MONTEVIDEO, November 16, 2018 -- The scene was heartbreaking. As soon as referee Laura Fortunato blew her final whistle, almost every member of the losing team collapsed to the ground. Some covered their faced trying to hide the tears, others sobbed openly.

On the other side of the pitch, Team Ghana were dancing. They have just won 3–1 and secured their quarterfinal place.

Finland has just lost their second match in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup which meant that their dream and goal of a place in the quarter-finals was no longer in their own hands.

Those players who were still standing helped others to their feet.

Head coach Marko Saloranta said later: “The players are always disappointed when they lose a football game. I think it’s the way it should be. They want to win the game and when it is not happening, it hurts.”

Some players were still crying on their way to the team bus. Captain Tuuli Enkkilä tried to give an interview through the tears.

Defender Nana Yang, one of the team’s most important players for the team, could still find some words. She said: “It was very big disappointment. We all were so tired. I have basically no energy left. We gave everything on the pitch. When I realised that, I realised I can look into my team-mates’ eyes and say: ‘We can be proud’.”

This was also coach Saloranta’s message: “I am very proud of my players. They gave everything. You can blame a coach but you cannot blame the players.”