On Women’s Football Tour

Some departures don’t weaken a team immediately — they reveal their meaning years later. Goalkeepers do not see the game like others do. They stand alone, removed from the noise, watching everything unfold in front of them. They read patterns before they form. They sense danger before it becomes visible. Seven years ago, Hedvig Lindahl left Chelsea FC Women. At the time, it was just another squad decision. Another transition. Another professional goodbye in a sport that constantly moves forward. Nothing dramatic. Nothing emotional. Nothing, it seemed, historic. But football rarely reveals the true meaning of departures immediately. Sometimes, it takes years. Lindahl was not simply a goalkeeper passing through a successful club. She was a leader. A stabiliser. Someone who understood environments, not just matches. She had experienced football cultures where trust mattered as much as talent. Where people were not just resources, but pillars. Goalkeepers develop a different kind of intell...

  Karen Carney The Quiet Revolutionary Some players arrive with noise. Karen Carney arrived with purpose. She never needed to shout. She never needed theatrics. Her rebellion was quieter, and therefore more powerful. It lived in her movement, in her courage to demand more when “more” was not yet fashionable in women’s football. Karen Carney did not just play the game. She helped drag it forward. She grew up in a time when girls were still told—subtly or directly—that football was not entirely theirs. Facilities were poorer. Attention was minimal. Respect was conditional. Yet she walked onto those pitches anyway, not as a guest, but as an owner of her own destiny. And she stayed. Over 140 caps for England is not just a number. It is a testimony to endurance. It is winters survived. It is pain carried silently. It is the daily decision to return, again and again, when easier paths existed elsewhere. She represented England at a time when the shirt was heavier than it is now—n...

 Ze viel in in de 61ste minuut. En in de 62ste lag de bal al binnen. Dat is geen toeval. Dat is een signaal . Terwijl anderen minuten nodig hebben om “in de wedstrijd te komen”, komt Eva Oude Elberink erin en beslist ze. Twee goals, directe impact, wedstrijd gekanteld. FC Twente loopt vier punten uit. Titelrace opengebroken. Klaar. En dan moeten we blijven doen alsof dit soort invalbeurten geen selectiecriterium zijn? Bij achterstand heb je aan Oranje-zijde te vaak hetzelfde probleem: balbezit zonder dreiging, controle zonder tanden. Mooie structuren, maar niemand die zegt: “Geef mij dat moment maar.” Terwijl het antwoord soms gewoon op de bank zit. Invallen en scoren is een aparte kwaliteit . Niet iedereen kan dat. Niet iedereen durft dat. Het is makkelijk om te selecteren op basis van status, caps en vaste namen. Het is moeilijker om te erkennen dat voetbal ook beslist wordt door wie binnenkomt wanneer het brandt . Maar wie dat negeert, verliest wedstrijden die hij n...

 Celien Guns schrijft Belgische voetbalgeschiedenis in Portugal Het Belgische vrouwenvoetbal heeft er opnieuw een pionier bij. Celien Guns (27) kondigde via sociale media aan dat ze haar carrière verderzet bij Damaiense, een club in de Portugese eerste klasse. Daarmee wordt ze de eerste Belgische profvoetbalster die actief is in Portugal – een stap die niet alleen persoonlijk historisch is, maar ook symbolisch voor de internationalisering van onze speelsters. Guns droeg in totaal vier keer het shirt van de Belgian Red Flames, en bouwde daarnaast een veelzijdige clubcarrière uit: Lierse SK – begin van haar carrière, nationaal opgemerkt om haar loopvermogen en strijdlust. Club YLA – vaste waarde in de Super League, waar ze maturiteit en ervaring opdeed. sc Heerenveen – ervaring in de Eredivisie, waar ze in aanraking kwam met de fysieke intensiteit van het Nederlandse voetbal. Apollon Ladies (Cyprus) – Champions League-ervaring en een eerste buitenlandse avontuur. Damaiense (Portugal)...

  Rachel Brown: Head and Shoulders Above the Rest It was never about ticking boxes. It was never about rattling through PowerPoints until everyone falls asleep. Football is not theory. Football is feeling. And Rachel Brown embodies that better than anyone. She was once a damn good goalkeeper – strong, fearless, commanding her box. But today, she has become something else. The greatest female pundit there is. Because Rachel doesn’t just talk football. She lives it. She feels every tackle, every save, every goal. And when England won at Wembley, she didn’t hide behind analysis – she broke. Tears rolling down her face, dancing like Nobby Stiles, exploding with joy. That is what makes her unique. She doesn’t stand at a distance, safe and detached. She throws her heart into it, every single time. And when she speaks, you listen – because it’s real, because it’s raw. Rachel Brown bursts out of the screen. Passion, honesty, beauty, knowledge. A pundit who gives more than commentary – she ...

  A Career of Medals — but Remembered for the Miss Over the years, Peter Gerhardsson did a good job with Sweden. Several medals, big matches, and a team that often punched above its weight. But the public rarely remembers the full picture. What sticks in people’s minds is the last tournament — the one you don’t win. And this was his last match. He mishandled the penalty shootout. He let it come down to chaos instead of command. And when a player openly said afterwards “I didn’t even want to take one” — that’s not just a player doubting herself. That’s a player quietly saying: the coach abandoned me here. It’s harsh, but that’s football: You can earn medals for years, but you’re judged on the last moment you mismanaged. Wil je dat ik dit nog uitbreid met een sterke slotzin? Bijvoorbeeld: A good coach brings medals — a great one also shields his players from moments like this.

  Pace, passion, and pure dedication — you ran down the wing like it was your second home. With over 100 caps for Denmark and memories from World Cups and Euros, you played with fire in your boots and heart on your sleeve. Wishing you a birthday full of joy, and thank you for every thrilling run in red and white.

 Happy Birthday, Rachel Brown! Safe hands, sharp mind, and a true voice of the game. You guarded Everton’s goal with class, wore the England shirt with pride, and continue to lead with insight as a voice for women’s football. From shot-stopper to game-changer — you’ve never stopped inspiring. Wishing you a birthday as strong and grounded as your legacy.

  Happy Birthday, Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir! Strong, composed, and commanding — you are Icelandic steel with a touch of elegance. From Iceland to Sweden to Bayern Munich, you’ve led from the back with vision and voice. Not just a defender, but a presence. A leader. A rock. Wishing you a birthday filled with pride, strength, and joy. Til hamingju með afmælið, Glódís — the game is stronger with you in it.

Six years ago today I walked through the streets of Paris — crying and dancing at the same time, overwhelmed with pride, with joy, with love for the one who just saved it all. I told complete strangers how brilliant she was. How they had just witnessed greatness — “That’s Hedvig Lindahl. That’s my keeper.” It was the first time I ever celebrated in a way that felt almost shameless . No filter, no holding back. Just pure, wild emotion . Because that wasn’t just a penalty save. That was the release of years of loyalty, of fear, of silent hope — all unleashed in one glorious dive. And I? I exploded. Loud, ungraceful, uninhibited. Because finally — finally — she got what she deserved. She didn’t just stop Canada. She stopped the doubts. She reclaimed her aura. She reminded the world: “I’m Hedvig. And I’m not done.” That night in Paris was my personal final. Not on a scoreboard — but in my soul. And in that scandalous cheer of mine, a piece of football history ...

  Inleiding  De kracht achter de glorie De foto’s vertellen het verhaal. Niet van glitter. Niet van media. Niet van scripts. Maar van iets diepers. Een kapitein en een keeper. Twee vrouwen die elkaar vonden op het moment dat de wereld toekeek — en zij hun focus verlegden naar wat écht telde: elkaar. Dit is geen gewone voetbalvriendschap. Dit is Christie Rampone & Hope Solo — de as die een tijdperk van dominantie mogelijk maakte. Hoofdstuk 1 – De rust en de storm Hope Solo was een furie. Een kracht van de natuur. Gedreven, impulsief, op het randje van perfectie én conflict. En dan was daar… Christie Rampone. Rustig. Nuchter. Sereen. Niet om haar te temmen  maar om haar te dragen . Ze stonden symbool voor de balans binnen Team USA. De flamboyante Solo die matchen redde met wonderhanden. De standvastige Rampone die niemand liet ontsporen, niet in de backlijn, niet in het hart van de ploeg. Samen waren ze meer dan de som der delen. Ze waren de ziel van ...

  Christie Rampone – The Captain Who Never Left Us She was never loud. Never needed headlines. She just showed up. And kept showing up — again, and again, and again. From 1997 to 2015, she guarded the U.S. backline like a lighthouse guards a rocky coast. World Cups. Olympics. Friendlies. Crisis moments. She didn’t waver. Not once. She played under Tony DiCicco , stood beside Mia Hamm , lifted gold with Abby , cleared for Hope , and left a legacy for Crystal and Lindsey . Across four eras, she was the constant. In a team of stars, she was the spine. In a world of flash, she was foundation. While others danced, Christie stood firm . She didn't score the goals. She stopped the storms. 50 years today. And still no one has taken her place. Because how do you replace someone who held it all together, so long, so quietly? Happy Birthday, Captain America . We never stopped needing you. And we never will.

  Why Hope Solo Is a Good Role Model They told you she was too loud. Too strong. Too difficult. Too much. But maybe that’s exactly why she’s the role model we needed. Because girls don’t just need someone who smiles for the cameras. They need someone who shows what it looks like to speak up — even when it costs you. They need to see that being emotional doesn’t make you unstable. It makes you human . That standing your ground doesn’t make you arrogant — it makes you brave . Hope Solo didn’t fit the mold. She broke it. And for every girl who’s ever felt too intense, too serious, too different… she said: “Be all of it. Be you . And don’t apologize.” She’s not a polished fairy tale. She’s a fighter. A woman who fell, and got back up. Again. And again. And again. That’s not a scandal. That’s strength. So if you’re looking for a role model who teaches perfection — look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for someone who teaches resilience, truth, and surv...

Before social media. Before primetime coverage. Before the world watched… She was the moment. Not because she asked for it — but because she earned it. In 1999, she filled the Rose Bowl before anyone thought it was possible. They laughed when she booked it months in advance. Then they cried when history was made. 158 goals. Countless assists. Two World Cups. Two Olympic golds. But her numbers are just echoes. Her impact is what remains. She inspired a generation — and then another. And even now, when she walks into a room, it’s as if time itself pauses. An Icon Beyond Borders She didn’t just belong to the United States.She belonged to the game. Whether in Tar Heels blue or USWNT red,Mia Hamm moved with a clarity few ever reach —a purpose that made fans from every corner rise. She broke records,but more than that — she opened gates. Before club banners and before packed stadiums,she was already a beacon.For girls in Brazil, boys in Japan, dreamers in Nigeria…Mia Hamm meant: You can. S...

  Giulia Gwinn – Die Eleganz der Rückkehr Manche Spielerinnen stürzen. Manche stehen wieder auf. Und dann gibt es Giulia Gwinn – die mit einer solchen ruhigen Kraft zurückkehrt, dass man vergisst, dass sie je gefallen ist. Ihr Name klingt wie Musik. Und wenn sie die Linie entlangläuft, scheint sich das Gras zu neigen, als erkenne es ihren Rhythmus. Technik und Spielintelligenz, Tempo und Ruhe — eine seltene Kombination, geformt in Freiburg, gereift in München, und leuchtend auf der Weltbühne, als sie gerade erst ankam. Sie gewann den Goldenen Ball bei der U17-WM. Sie traf bei ihrer ersten Weltmeisterschaft. Sie schien die Antwort auf eine Generationenfrage. Und dann kam die erste Verletzung. Und noch eine. Zweimal das gleiche Schicksal. Aber nie dieselbe Giulia. Sie kehrte zurück. Reifer. Klarer. Noch immer mit dem gleichen Biss, aber mit mehr Tiefe in ihrem Blick. Wie jemand, der weiß: nichts ist selbstverständlich. Sie macht Deutschland charmant. In...

  Hope Solo – Where Silence Stops She didn’t just guard the goal. She dared the world to shoot. Every save was a sentence. Every glare, a warning. They say goalkeepers live in isolation. Hope Solo ruled that exile like a kingdom. She played not just with hands and reflexes, but with defiance, instinct, pride. The record books remember the clean sheets. But those who watched remember the presence. The walk. The eyes. The gravity she brought. She wasn’t always understood. But greatness rarely is. She spoke when others stayed silent. She stood when others flinched. And when the world blinked — Hope didn’t. She was more than a goalkeeper. She was a warning. And a promise. That no matter how dark the moment, someone will always rise to meet it.

  Julie Ertz  The Wall With a Pulse Not just a defender. A presence. A pulse behind every clearance, a roar behind every set piece, a shadow that strikers dreaded. She didn’t just play the game. She pressed it to the edge of its limits. From 2015 to 2019, she was the heartbeat of a team that feared no one. In Canada, she was the wall. In France, she was the spine. Always first to put her body where others flinched. And yet — she danced. She laughed. She carried her child onto the field. She reminded the world: You can be steel and soft. Fierce and full of grace. Julie Ertz didn’t just defend. She inspired. And now, the silence after her farewell — isn’t empty. It echoes. Because legends leave shape. And Julie left hers in gold.  

Give Her a Mural. Get Salma. (And Never Forget Who Chelsea Really Is) Chelsea stands at a crossroads. The club that rose to dominance by making bold calls, by refusing to put any one name above the collective, now faces a defining question: Do we stay loyal to yesterday, or do we build tomorrow? Sam Kerr. Legend. Finisher. Icon. But also: injuries, age, and a comeback that – as much as we all hope – might never reach the same level again. Even assuming she returns at full strength is already an optimistic take. And yet the assumption lingers: “She’s Sam, so she starts.” That’s dangerous thinking. Because the future has already knocked – not quietly, but with power and purpose. Enter Aggie Beever-Jones. English. Young. Clinical. Smart movement, ice-cold finishing, born in Chelsea blue. A striker with the potential to become England’s greatest ever. She’s no prospect anymore — she’s the real deal. And if Chelsea benches her to make way for a returning Kerr, what message d...

 Ach… ’t was te verwachten. Niet goed genoeg. Maar laat ons eerlijk zijn: wie dacht nu écht dat we hier gingen winnen? We moeten dit toernooi bekijken zoals de Schotten dat op tornooien doen. Met realisme, met zelfspot, met pinten in de hand. Drie matchen. Drie dagen feest. En als we ergens een puntje pakken, is het bonus. Niet omdat we geen ambitie mogen hebben — maar omdat dromen mooier zijn als je ze niet forceert. Supporter niet omdat je denkt dat we Europees kampioen worden. Supporter omdat je van die kleuren houdt, van de verhalen, van de meisjes op dat veld. En omdat ze, hoe hard het vandaag ook was, wél alles geven wat ze in zich hebben. Maar sportief? Nee. Not good enough. En dat mogen we zeggen. Zeker als we er daarna ook weer staan. En we blijven het herhalen… Zonder betere competitie… Zal dit nooit veranderen. Niet nu. Niet over 30 jaar. Dan volgt die degradatie uit de hoogste groep van de Nations League toch eens een keer. En op termijn speel je zelfs ...