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ESPN’s Jacqueline Purdy has passionately covered women’s soccer since the days of the WUSA. In that time, she’s witnessed a handful of World Cups and was on the ground in Germany this summer for the duration of the tournament. In the conversation below, Jacqueline explains why the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup was unlike any other.

Do you value the World Cup for what it was more now that we’re almost a month removed from it?

It’s hard to realize during the tournament right away just how good it is. I was saying the other day that when I was there I got to watch France play every four days. Now that I’m not watching France play every four days it’s certainly not quite the same. In the moment it was still a really good tournament, but it’s hard to realize that it’s over and you’re not going to have games like that or a tournament like that. The best one ever is such a well-earned title for that tournament. It’s not going be like that every time. They’re going to be good, but this one will probably be the best for a while.

I know you’ve watched several World Cups both as a fan and as a media member up to now. What was it about this tournament that made it so special?

The closeness of the games and the talent on the field. We had surprising results like France/Canada. Maybe not winning the game in general, but for France to win 4-0, and that was only the sixth or seventh game in the tournament. And then once the quarterfinals came and you get France/England and it goes to overtime and penalty kicks and you’re like “wow, this is a great game” and then you think the rest of the week is going to be a letdown but then Japan beats Germany and the U.S. beats Brazil. The quarterfinals round is going to always be remembered. How many times do you get three of four games go to extra time? That’s crazy. And then the final is the best game ever. The final is better than any final that’s ever happened. And not just in the Women’s World Cup, but it’s also one the best games I’ve ever seen and one of the best I’ve ever been at.

The crowds looked fantastic. Was there an example of crowd atmosphere that you’ll always remember?

I went to France/Germany in Monchengladbach and that was the only time I got to see Germany play. Everybody was really into it. They loved [Lira] Bajramaj, it was just like it would be for a men’s match. And then for the final it was the same. Even though Germany wasn’t there, it seemed like everybody was really enjoying it. In between overtime and penalty kicks I don’t know how well it came through on the TV but they were doing The White Stripes’ Seven Nations Army so everybody was having such a great time. Seeing that all happen for a women’s tournament, that was pretty special to see.

Did you notice a marked increase in public interest in the tournament over the three weeks?

I’m not really sure. For me, I got busier and busier so I saw newspaper and television less and less. I know Germany’s loss was on the front page of all the papers and they were certainly lots of coverage at the beginning. But people found out I was American after USA/Brazil and they started stopping me to tell me that Hope Solo is a great goalkeeper. There certainly was some interest. Nobody stopped me as an American before that. I mean, I had a couple of things on me that said World Cup on them that was a little bit of a giveaway, but that all started to happen between the USA/Brazil and France/USA.

Who’s the one player who impressed you the most?

Homare Sawa for the one game, but I saw France five times in person so Sonia Bompastor was the person I saw pretty consistently. But Homare Sawa in the final was probably the best performance I’ve seen from anybody.

As you say, you were with France throughout the team’s World Cup journey. Did they just seem more positive as the tournament progressed, despite the Germany loss?

Yeah, I felt they never really seemed concerned about the Germany game. The players all at France/Canada game were always saying that Germany was still the best and I think that they were very happy to be in the semifinal. After the game they were obviously upset but there was the element of wanting to make the semifinals, and they had still done that.

Where do you think the tournament will benefit women’s soccer more: the U.S., Europe, or elsewhere?

I think it’s definitely benefitting the U.S. The U.S. would have felt great if they had won of course, but it’s great for the sport that two teams that had never been to the semifinals are there. One of those teams makes it to the final, too. The top four were a little different and that’s important because other countries can see they can improve and get further in the tournament by just investing and playing more games. So I kind of think it’s a big benefit for everybody, really.

Did the tournament give you an even deeper appreciation of the women’s game?

I think so, yeah. I’ve certainly always loved it but I don’t think you can go to ten World Cup games and not just say “well, I’m in forever”. I went to a few World Cup games in 2003, but just seeing so many different teams and you when you see that many teams in that many cities, you’re in. I’m sold.

What’s the one lasting on-the-field image from this World Cup that you’ll always cherish?

I think Homare Sawa’s goal. I think I said it on a couple radio shows afterwards, too. The way I could see her shot hit the back of the net because it was kind of coming at me to my right. I knew it was her and I knew it hit the back of the net and I thought it came off her head because it happened so fast. But knowing where the clock was when that happened and you realize “oh, my God, penalty kicks”. That’ll be a memory I’ll have for a long time, I think.

And lastly, what’s your favorite off-the-field memory?

I’d like whenever I would meet fans and we would just talk. I met a bunch of Americans at an outdoor viewing at Augsburg and we just hung out and watched Germany/Japan. And I met some American fans on the train from Sinsheim to the third place game and we just talked soccer the whole time. I met a group English people who just happened to be in Germany and they were just asking me about the English team and my predictions. To end up with intense football questions and debate doesn’t happen much and it’s still happening now back here. That I like and that they are soccer topics like tactics and moments and things that happen on the field. That is pretty cool. I like when that happened in Germany and it happened pretty frequently so that was fun.

Thanks to Jacqueline for the participation and patience. You can follow her on Twitter @JacquelinePurdy.

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