The 2023 Women's World Cup

May my hand not tremble now that I start to relive the past and revive the feelings of uneasiness that oppressed my heart as we entered the battlements.

-Umberto Eco

Greetings, gentle readers.

As unsteady and palsied as my typing fingers have become under the withering assault of spinal nerve damage, it is my intention to detail some of the salient characteristics of this year's edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup.  Wielding the authority of one who has been following women's footy for well over twenty years, and who has able to attend the Women's Under-19 World Championship in 2002, the Under-20 World Championship in 2014, and the Women's World Cup in 2015, I sincerely hope that my insights have some value.

Her-Story

To put things in perspective, I've seen Christine Sinclair and Marta play internationally since they were teenagers, and now I have to opportunity see one or both of them make history by being the first person (male of female) to score in six different editions of the World Cup.  Since I first saw Sinclair play at Commonwealth Stadium, she has become the highest scoring player at any and all FIFA international competitions, eclipsing notables like Pélé, Alfredo di Stefano, Mia Hamm, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Abby Wambach.  This tournament provides her an opportunity to add to her amazing total of 190 goals.

Coming Up Next

As I previously stated, my typing skills and stamina are not what they once were.  I will try and break up my commentary into discrete insights or observations, followed by specific examples and photos from this year's competition.  If I can complete one or two a day, I will consider the mission accomplished.  I shall no doubt spend more time correcting and retyping my text than actually composing it, but zimachitika, as they say.

My prolonged absence from the blog-o-verse may mean that the readership of these articles is non-existent, in which case these meandering ruminations will serve only as archived thoughts that act as a baseline comparison during diagnostic evaluations of my impeding senility and/or dementia.

Back after some physiotherapeutic exercises to ease the discomfort in my arms.

Cheers,

—mARKUS