 "Fifa Women's World Cup: Spain crowned world champions, beat England 1-0")
England looked a pale shadow of their best self as they lost the Fifa Women’s World Cup final to Spain 1-0 at Stadium Australia in Sydney. The long-awaited English hope for a World Cup trophy would continue at least for another three years as the Lionesses messed up at the biggest stage of them all, after being flawless throughout the tournament and not dropping even a single game.
Spanish skipper Olga Carmona was the difference maker with her 29th-minute goal which came courtesy of the left-footed strike from the left-back. The goal was only the third of her international career but proved to be the best to date. England tried their best, but they were no match to La Roja who led them on all vital stats.
Spain had 58% possession, 13 attempts and five shots on target while England could manage only eight shots and only three of them were on target. Both teams were handed out one yellow card each but Spain had no offsides compared to five from the Lionesses. The Jorge Vilda-managed side got five corners while that of Sarina Wiegman could get only two.
Not the double and it didn't come home either
England women’s football team were out to complete the double of holding the European title (won Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 by beating Germany 2-1) as well as the world title. The long cry of, “It’s coming home” would once again remain unfulfilled. For their manager, it was once again a heartbreak as Wiegman lost in the final of 2019 as coach of the Netherlands as well. She was beaten by the USA.
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How did the game begin?
The match started on an aggressive note with England going for a goal in the fifth minute itself. Left winger Lauren Hemp had a shot at goal. Soon after Hemp- was again in action in the 16th minute when her left-footed attempt hit the cross-bar.
After two attacking moves from England, Spain came into the game through their one set of moves. First, English goalkeeper Mary Earps was forced to make a great save in the 18th minute to save a deflection from Alba Redondo.
The goal that mattered
However, Earps could not save the Spanish team’s second attempt when their skipper Olga Carmona delivered and hit one outside the box with her left foot to find the far post of the England goal. This was only the third-ever goal in her international career for the left-back who plays for Real Madrid in Liga F.
England’s best chance of the first half after the cross-bar hit in the 16th minute came in the 43rd minute when centre-forward Ella Toone could not connect a pass from Alessia Russo. The first half could have ended 2-0 in favour of Spain, but only for Salma Celeste Paralluelo to hit the corner of the far post.
Earps saves a penalty
In the second half, the most moving part of the game came in the 64th minute when Spain was awarded a penalty for a handball in the English D. But Earps was up to the task as she saved the penalty to keep England alive in the game. It fuelled the English women to keep moving toward the Spanish goal and create chances.
In the end, it was far too much to do for an underconfident English side and they could not win the World Cup in their first final appearance. Spain, by winning the World Cup have become only the second side after Germany to hold both the men's and women’s World Cup trophies.