How good was that blockbuster between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Thursday?
What is this? You have not seen it ?
Well, what about that moment when Colombian teenage cancer survivor Linda Caicedo put a goal in the back of the net against South Korea? Or when she scored in her side’s win over Germany just two days after collapsing in training? It surely brought tears to your eyes.
Seriously? Did you miss that too?
How about some Yanks refusing to sing their national anthem, the Dutch coach telling one of his players to fold against Portugal, or the referee in the Spain-Zambia match managing to make the wrong decision after disagreeing with the VAR?
Australian rules football fans (pictured during their team’s game against Nigeria) bought Matildas tickets and merchandise in droves, but their unique experience of the local World Cup saw them cheated and robbed heavily of the event buzz
No no no ? Did you miss them all?
Come on, what’s wrong with you? It’s all those little moments that bring people together from around the world that make this tournament one of the most colorful, captivating and watchable sporting events on the planet.
How could you not watch every mesmerizing moment?
Ooooh, why didn’t you tell me you don’t have Optus?
This time last week Australians were complaining that Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews had made us the laughingstock of the world for pulling the pin on the Commonwealth Games.
Barely. Do you think the majority of people in the world could care about the Commonwealth Games? They are too busy caring about football or, as we call it, football.
And this week they would really laugh at us everywhere, from Albania to Zimbabwe, if they knew that the co-hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup could only watch some of the games on free television.
The Aussies missed seeing incredible moments like Colombian star cancer survivor Linda Caicedo scoring in her side’s 2-1 win over Germany (pictured) just two days after collapsing in training and having was rushed to hospital
That we’re so insular — or so underserved by our broadcast regulators — that the only pool games we can see without going through a paywall are those involving our own team?
Isn’t this supposed to be the global game? Not here in Australia, that’s not the case. It’s the Matilda’s game. To see someone else – like, say, the defending champions USA or world number two Germany – you have to put your hands in your pocket.
How many times over the past few weeks have we heard talking heads on Channel 7 gush about how huge, exciting and unmissable the Women’s World Cup is going to be?
Too bad they didn’t mention how restricted their coverage was.
And what about Mr Inclusion himself, Anthony Albanese, doing his man of the people act outside the stadium before the Australia-Ireland match kicks off?
Locals also didn’t get to see controversial incidents like the USA team’s mindless rendition of their national anthem ahead of their game against the Netherlands (pictured)
After saying how much he was looking forward to seeing Sam Kerr lead the team on the night (five hours after she was ruled out through injury), he stressed how great it was that so many little girls are inspired by watching their role. models in action during the tournament.
Which is true, but what if these little girls would have liked to see models not wearing green and gold, like for example players from Italy, Vietnam or China – the countries of their ancestors ?
I’m sure their parents and grandparents would have.
And that’s not even mentioning the biggest and most loyal community of expatriate footballers in the country, the English.
Not winning a soccer world cup every four years is their national sport. They like to savor every painful moment.
Sure, they could pay $24.99 per month for Optus Sport or add $6.99 per month if they’re already an Optus customer, but really, why should they?
It’s known as the World Game – but due to the vast majority of games taking place behind the Optus paywall, Australian football fanatics weren’t able to experience the true global feeling of the tournament.
Australian taxpayers are already paying for the ABC and SBS. The ABC alone spends about $550 million in production costs per year.
As part of the national broadcasters’ commitment to the Australian public, wouldn’t you think they could have found $10.4 million in reserve – the amount Optus spent to acquire the rights to the cut of the women’s world – and make the 64 matches available in self-service -air, instead of the 15 that Optus sold to Seven?
This tournament is, after all, a very big deal. The one who should give women’s football, and women’s sport in general, the biggest boost this country has ever seen.
If all of the Women’s World Cups had been available to watch for free – as they were at the Men’s World Cup last year – the buzz around the tournament would have been very different. Instead, games like Germany v Colombia (pictured) were out of reach for millions of Australian viewers
Presented and promoted properly, it should engage the whole country as only the Melbourne and Sydney Olympics have done in the past.
Mismanaged, it will be a lost opportunity that will never happen again.
Unfortunately, that seems to be the case, with many of the tournament’s most magical moments only accessible to a lucky few.
Take Brazil’s third goal in their 5-0 win over Panama, for example.
According to the Optus Sport website, it was “a thing of particular beauty, encapsulating the flair and flamboyance that we all hoped Brazil would bring to this year’s tournament.” This cemented Brazil as a go-to team going forward.
As long as you’re willing to pay $24.99 per month, that is.