La Roja ran out 1-0 winners over the European champions in Sydney as they defied the odds of being without 12 key players to seal the trophy
Spain won the Women's World Cup for the first time on Sunday, defeating England 1-0 in the final in Sydney thanks to Olga Carmona's first-half strike. It was an eventful game, with Lauren Hemp hitting the bar and Jennifer Hermoso seeing Mary Earps save her second-half penalty, but one that ultimately saw just the one goal settle it as La Roja broke the Lionesses' hearts and prevailed at Stadium Australia.
Hemp's strike against the woodwork was the first big moment of a tight game, some great work by England around the box ending with Ella Toone teeing up the forward whose effort was extremely close to breaking the deadlock. Spain should've scored a few minutes later, but Salma Paralluelo mistimed her effort from Mariona Caldentey's cross and then Alba Redondo's attempt at the back post was well-saved by Earps.
It was shortly after that Carmona did break the deadlock, with Lucy Bronze losing the ball in a central area and then seeing her vacant right-hand side immediately exploited as Ona Batlle switched play to Mariona and she slipped in Carmona to arrow home a shot across Earps and into the bottom corner. Paralluelo hit the post right on half-time, too, and it was no surprise to see England make changes at the break, with Lauren James and Chloe Kelly coming on as head coach Sarina Wiegman switched to a back four.
It had a positive impact, for sure, but James' well-saved shot was the Lionesses' only real chance in the second period, despite the lift the crowd gave the team once Earps had denied Hermoso from the spot. England threw everything at Spain, but it was not to be, with Jorge Vilda's side emerging victorious for the first time in this competition's history.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stadium Australia…
GettyWINNER: Aitana Bonmati
If Aitana Bonmati doesn't win the Ballon d'Or in a few months' time, it will be an absolute crime. After an absolutely sensational domestic season with Barcelona, in which she helped the Catalans win the league, the Super Cup and the Women's Champions League, the midfielder was consistently excellent during this World Cup.
Her two goal and two assist performance in the last 16 was the obvious highlight, but Bonmati's display in the final was elegant as ever, too. She completed all-but-two of her passes, both of which were in the final third, completed six dribbles and created two chances.
It's not just what she does in attack, though. The Spain star won possession back nine times in this match, too, made two interceptions and won both of her tackles. She was on another level in midfield, as she has been for the entirety of the last 12 months. A well-deserved winner of the Golden Ball.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Lucy Bronze
The most experienced player in this England squad, to watch Bronze struggle in the manner she did on Sunday was certainly a surprise. This is someone who has won four Champions League titles and played at the highest level for so long, yet the way she gave the ball away in the middle of the park in the build-up to Spain's goal was incredibly poor.
Within moments, the space she had vacated from her right wing-back role had been exploited and Carmona had put La Roja ahead. Sadly, Bronze never really recovered from there in what was an error-laden display.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Spain
Spanish women's football has been on the rise massively in recent years, and this triumph on Sunday was the biggest example so far.
Last August, the nation won the Under-20 Women's World Cup for the first time. In October, they followed it up with a second U17 World Cup title in their history, having also won the previous edition in 2018. Then on Sunday, just two months after Barcelona had ensured the latest Women's Champions League winners were also from the Spanish league, La Roja topped it all off with a first ever senior Women's World Cup title.
The investment and growth in the game in Spain is evident from the incredible talent pool the country has available to it, as securing this trophy without 12 top-level stars really shows.
LOSER: Those left of 'Las 15'
And that's the other thing it's important to remember. Spain won this trophy without 12 top-level stars, all of them withdrawing from selection until they had seen improvements within the federation that they were satisfied with.
Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon and Claudia Pina of Barcelona; Ainhoa Moraza and Lola Gallardo of Atletico Madrid; Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri of Manchester City; and Nerea Eizaguirre and Amaiur Sarriegi of Real Sociedad are those that remain of 'Las 15', those names that initially stated their intention was not to be called up for Spain.
Many of them are among the best players in the world and they could have been part of this incredible history, but they chose to stand for what they believe is something bigger, sacrificing a lot in the progress.
This will have no doubt hurt them a little, then, even if they will be happy for friends and team-mates. They deserve credit, though, for continuing to fight for what they believe is right.