Spain overcame dispute and internal turmoil to lift the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy as England's wait to win a first title goes on after the winner’s deservedly triumphed in the final in Sydney.
Looking to become the first England senior side since the men's team in 1966, the Lionesses suffered heartbreak after being outplayed by a side full of flair and creativity. Winning captain Olga Carmona was the difference as she scored the winning goal after sliding the ball past goalkeeper Mary Earps in the first half after England's Lucy Bronze lost possession in midfield.
England manager Sarina Wiegman, who has now lost two successive World Cup finals, introduced Lauren James and Chloe Kelly at half-time but Spain maintained control despite the Lionesses' best efforts. Mary Earps, who won the Golden Glove award as best goalkeeper at the tournament, made several stunning saves, none better than from the penalty spot to deny Jenni Hermoso in the second half.
Spain was crowned champions for the first time despite going into the tournament under a cloud of controversy following a dispute between players and the Spanish football federation. Packed with Barcelona stars who won their second Women's Champions League title this season, they imposed their quality and worked out how to deal with England's high press.
They dominated large chunks of the game, exposing the spaces left by England's attacking full-backs and took their chance when Lucy Bronze cut inside from the right and gave the ball away when she was stopped by a wall of red in the centre circle. Spain intelligently switched play to their left and Carmona ran on to a simple pass from Mariona Caldentey before stroking the ball low past a diving Earps.
They had several chances to extend their lead - Earps blocked shots from Ona Batlle, Caldentey and Alba Redondo in each half - while Salma Paralluelo's first-time strike brushed the post on the stroke of half-time. It was a deserved victory for Spain, but it will feel like a missed opportunity for the Lionesses, who have found a way to win so often under Wiegman but could not find the answers in the biggest game in their history.
"I'm just deflated," Bronze said. "Obviously we went into the World Cup wanting to win it and we were so close, but in the end, we couldn't quite get it over the line. I am proud of what we have achieved but I think everybody that knows me, knows that I only like gold medals."
Spain’s achievement is a remarkable one given manager Jorge Vilda survived a player revolt less than 12 months ago. That unrest in the set-up meant they were missing Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina, who all helped Barcelona win the Champions League in June.
Their victory could transform women's football in Spain, which has been thrust into the limelight in recent years following Barcelona's domestic success. For the Lionesses, it wasn’t to be this time around, but, for their young side, it can, at least, go down as an experience of a lifetime, which bodes well for the country’s future.
With packed stadiums, throughout Australia and New Zealand, the woman’s game, in many ways, could even be seen as a beacon of hope for the game at large – for both sexes involved in it!
