A blog-style account of Steffen’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup adventures
Welcome to Chasing Tazuni!
A noob at physically being at a football World Cup, I’m making up for lost time, with plans to attend 13 matches across Australia and New Zealand. I hope you enjoy the updates throughout the tournament!
Day 32 (Sunday 20 August)
It feels like this blog started just yesterday, but here we are in the final instalment!
We had mixed feelings heading down the highway to Sydney for the last time this tournament: tingles of anticipation for what was to come in the Final, along with third-place playoff pangs still swirling in our minds after Sweden was too strong for the Tillies the night before.
The Final was an occasion I will never forget; I had a feeling Spain might get the chocolates and for once was correct. I was going to post some pretty average photos from the game but will direct you instead to photographer Anthony Caffery’s remarkable work there.
This 2023 Women’s World Cup has been exhilarating, yet exhausting. Hearts have soared and dropped (with the ratio firmly in favour of soaring). The football has been incredible. Above all, it’s been a very special event as a whole, as have our Matildas.
If I felt like I had witnessed a moment of transformation coming out of that sold-out Penrith Stadium in 2017 when the Matildas defeated Brazil, this tournament has had the same feel but amplified a hundred-fold. Long may those positive ripples travel across our Australian sporting landscape, and beyond.
While I got close to Tazuni a number of times, she remained elusive, and I never found an occasion in all the games we attended to get a photo with her in person.
Not all is lost, though. I’ve found a way to have the memory of Tazuni with me always, in the same way that the memory of this tournament will always hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you for following along on our World Cup journey; you have been the best of readers while we have been Chasing Tazuni!
Day 28 (Wednesday 16 August)
Waaaaitaminute, I hear you say, this was the day of the second semi-final, and the opening paragraph clearly states planned attendance at a New Zealand game i.e. the first semi. Plans don’t always go to… plan, so while we enjoyed almost two full days of sightseeing in and around Auckland, by the time kickoff neared for the Sweden vs Spain semi-final at Eden Park, it was becoming clear I was in no shape to attend. Luckily the place we were staying at had the game on Sky Sport. You have to feel a little sorry for Sweden, having eliminated two great opponents in USA and Japan, only to fall to the mercurial skills of the Spanish. Talk about a rough path to follow!
Clambering onto the plane back to Sydney next morning, I was determined not to miss the Tillies vs England semi-final that night, and thankfully I had recovered enough to get along for this nation-stopping contest.
The euphoria was real when Sam Kerr equalised just after an hour but by and large the English narrowly had our measure. Their win had coach Sarina Wiegman’s fingerprints all over it, and the difference in big match experience was evident… as was the feeling that our usage of substitutes was perhaps yet again not quite what it could have been.
The feeling was overwhelmingly one of pride in our magnificent team and how they have endeared themselves to the greater nation so far this tournament, rather than just in the hearts of we football-loving nuffs alone.
Thinking a little more about the vagaries of the Swedish path to the semi-finals and how close we came to facing England in the Round of 16 had we finished second in the group, you come to realise how fine the margins are in tournament football, and how entwined the twists of fate.
Not too many photos this time around, and the adventure comes to an end this Sunday with the final between England and Spain. Dunno, I kinda feel that there may be enough X-factor in this Spanish team to overcome England’s ability to do the job in a big game. Until then, it will be all eyes once again on the Matildas on Saturday as they face off for a medal in the third-place playoff game against Sweden in Brisbane.
Day 24 (Saturday 12 August)
It was home sweet home in Canberra for a few days before heading back up the highway to Sydney for an outstanding afternoon and evening World Cup quarter-final double bill.
First up we joined the hordes outside Stadium Australia watching the Tillies’ epic battle against France. With the most significant moment of #VineTime yet seeing us home, we entered the stadium in high spirits for some England vs Colombia goodness. Similar to our previous live game, we had seats 25 rows back from a corner post.
Our first question was: how exactly did Colombia get all the tickets to the game? But as we found when the final whistle blew, it was more a case of Colombian supporter enthusiasm drowning out a slightly more reserved English contingent. We shouldn’t have been surprised; the Colombian supporters have been this amazing all tournament, and their team more than did them proud.
At halftime, we had the pleasure of catching Beyond 90 photographer Anthony Caffery pitch-side, and had our closest encounter yet with Tazuni!
These two games completed the quarterfinals, leaving two mouth-watering semi-finals ahead of us. Boarding a plane the next morning (Day 25, Sunday, August 13th) we have arrived in Auckland for a whirlwind few days, with Spain vs Sweden beckoning Tuesday!
Day 19 (Monday 7 August)
The knockout games have rushed upon us and we held our breath at Stadium Australia during the opening part of the Matildas’ game vs Denmark as Pernille Harder threatened with her trademark scything runs.
Sitting 18 rows behind a corner post gave us an entirely different perspective from our previous nosebleed seats. The stadium is so large that you become aware that crowd chants form in pockets, with an ‘Oi Oi Oi’ on one side sometimes competing with a chant on the other, both oblivious of the other.
The red and white of Danish support was only sparsely dotted throughout the stadium. It’s doubtful the Tillies have played before 75,000 of pretty much their own fans before, making this a very special moment – hopefully not for the last time!
Riding out the opening Danish threat, the Matildas – spear-headed by Caitlin Foord – happily rediscovered their groove from the previous game, taking the game 2-0. Tazuni’s halftime appearance was a popular one, but any popularity contest was surely won by Sam Kerr, whose every appearance was greeted by the greatest of crowd roars.
We’re back to Stadium Australia on Saturday for the quarter-final between England and either Colombia or Jamaica!
Day 15 (Thursday 3 August)
As if sensing our urgency, a massive tailwind sped our flight from Melbourne to Brisbane on this day. The outcome of the evening’s football viewing from the second row of Suncorp Stadium in the match between Germany and South Korea would be eerily similar to the night before. It was amazing being close up to some super-talented footballers.
Like Brazil before them, Germany paid the price for an earlier subpar performance and was held out in this game by a determined defensive block. They also may not have anticipated Morocco defeating Colombia, and the combination of these factors saw the end of the German campaign. Stunningly, Morocco progressed having lost their first game 6-0. In football as in life, we can expect the unexpected.
The fact that I’ve been at all three games where a top-ten team has crashed out of the tournament is not lost on me, I’m currently on the hunt for a black cloak and reaper’s sickle (kidding).
Back to Sydney on Monday for the Tillies’ Round of 16 game against Denmark!
Day 14 (Wednesday 2 August)
Day 13 was a quiet one in Melbourne, with a viewing of the Portugal vs USA match at the Corner Hotel in Richmond among the day’s activities. Travelling companion Lucy Topp once again demonstrated her penchant for accurately predicting the number of minutes of additional time, and if she can find a way to monetize this ability, the next trip is all but paid for!
Day 14, however, wasn’t quite as wistful, with Brazil needing to win against Jamaica at a cool AAMI Park to progress to the Round of 16. The game marked the exact halfway point of our live matches (7 of 13). First, however, we caught up with the delightful Molly Appleton for pre-match pizza. Molly is a key member of Women Onside (I’m also a member), an occasional Beyond 90 podcaster, and an insightful women’s football analyst, well worth a follow!
In what sadly turned out to be Marta’s last-ever World Cup appearance, Brazil was held to a scoreless draw thanks to a disciplined Jamaican defensive setup. Jamaica went into the game knowing they would be without the ball for the vast majority of the game, yet just as they did against France, managed to graft a point. Jamaica didn’t lose a game in the group stage and that saw them through.
Perhaps lamenting Tazuni’s minimal presence at the game, a flock of seagulls circled and descended upon the game at times.
The ABC has an interesting article about Tazuni and what a World Cup mascot says about their host countries, worth a read!
Day 12 (Monday 31 July)
Everything was on the line for the Tillies in their massive last group game against Olympic champions Canada. AAMI Park was packed to the gills as the team was finally able to shake off the invisible cobwebs that seemed to be holding back their attacking instincts, while maintaining defensive shape and midfield combativeness. Special praise goes to Clare Hunt for her game, but it’s hard to single out players in this very special performance. Pleasingly, this was also a 90-minute effort, with little in the way of ebbs breaking up Matildas flows.
The most complete high-stakes Matildas game I’ve witnessed in person, I was one among many leaving the stadium with a Matildas song (or was that a chant?) filling my heart. Whatever footballing genie we managed to unleash, let’s hope it stays around the team for the rest of the tournament!
Day 11 (Sunday 30 July)
The Brisbane Fan Festival had separate viewing areas for the simultaneous Football Ferns vs Switzerland game, and Norway vs Philippines. I opted for the former with divided loyalties, hoping that both the Ferns and Norway would progress to the knockout stages (and this was a possible outcome prior to kickoff). In the end, the dogged Swiss defence was able to hold the Football Ferns to a draw, while Norway finally found their mojo, as evidenced by the loud periodic cheers coming from the small nearby amphitheatre. Norway progress, while ex-Canberra United coach Jitka Klimkova’s team sadly bow out.
Returning to my accommodation I was able to stream Germany vs Colombia, with Colombia’s late win capping off a massive day in the tournament.
Day 10 (Saturday 29 July)
I’m not sure if it’s because we were sitting in the third row, but the France vs Brazil game at Suncorp Stadium absolutely flew by and was the most enjoyable of those attended thus far in this Women’s World Cup. Being close to the action heightened every moment of the action and together with a large joyous mainly Brazilian crowd contingent, this was a feast for the senses.
Tazuni wasn’t far away either, surely we’ll get close enough for a photo with her at some point! Earlier in the day I happened across Beyond 90’s Eric Subijano wandering across the Brisbane River (having also had a chat with Beyond 90’s Dale Roots at the Lord Alfred prior to the Matildas game with Nigeria).
It’s back to the Fan Festival on Sunday before travelling to Melbourne on Monday!
Day 8 (Thursday 27 July)
With Day 7 being a travel day, we arrived at the Brisbane fan festival on Thursday morning to join a good-sized crowd watching one of the most anticipated games of the group stages: USA vs the Netherlands.
The replay of the last FWWC final didn’t disappoint, with the battle between Danielle van de Donk and Lindsey Horan mirroring the contest. Honors went one-half apiece with the match finishing 1-1.
The day also ended in a big way, with the Matildas up against Nigeria in my first-ever visit to Suncorp Stadium (and don’t we have some magnificent football venues in this country?). Stopping by the Lord Alfred Hotel for a quick refreshment on the way in, the walk back home over the Brisbane River was more reflective after the Tillies won every stat except the only one that matters. Well done to Nigeria, but as Chloe Logarzo said, we never do things the easy way, with a must-win in Melbourne coming up against the Olympic champions.
We’re off to see France vs Brazil on Saturday night, another big game on the tour!
Day 6 (Tuesday 25 July)
Our last full day in Sydney until the business end of the tournament, and it was all about the sights, colours, and sounds at the Colombia vs South Korea game. With a midday kickoff at Sydney Football Stadium in fine weather this was a different experience to the wet evening game on Day 4, but just as enjoyable. The passion of both sets of supporters added so much to the match-day experience.
Tazuni sightings remain at a distance (below) but our photographer Anthony Caffery got in touch with a close-up experience he had at France vs Jamaica!
Day 5 (Monday 24 July)
This day was all about the Sydney fan festival. Arriving at opening time, we took in the pop-up FIFA museum, bought some merch, and settled in to watch Italy vs Argentina on the big screen. The short movie at the museum is well worth staying for, and the festival food and coffee on offer were a notch above stadium food.
Day 4 (Sunday 23 July)
A pleasant train ride from Canberra and a quick light rail trip saw us arrive at the Moore Park precinct, where we settled in at Watson’s EQ for the game between the Netherlands and Portugal.
There was plenty of colour and spectacle outside the stadium and I wished there had been time for the FIFA superstore situated inside the stadium before we took our seats for France vs Jamaica. The reworked stadium is magnificent and looked to be close to capacity, with almost 40,000 there to witness the action. Intermittent showers didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd.
While there were no goals it was an absorbing contest, and we’re loving the trend of the underdogs really taking the fight to the favourites.
We’re off to the pop-up FIFA museum and our first look at the Fan Festival at Tumbalong Park in the coming day, see you next update!
Day 2 (Friday 21 July)
On the train back to Canberra, we managed to stream Nigeria vs Canada and Philippines vs Switzerland in transit. Not sure what to make of the 0-0 draw on the former and what it means for the Tillies in our next two group games. On the one hand, a win against Nigeria will set us up handily for the Canada game and the prospect of topping the group, but on the other, both opponents will really test us.
We are heading back to Sydney on Sunday for France vs Jamaica!
Day 1 (Thursday 20 July)
What a day to start our World Cup adventure, it’s hard to imagine a better one!
Arriving at Olympic Park at 4pm, we managed to get some great seats at the Locker Room venue’s outdoor seating with a big screen, just across from Stadium Australia. Our experiences for the two games we were about to witness were so, so different, but both were terrific in their own way.
The venue was packed and the vibe was fantastic. A nearby fan with a cool scarf heralding the impending Matildas vs Republic of Ireland game graciously allowed me to take a photo:
There was massive support for the Football Ferns from the gathered crowd. While the Norwegian team was packed with stars from teams such as Barcelona, Lyon, and Chelsea, the Ferns showed that at times our beautiful game cares not for reputation in the face of courage and determination.
The venue emptied as we made our way to the stadium as night fell, allowing us to take in the sights of the stadium precinct and the enormity of the gathered masses. It was something to behold as we reflected on the path women’s football took over the years to get to this moment.
While we were a long way from the action we drank in every moment of the game and our surroundings, from our jubilation as Steph Catley buried the penalty, to the jittery final quarter-hour. The stadium lights dimmed at half-time as the crowd held up their camera torchlights.
This was as close as we got to Tazuni; we look forward to continuing to trace her footsteps!
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