 44 days. Sarina Wiegman, beaten but unbowed, points to a squad averaging under 26 and a first Olympic Games ahead.