The P7 Mini World Cup kicked off in dramatic style, with the semi-finals delivering exactly the kind of tension you’d expect from the biggest stage (well, the front yard anyway). Both matches went right down to the wire, with Scotland and Brazil pushing their opponents all the way before narrowly missing out in penalty shootouts. Brazil and France went to sudden death before it was keepers out and crossbar challenge with Owen M smashing his off the bar to send his team to the showdown.
With the finalists decided, Spain and France prepared for the big game. In a touching (and slightly soggy) pre-match ceremony, both teams lined up to respectfully observe their national anthems. The crowd followed suit, standing proudly under the enormous school conker tree, which doubled as both a grandstand and a rain shelter. Nothing says international football like a chorus of quiet humming mixed with the steady patter of drizzle on leaves.
Then it was game time—and the atmosphere quickly turned electric. The crowd did their best to rival any World Cup stadium, belting out “I believe that we will win, I believe that we will win!” at full volume (IYKYK), before switching to local favourites like “Mooney’s on fire!” and the wonderfully drawn-out “OC, OC, OCCCCCCCC!” (which may or may not have helped the scoring later).
The final itself was a close-fought battle, packed with chances at both ends. Spain pressed, France countered, and both keepers pulled off saves that will absolutely be exaggerated in storytelling for years to come. It was the kind of match where every missed shot drew groans, every tackle looked heroic, and every player was briefly convinced they were in the World Cup final (which, let’s be honest, they were).
Just when it looked like the match might drift towards penalties—because apparently everyone fancied another nerve-shredding shootout—Spain struck. With almost the last kick of the game, Owen C. popped up in the right place at the right time to score a dramatic winner, sending the Spanish side into wild celebrations and leaving France wondering how it had slipped away.
And so, Spain were crowned champions of the P7 Mini World Cup—undoubtedly the most prestigious tournament to take place under a conker tree in the rain this year. Smiles all round and onwards towards their final day in St Patrick's!
¡Enhorabuena a España!
