US savour perfect 4th of July after-party - IFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
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The final whistle blows. Abby Wambach drops to the turf and looks to the sky, albeit just for a moment. Next she sprints over to the corner of the ground to kiss her wife and hug her mother, before draping herself in a flag and rejoining her team-mates. Pride courses through her, together with the sense of a mission accomplished after the huge disappointment of four years ago.
Christie Rampone covers her face for an instant, before running towards the space between the two dugouts. There we see two girls wearing shirts with her name on it, who enfold the USA captain in a hug. Rylie and Reece could not be happier or prouder. Their mum is a world champion… for the second time. Indeed, Canada 2015 was Rampone's fifth FIFA Women's World Cup. She is the only survivor of the team that clinched the country's second world crown in 1999. "It's like coming full circle, starting with a victory and ending with a victory. The Olympics next year? We'll see!" she laughs.
Becky Sauerbrunn and Meghan Klingenberg grab a Star-Spangled Banner and embark on a lap of honour before the trophy is presented. The thousands of Americans in the crowd at Vancouver's BC Place express their appreciation with a standing ovation. Hope Solo bounds up into the stands to hug her husband. "I dedicate the world title to all of America," she shouts into the FIFA.com microphone.
"It's like coming full circle, starting with a victory and ending with a victory."
Christie Rampone
Shannon Boxx embraces her one-year-old daughter, whose mind is elsewhere. She scampers towards something that grabs her attention more than her mother's shiny new medal – the pieces of golden paper flying through the air. Oblivious to the thousands of people celebrating around her, the toddler cannot get enough of the confetti. Julie Johnston and Sauerbrunn make their way over, throwing themselves to the ground and swimming in the confetti before heaping some over the delighted child. Even Japanese player Homare Sawa cannot resist coming over to coddle Boxx's daughter in a sporting gesture that the American repays in kind with a hug.
An intimate family affair. This sums up the USA players' post-match celebrations. Champagne is uncorked, but less seems to be drunk than poured over anyone in the vicinity: the press officer and coach are the first victims. The merrymaking takes a brief hiatus while victory shirts are handed out. Gold letters scream out a longed-for message of triumph against a black background: "CHAMPIONS 1991, 1999… 2015".
The stars of the show head towards the exit, all smiles and jokes. Dozens and dozens of photos are taken. Words of respect and courtesy are uttered for their defeated opponents, with whom they cross paths before clambering aboard the team coach, where the party continues. Songs are sung and more pictures are snapped. Now the celebrations carry on away from prying eyes, although if you search on social media, you are sure to come across the players' outpourings of joy. Because after four years of pent-up emotion, they are raring to share the euphoria with their compatriots. It is the perfect 4th of July after-party.