Haiti, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal and Republic of Ireland representatives feature as FIFA highlights five players who didn't deserve to suffer first-phase elimination.
Players from Haiti, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal and Republic of Ireland star
One is 19-year-old and another was described as “phenomenal”. A goalkeeper made “the save of the tournament”.
1. Melchie Dumornay - Haiti
Les Grenadières went home having failed to score or pocket a point. Their prized jewel went home having skyrocketed her hype. Dumornay, indeed, was utterly electrifying in Australia, combining Lena Oberdorf-esque dynamism defensively with immeasurable invention offensively. The Lyon ace seems destined to become one of the best players on the planet. Perhaps, at 19, she already is.
Did you know?
Dumornay won more tackles, completed more dribbles and created more chances than any other player during England-Haiti.
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“The bar was set very high for her. She exceeded it. I’m not surprised at all. I see her every day in training. I see scissor kicks, I see her scoring from halfway line. She’s extraordinary.” Nicolas Delepine
2. Jacqui Hand - New Zealand
The Colorado College alum arrived at the competition as an uncharted quantity. Thanks to her icy movement and captivating crafts, she departs it as the Football Ferns’ new poster girl. Hand set up the only goal for Hannah Wilkinson with a palatial, low cross against Norway, had a header disallowed because Wilkinson was marginally offside and hit the woodwork against the Philippines, and hit the post again with a sumptuous lob against Switzerland.
Did you know?
Hand lives on the Aland Islands, a Swedish-speaking archipelago that forms part of Finland. Virtually all Aland United’s away fixtures are in or around Helsinki, which is a 27-hour round trip largely by ferry.
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“What a ball. It was amazing, she couldn’t have placed it any better. I owe Jacqui for the greatest moment of my life.” Hannah Wilkinson on Hand’s assist against Norway
3. Katie McCabe - Republic of Ireland
When McCabe returned home from her first trip away with her country, she had to get changed in the airport toilets and hand a borrowed tracksuit back, before walking through the departure gates to zero waiting supporters. She stepped into Dublin Airport on Wednesday, in a tracksuit nobody is wrestling off her, to a heroine’s welcome. Ireland had done themselves proud, and their captain was fundamental to it. Energy, aggression, slalom dribbles, pinpoint passes and a goal direct from a corner made her one of the stars of the first phase.
Did you know?
McCabe became just the third player to score an Olympic goal at a global finals after Marcos Coll (Chile 1962) and Elise Kellond-Knight (France 2019).
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“All the girls literally jumped up. We were hitting each other – I don’t know how many people got hit on the head! Oh, the feeling – goosebumps and everything. It was just a Katie goal. It was phenomenal. She’s phenomenal.” Abbie Larkin on Katie McCabe scoring Ireland’s first Women’s World Cup goal
4. Olivia McDaniel - Philippines
“The last five minutes felt like 20 years,” said the girl from Laguna Beach after the historic victory over New Zealand. And while multiple Filipinas – Angie Beard, Sarina Bolden, Jessika Cowart and Hali Long among them – covered themselves in glory in The Land of the Long White Cloud’, McDaniel rocketed herself to national immortality. She made innumerable saves, including jaw-dropping ones from Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, Grace Jale and Guro Reiten.
Did you know?
The Philippines were losing 3-2 to Chinese Taipei in a penalty shootout for a place at Australia & New Zealand 2023. McDaniel needed to save a Su Hsinyun spot-kick to keep her nation alive. She did. Then she needed to score a penalty to keep them alive. She did. Then she repelled the next Taiwanese attempt to inspire the Filipinas to an unbelievable qualification.
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“Brilliant. The save of the tournament. World-class and match-winning.” Mark Schwarzer on McDaniel’s save against Jale
5. Kika Nazareth - Portugal
An insipid Portugal suddenly sprung to life when Kika, returning from injury, was sent on against the Netherlands. The 20-year-old midfielder’s intoxicating talent then undid Vietnam – she contributed a goal and almost scored a golazo – before she out-performed elite stars Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan against USA. “I’m extremely sad and extremely proud,” Kika told FIFA after their unfortunate elimination. “I can’t tell you for how long I’ll be crying for.” Fans of futebol-arte are also crying that this girl wonder is no longer Down Under.
Did you know?
Kika was the first female footballer to be represented by super agent Jorge Mendes, who looks after the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, James Rodriguez and Jose Mourinho.
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“She a magnificent player. She’s the future of Portuguese football. I’m sure she’s going to dazzle in this competition again and again.” Jessica Silva
