Sun comes out on day 6 in Oslo as goalkeeper shines
When England defeated Brazil on penalties, Martin Forshaw’s incredible saves were what saw England prevail. What few were aware of was that there were two English goalkeepers named Martin experiencing that penalty shootout—2025 England goalkeeper Martin Forshaw and 2024 England goalkeeper Martin Farrelly, who was near the goal supporting and mentoring him.
Speaking to Forshaw before the game, Farrelly told Forshaw that this game would be his. It was.
“I just don’t even know what to say to be honest,” Forshaw says. The match seesawed down, then up, then down, before the teams drew equal at full time: 3-3. Under Homeless World Cup rules that meant the match would be decided by penalties.
“I thought it was over. My head was down,” Forshaw says. “Then I was just like, I need to do this, I need to do this. I didn’t know what else to do other than just try my best, and I managed it.”
Football is Forshaw’s happy place. Today is among the happiest. He credits his family and friends, longtime supporters without whom today would have been possible.
“People who’ve been by my side all my life, and even though I’ve never been by my own side, those people are just incredible. Without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Forshaw says.
He also credits his team, who got around him to celebrate his goalkeeping efforts and the win. “My team, honestly, they can score, get ahead. They always go ahead. And couldn’t be more proud, because those are the goalscorers, and all I’ve got to try and do is keep it down so they can get ahead.”
But it was Forshaw alone who saw England get across the line at the match’s end—he was the one entrusted to handle it. “All I could hear is the background. But couldn’t let it get to me,” he explains of the moments he stood in goal for England to face the Brazilian penalty takers. Also: “Definitely all the trust in the world they’ve given me to be their keeper, I’m just happy to be that guy,” he says.
Words by Fiona Crawford | Photos by Donnie Nicholson and John Anderson