FIFA Women's World Cup
A gripping final provided the perfect ending to a World Cup that captured the imagination of the whole of Australia and football fans around the world as the tournament delivered unforgettable matches, individual performances of the highest quality and endless drama.
From full stadiums, to scoring feats and much more, the-AFC.com looks back at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in numbers.
The champions
Olga Carmona scored the only goal of the game as Spain were crowned champions of the world for the first time in what was only their third appearance at the tournament. They had never previously gone beyond the Round of 16.
They became the fifth nation to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, joining the United States (4), Germany (2), Japan (1) and Norway (1).
Bumper crowds
Football fever gripped the host nations with packed stadiums seen throughout the four-week tournament, none more so than in Sydney, where a capacity 75,784 turned out for all five games at Stadium Australia.
They were the largest crowds at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1999 in the United States and the third-largest in the competition’s history.
Top scorer
With five goals in five games, Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa won the Golden Boot – a statistic that is perhaps even more impressive considering two of her strikes came in the 4-0 demolition of eventual champions Spain.
It is the third time the top scorer accolade has been claimed by a player from Asia, with Homare Sawa also netting five in Japan’s triumphant 2011 campaign and China PR legend Sun Wen sharing the award when she scored seven in 1999.
Goals galore
When it comes to team goals, however, it is Spain who were out in front with La Roja scoring an impressive 18 times in their seven matches – three more than Japan, who netted 15 in five matches.
The champions spread their goals around, with Golden Ball winner Aitana Bonmati, Jennifer Hermoso and Alba Redonda scoring three apiece, while nine of their squad got on the scoresheet.
The providers
Japan also lead the way when it comes to assists, with striker Mina Tanaka setting up three of the Nadeshiko's goals. She sits joint top of the charts alongside England’s Lauren James and France’s Kadidiatou Diani.
The trio were also impressive in front of goal with Diani netting four times to come joint second in the scoring charts, James finding the back of the net three times and Tanaka twice.
Magnificent Mackenzie
At the other end, while Australia and Sweden kept a tournament high four clean sheets apiece, the Maltildas’ Mackenzie Arnold was out in front individually as she was the last line of defence in all four of the hosts’ shutouts.
In a fine tournament for the West Ham United goalkeeper, she was also the hero of the penalty shootout victory over France, saving three spot-kicks as the co-hosts advanced to the semi-finals.
Quick off the mark
The fastest goal of the competition came from an unlikely source, with Panama’s Marta Cox stunning France to open the scoring after just 68 seconds of their Matchday Three encounter.
France eventually won the game 6-3 in what was the highest-scoring game of the World Cup as former Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard guided Les Bleues into the knockout rounds with three wins from three.
Hat-trick heroes
That game saw one of three hat-tricks at the tournament with Diani netting three of her four goals against the Panamanians.
Brazil’s Ary Borges also bagged a treble against Panama while Norway’s Sophie Roman Haug netted three goals against the Philippines.
Young star
Korea Republic’s Casey Phair became the youngest player to appear at a FIFA World Cup – men’s or women’s – when she came off the bench in her side’s opening game against Colombia.
The forward was just 16 years and 26 days old when she made her World Cup debut, beating the record of Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days old when she appeared at the 1999 edition.
Years apart
In addition to the youngest player, the oldest goalscorer also came from Korea Republic, with veteran midfielder Cho So-hyun 35 years and 39 days old when she opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Germany.
Conversely, at just 18 years old, Linda Caicedo was the youngest, with the Colombian star announcing her arrival on the world stage with two goals in the group stage, one of which was a stunning opener in a 2-1 win over Germany.
Photo: Matildas
