Spain have won their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup after a tight 1-0 victory over England, with captain Olga Carmona grabbing the only goal of the game.
In doing so, they become the second nation to have completed the set of World Cups, adding a women’s title to that won by their men in 2010. They have now won world championships at under-17s, under-20s and senior level.
It is a victory earned against great odds, with 12 players having withdrawn themselves from selection after a dispute with coach Jorge Vilda and the Spanish Football Federation following their defeat to England at last year’s European Championships. Notably, as they celebrated, the players did so separately to the coaches.
La Roja were good value for their win, dominating the first half and spurning multiple chances, including missing a penalty.
England’s plan was to sit in and catch Spain on the break but were forced into a tactical switch at half time after being comfortably second best. Sarina Wiegman’s formation switch did improve their chances, but never accumulated enough pressure to make an indent.
For the Dutch manager, it was a heartbreaking result. She lost the previous final in 2019 with her native Netherlands, and has only lost two of her 39 matches as Lionesses boss. It was again, so near but so far.
“Overall I think Spain were a little better than us today,” she said. “Congratulations to Spain. Of course, it feels bad now, you are disappointed.
“You want to win, then you lose but what we have done and how we have shown ourselves, overcoming so many challenges, we can be so proud of ourselves though it doesn’t feel like that at the moment.”
Mary Earps was so very nearly the hero for England. The keeper made a string of saves, including the penalty, that kept the Lionesses in the game for far longer than they deserved to be given the run of play.
Spain always enjoyed superiority in the middle, with Aitana Bonmati running the game in the middle of the park alongside Jennifer Hermoso, who, aside from her penalty miss, was outstanding.
“I don’t have any words,” said Bonmati, who was named player of the tournament.
“For this moment, it’s unbelievable. I’m so glad because we did a great tournament. We suffered but also we enjoyed it. We deserve it.”
Both coaches made major selection calls: Vilda stuck with Salma Paraluello in attack, leaving Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas on the bench, while Wiegman resisted the urge to return Lauren James directly to the starting XI after her return from suspension.
The pattern was set early on, with Spain dominating the ball and England reduced to playing almost exclusively on the break.
Paralluelo was having plenty of joy on the left, pulling wide when Bronze advanced and offering an option to her midfield.
Spain looked the likelier, but it was England who had the first shot in anger, with Lauren Hemp putting a shot onto the crossbar in the 14th minute.
As if sparked into life, La Roja should have opened the scoring, with Paraluello missing a cross that would surely have been a goal. Alba Redondo met it a the back post, but only hit Mary Earps on the goalline.
When the goal finally came in the 29th minute, it was not entirely unexpected.
Bronze wandered across the field with the ball and was dispossessed, with Spain switching rapidly to Carmona, who drove into the box and drilled a low shot across Earps into the corner.
The strangle continued and England would have been happy to get top the break just 1-0 down after Paralluelo hit the post late in the half.
Wiegman rolled the dice and introduced James and Chloe Kelly at the interval, but the pressure only continued. Earps again proved her worth, tipping a Mariona Caldentey shot around the post.
Bonmati then threatened from distance, before Paralluelo shot wide. It seemed like England had got away with it, but the VAR, after an interminably long wait, called referee Tori Penso to the screen. Hermoso stepped up, but Earps again rescued her country.
Buoyed by the save, England suddenly kicked into life. Kelly was a permanent outlet on the right and James, stationed on the left, forced Catalina Coll to tip over the bar.
With time running out, Alex Greenwood suffered a head injury that delayed the game for a long period, removing the momentum that England had built, and indeed, it was Spain who came closer to scoring as Ona Battle was denied by another Earps save.
A huge 13 minutes of injury time followed, but it wasn’t enough for the Lionesses. They sent centre back Millie Bright up front and even Earps for a corner – though, for the first time, she could not rescue her side.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Disappointed . I was eager to read piers Morgan's comments on England's loss
Will
Roar Rookie
Spain were the best team, so well done to them. To think they lost to Japan 4-0 as well is quite remarkable, they play some beautiful football in the process. Best club team in Barcelona, U17, U20 champs and now the senior World Cup, they own women’s football it seems!
13th Man
Roar Rookie
As long as you are anti them in the Ashes.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Can’t stand Earps, seems like the Ollie Robinson of Women’s football.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Harsh on including NZ in that list I agree - tiny nation that is dwarfed by even Australia. No one even expected them to get a result against Norway.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I’m sure England felt like they won though! Moral victors through and through. Absolute karma! Viva Espana
sheek
Roar Guru
The English gamesmanship before Hermoso took the penalty was disgraceful. I can only assume Penso got the final gig because the USA had to be involved somehow. She was lax in the semi-final & again in the final. She should have issued yellow cards to at least 2 English players for mucking about with the penalty shot. That would have defused the crap immediately. As would have a few more yellow cards against England in the Matildas game. I don’t rate Penso as a referee at all.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The penalty was rubbish , it would have been saved by a keeper who waited till it was hit. The Spanish coach has been demonised I dont know what was the reason for the dispute you have to question what happens in Spanish football with seniority. The younger players in Spain are as good technically as their Baloon Door pairing , more effective, much faster moving and better off the ball. If you look at Barcelona they score about 150 goals a season. So Salma Paralluelo she scored a goal about every 70 minutes yet was on the bench for most of the season imagine if she played a full season. Even Bonmati doesnt get a full season at Barcelona. The Spanish coach is bedded in reality and having the so called senior players strike was of enormous benefit to him. The best thing he did was leave Putellas on the bench and having Paralluello come in was the key to them winning the world cup. So how does Putellas get all those votes I suspect that someone is paying for the votes. Its voted by journos at every nation, a lot of those nations are actually small nations in the Carribean so it probably vote buying and by hogging game time at Barcelona where she belongs on the bench as well. If Gustavsson was in charge of Spain they would have an old squad and no way Paralluello would have made the squad let alone featured.
sheek
Roar Guru
Panthers, The naked eye simply can't pick up if the goalkeeper moves off the line before the kicker makes contact with the ball. Only a TV replay can prove that.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Earps looked well on the way before the ball was kicked to me. I think Craig Foster said that it should be a penalty retake first. Yet, in the end it didn’t matter . As the team with quicker feet, better passing & more skill won. Against the Rugby tacklers.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Not sure I agree with your list of boring teams. In fact I thought NZ played out of their skins and deserved a lot more than what they got. Luck really did desert them.
chris1
Roar Rookie
You can move all you like as long as you have one foot behind the line. It looked with the naked eye that she moved off her line early but obviously VAR cleared it.
chris1
Roar Rookie
BlouBul the English didn’t like what Spain served up to them – especially in the final 15 mins. How ironic that it was the same things that the poms did to the tillies a few nights before. Watching them squealing for time wasting and fouls from the Spanish was sweet. Not so much fun when it’s happening to you. Congrats to Espana. So well deserved.
AJ73
Roar Rookie
Time wasting is something the English are good at. It was funny to hear them carry on after their antics against the Matildas. Also on their defence, my daughter and I were saying the same thing during the game – the English didn’t seem to enjoy the crosses from wide into the box, and Earps and co didn’t look entirely comfortable with balls coming in from wider than 45-50 degree angle from the middle of the goal. The also didn’t go in as hard at the tackle like the did against the Matildas and standing back more
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Fantastic final. Thoroughly enjoyable to watch as a neutral. Congrats to Spain- their football to watch was composed, patient and very skilful. England tried their hardest but were 2nd best for most of night.
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
Well Spain were the best team in WC mostly cos they attacked, tried to score goals and entertained in every game. This should be a big kick in the guts for all the dour, negative, boring nations who didn't try to score goals and lost as a result. There were many nations in this appalling to watch category too - Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland, Norway, Morocco, Italy, NZ, Portugal. Panama, France (too often). And all these negative teams were knocked out early cos the mostly male coaching staff never let them score goals. And they just didn't know how too. They weren't even trying to score on a break out. Negative negative has always been a dumb way to play, it's boring for fans, and they paid the price. Ole Spain :laughing: :thumbup:
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Very good Final and congrats to Spain, well deserved winners. Their quality on the ball was very impressive as was technical ability. Their midfield was outstanding. England had a brilliant tournament but probably played their Final on Wednesday night. Spain too good.
sheek
Roar Guru
Panthers, FIFA has cleared the save as legal. Apparently one foot of the goal keeper must be on the line at the same time as the kicker's foot makes contact with the ball. No human eye can pick up any discrepancy, if it occurs, only TV review.
338
Roar Rookie
Great game and a fitting end to what's been a great tournament. Congratulations Spain. Have been impressed with their style of play and that midfield tonight we're just awesome. Commiserations England, Beaton by a better team tonight.
sheek
Roar Guru
Well, I picked England to win but what do I know, I'm just a casual football fan, watch each men's & women's world cup as they come around, plus the Olympics, but not much league footy. Spain deserved this, they toyed with England. And I looked up Aitana Bonmati, player of the tournament. Gawd, I didn't realise how hot she is - a pocket rocket!!!