Game Day
There was enough interest in getting fans from Paris out to Le Havre to see the US Women’s Nation team play Sweden that they added another train. They even hauled out these standing cut-outs of soccer people to greet us as we boarded – according to the old French guys that got stuck riding with us: this was a slow slow train. Slow. We didn’t care so long as we got to the game in time… which we did.
Le Stade Océane appeared through the train window, and like that we were charged up for the game.
We had great seats again, looking down the goal line at Tobin Heath’s part of the field. USWNT v Sweden is always contentious, this game assured their positions in the first and second places in Group F. Sweden would have had to clobber the USWNT to gain first place since the standings after the US played Thailand and Chile. Even still, a great rivalry in this last game of the Group F stage of women’s world cup play.
Click here for the US Soccer recap of the game. By the time I got to my seat the US was already up 1:0.
Not sure the referee saw this hold.
The Swedish fans were coordinated and ready to go.
We US fans were a bit more rag-tag, but definitely had spirit.
The stadiums were all decorated by FIFA for the event. I honestly felt “Dare to Shine” was a weak slogan, why couldn’t it just be “Shine”? Why did they have to “Dare to”?
Megan Rapinoe playing keep-away like she does.
Rose Lavelle was a magician moving the ball down the field. She finally made a score in the final (spoilers!) after one of her runs downfield. But all these games we saw she’d get the ball to the net from the other end of the field and wouldn’t take the shot.
Alyssa Naeher goal kicking.
Crystal Dunn’s a hero, she did an amazing job regaining possession over and over.
Attendance was always reported on the big screen towards the end of the game. Each game had more and more interest.
A wide shot of the field, the blue and wavy architecture of the stadium portrays the harbor status of the city, Le Havre.
Handshakes after the game as the audience disperses.
A core part of the USWNT would always huddle like this after a game, after all the hubbub was over.
With groups of merry US and Swedish fans we walked out, in our case to our rental car to drive back to the hotel. The spirit of the games and the crowds were delightful.
Click through this YouTube video for the official highlights.
The day after this we spent the day touring Le Havre, the most comfortable weather we had all vacation with it’s proximity to the ocean. That’s next.
Click to return to the index of 2019 France Trip Memories.