Spain wins first title and makes history by beating England at the Women's World Cup
Spain's women's team displayed cunning and a brilliant tactical approach to defeat England 1-0, with a goal scored by Carmona during the first half. This is the first World Cup title won by the Spain Women's National Team.
Spain's Olga Carmona celebrates scoring the winning goal at the 2023 World Cup
Spain wrote a lasting chapter in the history of women's football by winning their first World Cup title. In an exciting and highly competitive match, the Spanish team defeated England 1-0 in the final of the Women's World Cup, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and inspiring a generation of young athletes.
The Path to Glory
Spain's trajectory towards winning the 2023 Women's World Cup was marked by challenges and exciting moments. The Spanish team weathered difficulties, including an internal crisis and the boycott of some players, before lifting the crown at the world championship. In total, 12 athletes chose not to represent the national team due to the permanence of coach Jorge Vilda. From the qualifiers to the semi-final, they made it through tough opponents such as the Netherlands and Sweden before reaching the final against England. In all, they had five wins and one loss:
3×0 Costa Rica
5×0 Zambia
0x4 japan
5×1 Switzerland
2×1 Netherlands
2×1 Sweden
1×0 England
SPAIN 1X0 ENGLAND (Final)
Jorge Vilda was the target of boos during the announcement of the lineups. The Spanish coach has faced criticism from some team members since last year, however, the Spanish Federation has maintained its support for him. Spain became the third European team to win the world title, joining Norway (1995) and Germany (2003 and 2007).
Final
The 2023 Women's World Cup final was held this Sunday morning (20) at the Accor Stadium olympic stadium in Sydney, Australia, crowded with fans from both sides supporting their teams. The final had almost 76,000 people in the stands, most of them English, but the party belonged to the Spaniards.
England, a respected team with a rich footballing history, went into the field as favorites, but Spain were determined to make history. The start of the final had a fast pace, with the ball hitting the crossbar and an incredible save from Earps. Spain showed great control of possession, with 65% possession and 5 shots against 3, always trying to exploit the speed of Paralluelo and Redondo down the flanks. However, Spain's best chance was dashed by the incredible skill of the best goalkeeper in the world. On the other hand, England presented more sophisticated plays, finding ways to overcome the strong Spanish marking. However, the best goal opportunity hit the crossbar.
The match was interrupted due to a field invasion. In the 24th minute of the first half, as England prepared for a free kick, a fan, wearing a mask and a T-shirt with Criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, invaded the field, approaching the entrance to the penalty area. However, security guards acted quickly and stopped him. Minutes laters a Spain scored the first goal, with captain Carmona finishing crosswise and opening the scoring in Sydney. With the advantage, the Spanish team began to exchange passes and seek a slower approach to the game. When he did not have possession of the ball, he opted for a firm defense to contain England, who were in disarray.
England started the second half with James and Kelly, looking to put pressure on Spain, but had problems with their accuracy in finishing. The British players dominated possession and found openings, especially on the flanks. However, there was a lack of serenity when it came to finishing and equalizing the score. On the other hand, Spain did not give up the attack and saw Mary Earps keep the minimum advantage intact. Earps shone when he saved a penalty, keeping England's hopes alive in the game.
There was later considerable delay when VAR recommended a review for a possible Walsh handball. The referee signaled the penalty, Hermoso prepared to take the kick and the English goalkeeper, showing why she is considered the best in the world, ensured that England stayed in the match. Spain withstood pressure from the English team for 13 minutes of added time and was finally able to celebrate the title.
The Spanish players showed great skill in keeping possession of the ball and used strategic substitutions to control time. In addition, there was a delay in marking a penalty and medical attention to Greenwood, who suffered a cut on his head after a collision with Paralluelo.
