View From The Field: Ward’s Words (Helen Ward column)

Helen Ward defends staging the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley against the recurring complaint that the stadium is not full, pointing out that nobody says the same of the FA Vase or the League One and Two play-off finals, and calling it the showpiece event of the calendar for both men and women. She credits Arsenal’s game plan and team selection for a deserved win. On Wales’ two-nil home defeat to Norway, which ended qualification hopes, she praises seventy minutes of execution and a resolute opponent with the extra sprinkling of class in Ada Hegerberg. She closes by pointing to Chris Coleman’s Wales men’s side at Euro 2016 as proof of what can be built.