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HomeWorld NewsPreparation for the 1971 Women's World Cup Final

Preparation for the 1971 Women’s World Cup Final



Cup Semifinals Mexico vs. Italy New Black Film/Color Artist Marina Amaral

Copa 71 reveals the controversy behind the largest match within the historical past of ladies’s sport, as a brand new function movie in regards to the 1971 Women’s World Cup opens within the UK this week.

Approximately 110,000 spectators gathered on the Estadio Azteca for the ultimate of the match in Mexico City, the biggest ever for ladies. Although by no means acknowledged by the game’s world governing physique FIFA, the group for the 1971 match nonetheless exceeds the official world file of 91,648, set by FC Barcelona in April 2022. However, if the host nation, Mexico, had not participated, there may not have been as many spectators. in opposition to Denmark.

Copa 71 is a movie government produced by a few of the greatest names in girls’s sports activities at the moment, together with Serena Williams (who narrates the movie), alongside along with her sister Venus and Alex Morgan, and is a movie about girls’s soccer gaining popularity. It depicts the tales of forgotten pioneers who have been energetic within the period when the Japanese have been referred to as I used to be ridiculed. Despite all of the adversity, they made the ladies’s worldwide sporting occasion a industrial success.

The Danes had gained the primary version of the so-called Martini & Rosso Cup in Italy in 1970. On that event, Denmark defeated Italy within the ultimate, and the championship was sealed after the champions defeated Argentina 5-0 to e-book a spot within the 1971 ultimate. Italy was extensively anticipated to participate within the rematch.

Italy had defeated Mexico 2-1 within the semifinals the earlier yr and had group captain Elena Schiavo, believed by many to be the perfect girls’s participant on the earth on the time. No surprise Italy took an early lead with a aim from Carmen Varone.

Schiavo (left), coach Amadeo Amadei and goalkeeper Vilma Seghetti. (Photo courtesy of PA Images by way of Getty Images)PA Images by way of Getty Images

To the cheers of a crowd reported to be 90,000 within the Corriere dello Sport, Mexico fought again and gained two clear penalties, each transformed by Patty Hernandez, making it 2-1 at half-time. took the lead. In the second half, Italy appeared to have equalized by means of a aim from Maurizia Sicelli, however French referee Frère dominated the match null and void for an unlawful problem on the Mexican goalkeeper. The guests felt they have been victims of a conspiracy when Frere disallowed Schiavo’s Italy aim regardless of clearly signaling for an oblique free-kick.

The Italian group angrily confronted the referee, and Schiavo additionally yelled at Mexican participant Silvia Zaragoza: “Stay away from my face or I’ll hit you within the head.” Amid widespread accusations, Maria Castelli was allegedly punched by the Mexican off the ball, resulting in a scuffle between each gamers. In the free-for-all, Frère made time expire 10 minutes earlier than, guaranteeing the host group’s place within the ultimate.

In the movie, Italian participant Daniela Sogliani displays, “Who do you suppose the organizers needed to see within the ultimate, Italy or Mexico?” However, relating to his response to the defeat, Ciceri admitted that “the unhealthy picture we gave was actually ugly.” With one week left till the match at Estadio Azteca, the Mexican nationwide group confronted off in opposition to host Denmark in a dream ultimate.

Denmark’s gamers keep in mind how Mexican followers shouted and honked their automotive horns exterior the group lodge in Mexico City earlier than the ultimate. Disturbed sleep necessitated embassy intervention and the gamers have been quickly re-housed with Danish households within the metropolis.

However, the host group additionally had issues. With the potential of enjoying in packed stadiums, Mexican gamers believed they might take a major reduce within the income generated by their success within the match. Newspapers reported that the group wouldn’t play and not using a assure of two million Mexican pesos.

Mexican athletes are embroiled in a labor dispute with match organizers over pay, in a scenario that mirrors the latest equal pay motion. On the eve of the largest sport of their lives, group coaching was halted because the group was confined to a lodge till a decision was reached.

The group, below strain from the media and public to play for his or her nation, described it because the “worst week ever”. The day earlier than the ultimate, the mayor of Mexico City visited the group and begged them to play. The group determined to withdraw “out of respect for the individuals.”

Won the Women’s World Cup by defeating Mexico within the ultimate. Starring Inger Pedersen holds up the trophy.New Black Cinema/Artist of Color Marina Amaral

Unprepared and mentally exhausted, the Mexican gamers finally succumbed within the ultimate. Fifteen-year-old Susanne Augustesen scored a hat-trick as Denmark defended their title with a 3-0 victory. Despite England’s bid to host the match, the match was by no means held once more as FIFA started to take girls’s soccer below its personal management. It would take 50 years for the ladies’s sport to succeed in such heights once more.

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He has traveled the world watching soccer for 20 years, attending matches in over 80 cities in round 40 nations, and protecting the lads’s and girls’s World Cups and European Championships as a journalist. I additionally write for the Morning Star newspaper and the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out. I graduated from the University of Manchester with a level in Law.

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