Have we just witnessed the biggest surprise of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, or is there more to follow, perhaps even from this Colombia team alone?
Two games down in Group H and the name in pole position with six points is not Germany, but the side who stunned them and the watching world on Sunday night in Sydney. While this is an impressive German team, one that maintains every chance of being the last one standing in the competition come 20th August, the golden moment here was all Colombia’s – twice over.
A sublime goal from teenage sensation Linda Caicedo was looking increasingly like the winner, only for Germany’s talismanic striker Alexandra Popp to convert an 89th-minute penalty down the middle, after Lena Oberdorf was felled by goalkeeper Catalina Pérez. Somehow, though, the underdog snatched back its day, courtesy of a never-to-be-forgotten Manuela Vanegas header.
The Real Sociedad defender rose to meet an out-swinging corner from Leicy Santos, in the seventh minute of added time. Speaking to She Kicks ahead of the tournament, creative talent Santos was asked about the very prospect of such a result.
“Anything can happen in the World Cup, and I think underestimating a rival can cost you a lot,” the Atlético Madrid number ten replied. “Colombia has a good team, and players who are unpredictable in attack; that makes us feel more likely to surprise, and be one of the revelation teams of the World Cup.”
The 27-year-old was not yet born the last time Germany were beaten in the group stage – a 3-2 loss to Sweden in June 1995 – but she was in the squad when Colombia delivered their last great shock in this competition. It came in Moncton, Canada in 2015, a 2-0 group win over France that ultimately sent them through as a third-place qualifier in the old 24-team format.
Their headline feat this time played to a global audience of millions, watching on TV and reacting online, though the scores of yellow-clad revellers among 40,499 at Sydney Football Stadium got the best of it. With possession in scarce supply, Mayra Ramírez was a tireless and robust forward target, while Real Madrid youngster Linda Caicedo was another crucial outlet, when she could find room to turn.
Space, though, was barely required at all, in a 52nd-minute moment that transcended the women’s game altogether, as the 18-year-old tipped for stardom danced between two defenders before lifting a breathtaking finish into the top corner. Teammate Santos, introduced shortly afterwards for Lady Andrade, knows a little herself about the label of prodigious talent, and making a landmark move to Madrid.
The first female Colombian player to be bought by a European team (joining Atlético from Santa Fe in 2019), she was 17 when making her senior international debut, appearing in her first World Cup at 19.
“On a personal level, playing in a World Cup again is an irreplaceable satisfaction,” she explains when discussing the feeling of Colombia missing out four years ago. “I am going to play my second World Cup, with more experience and maturity, and the fact that I did not have this last time makes you value this opportunity to be amongst the elite.”
“It hurt us a lot, because we knew we had a team that could make history in the Copa América and in the World Cup. We had an impeccable first (qualifying) phase, and unfortunately, in the final phase, we were not good enough.
“It took its toll, in a way that hurts you the most as a footballer, losing the most important tournaments.”
📸 ¡𝙋𝘼𝙍𝘼 𝙇𝘼 𝙃𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙄𝘼!
🇨🇴 2-1 🇩🇪#PersiguiendoUnSueño#TodosSomosColombia 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/8CUOh0uBES
— Selección Colombia (@FCFSeleccionCol) July 30, 2023
In both the Germany win and the 2-0 to open against Korea Republic, head coach Nelson Abadía watched from the stands, serving a touchline ban as assistant Angelo Marsiglia deliriously celebrated their goals with the players in Sydney. Ranked 25th in the world, they came into the tournament as Copa América runners-up, winning all five games as hosts last summer before a 1-0 loss to Brazil in the final.
As well as securing their World Cup qualification, Santos believes their run in that competition is now bearing fruit on the grandest stage.
“It gave us a lot of confidence. The most important thing that we understood and learned as a team is to be united; all pulling for the same goal made us stronger, and we played each game as a final.”
Coming from a fishing village (San Sebastián) in Lorica, Córdoba in northern Colombia, Santos was a title winner in her first professional club season, scoring on the night that Sante Fe lifted the inaugural top-flight crown (against Atlético Huila) in 2017. Her current World Cup adventure comes off the back of another success in red and white, with Atlético Madrid beating rivals Real on penalties in May’s Copa de la Reina final.
Four years as a Rojiblanca has so far brought connections with teammates from around the world, with Venezuela star Deyna Castellanos (now at Manchester City) speaking of the deep understanding she felt with her. Santos compares her role between club and country.
“In the national team, I have much more freedom to create in the game, to slow it down as well. I play with more responsibility in attack than in defence, so I generally play more in front of midfield than in my club.
“With Atlético Madrid, I play a little further behind. I become a box-to-box midfielder, which makes you a much more complete player, but it is true that you lose a lot of opportunities in attack and in front of goal.”
CAMPEONA DE LA COPA DE LA REINA 🏆 siempre #AupaAtleti ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/CGTZJvGLOC
— Leicy Santos (@leicysantos10) May 28, 2023
The sense of rapport in her Colombia squad can be attributed in part to a remaining contingent from the 2011 World Cup in Germany: goalkeeper Sandra Sepúlveda, captain Daniela Montoya, Lady Andrade, Catalina Usme and Diana Ospina. The latter of those forms one half of an indispensable duo when it comes to Selección spirit, Santos reveals.
“The players who always bring joy to the team are Carolina Arias and Diana Ospina; the two of them are contagious for the rest. We have a routine before going out onto the pitch, which is music and dancing in the locker room; some players do the same dance.”
Like all too many of the teams competing in this World Cup, Colombia’s players have had more than just on-field opponents to battle against over the years, with allegations in the past of varying substandard conditions, and progress harmed by spells of inactivity. Among those watching the win over Germany with bursting pride was Isabella Echeverri, a young World Cup debutante with Santos in 2015 who this year announced her retirement at 28.
The former Sevilla midfielder, among the most prominent to speak out in the past, shared in both the highs and the hurt with Santos and so many others in the team. In our interview in 2016, ‘Isa’, currently co-commentating for Telemundo Deportes, spoke of her teammate as ‘the future of Colombia’, sharing as well Santos’ love for singing during international camps!
“With Isa, we enjoyed a lot in the national team,” Santos recalls. “The (current) team is very happy and that characterises us; without a doubt, wherever we go (in the World Cup), people will see a lot of partying from us.”
In addition to overcoming one of the tournament favourites, the weeks so far in Australia have brought her first chance to see a koala, and from a slightly-safer distance, a kangaroo. Having now made the world sit up and take notice of their credentials, her team want much more than just a great group phase as a souvenir from Down Under.
Their desired approach from here will mirror that of Sunday’s victory: calculated, committed, abrasive at times, and with all intentions of unleashing a spectacular sting in the tail. Santos shares her own hopes for how they will be seen, and ultimately, remembered.
“I want Colombians to feel proud to see their team in such an important tournament. That it is a privilege to be there, but above all, that they feel identified with us and our values of never giving up, and going to the death to defend our country.
“Around the world, I want people to know the potential that the Colombian team has to give to the world.”
Interview/article by @chris_brookes
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