Lyon - THE FINALS

Prep for leaving and the big game

Sun 7 Jul 19 - Sun 7 Jul 19 94 °F
View WWC 2019 on M6-Greg's travel map.

Ivan and Diana can't put it off any longer - they have to do laundry before continuing on (they are only about 1/2 way through their extended European vacation). Jerry and I meet up with them to hang out while they do their morning activity (yeah, you know, Diana is really doing it). Back to hotel to finish packing up - I'll leave at 4am in the morning for the long flights home. The rest are off to Paris later in the morning (Sally returns tomorrow night, the others leave the next day).

The plan was to meet up for lunch and then head to the game. It is a Sunday which means some places are not open. Since Ivan and Diana had not been to Le Pap, we went there again. Different, less friendly waiter (little English) and the "group" did not enjoy their food as much. With the late night dancing, Sally can barely walk. The group is kind of pitiful getting to the metro... I'm just hoping to be able to make it through good parts of the game - come on, pepto, save the day.

It's a long metro ride out to catch the bus/tram the rest of the way. We are directed to the bus this time. Again, other than the hour+ to get there, it isn't too packed getting there. We meet some nice Netherland fans along the way as well.

It was pretty easy getting into the game. I need to drink some more water, use the restroom and sit down. It is exciting - but I really don't feel too well still. But it is THE FINALS baby, so I go ahead and switch into my "game gear" (mainly skipping too much "celebrating" while getting to the game). Our seats are just off the goal - 6 rows from the field - but right in the hot sun. We look for pre-game shady seats and hope that sun will creep down before kick-off.

As luck would have it, behind the sun going down and a cloud here or there, we are shaded for the game (though those on the other side of the goal were not - and on the far side - directly into the sun). First half tie of 0-0 pleases Dave Parsons (had to give you a shout out Dave, as you love the 0-0 soccer scores and were the impetus for the blog this time around) - hopefully you made it to the end

We were luckly that all of the second half scoring was on our end! Including the penalty kick. I haven't tried a video in the blog before... here goes nothing:

The game was great! All things feel into place for our group - games all the way to the final and winning it! Couldn't ask for anything more. Begs the question of whether to do another one? (how do you top that?). The celebrations after the game were fantastic - some of the spectacle (graffiti cannons and fireworks), but also the booing of Gianni Infantino (head of FIFA) and chants of "Equal Pay". But the best of all was how truly excited the ladies were to win. We benefited from sitting with the USA (and American Outlaws) fans and the team partied for a while right in front of us! It was really a touching and amazing thing to see - and there's no such as celebrating too much or in the wrong way as the champions!

Trying video another way.... The post game celebration!

World Cup Champions - Four Stars - Wow. What a finish to the long haul. We stayed until all the players left the field, Jerry did some more shopping and it was still packed leaving the stadium. But everyone was in a good mood for the long wait. I small group of young French girls sang their national anthem to the delight of the crowd. A mere 2-3 hours after the game, we found a small bar to toast the Women's Victory and say goodbye - the end to another great world cup soccer trip.

Thanks for following along with us. As for the next one - who knows? We missed Russia (along with the Men's team) - doing both would be too much (unless we hit the lottery - but alas "you have to play to win"). Might have to do a soccer trip around a different tournament? (non soccer trips haven't ever made the blog ) I can't support Qatar and 2026 is a ways off (and it is in the USA/Canada/Mexico, so might not be so interesting?). The Women will try to Three-peat (never been done) and in February they'll annouce where it will be hosted - but as Phil said - he'd bet anything the locale will be better than Qatar.

I guess time will tell... Au Revoir for now!

Past blogs (Men's World Cups): (no comments on how young or thin we were, or how my writing was better )