Less than a year after a player uprising, Spain won its first FIFA Women’s World Cup title by defeating England 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a goal by Olga Carmona.
Spain became the first European team to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany in 2007 thanks to their first major international championship.
The Spanish players crowded together in front of their goal at the final horn.
In the 29th minute, Carmona’s left-footed strike went just out of reach of diving England custodian Mary Earps and into the far corner of the net. She hoisted her jersey in jubilation, revealing the name Merchi written in ink on her undershirt—apparently a tribute to her old school.
Carmona became the first player since Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in both the semifinal and final of a World Cup when she scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute of Spain’s 2-1 semifinal triumph over Sweden.
In the 68th minute, Spain had a chance to extend their lead, but Jenni Hermoso’s penalty shot was blocked by Earps, who dove to her left after making a great anticipation play.
Despite a player near-mutiny last year, Spain prevailed. In addition to appealing for a more professional environment, fifteen players stated that they were leaving the national team for reasons related to their mental health.
Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmat, and Mariona Caldentey were three of those players who made amends with the federation and attended the World Cup.
Following its victory at home in the UEFA European Championship the previous summer, England entered the competition with momentum. Fran Kirby, Beth Mead, and team captain Leah Williamson were three of the team’s finest players, however, they were all unable to make the World Cup squad due to knee injuries.
The first coach to lead her teams to back-to-back World Cup championship games was Sarina Wiegman of England. In 2019, she guided the Netherlands to the final, where they were defeated by the United States of America 2-0. She is now 0-2.
England had just defeated the host nation of Australia 3-1 in the semifinal. With three goals and three assists, Lauren James led the squad in scoring but was forced to miss two games due to a suspension for stomping on Michelle Alozie of Nigeria to start the knockout stage.
Wiegman started Ella Toone while James was available for the championship game. James entered the game to begin the second stanza.
In the 25th minute, a player rushed onto the pitch and briefly stopped the game before being apprehended by security.
One of England’s best chances was in the 16th, when Lauren Hemp’s blast caromed off the crossbar. A minute later, Salma Paralluelo raced to the goal, but couldn’t get a clean shot and Earps stopped Alba Redondo’s attempt in the scramble in front of the net.
Vilda started 19-year-old Paralluelo, who scored the breakthrough goal for Spain against Sweden, and the game-winner in extra time over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
Paralluelo nearly scored seconds from half-time, but her shot hit the post. She was handed a yellow card in the 78th minute for a foul on Alex Greenwood, who had a cut above her eye.
Hemp had another chance in the 54th but sent it wide. A minute later, she was handed a yellow card for a foul on Laia Codina.
Spain had a chance to double the lead in the 68th after a video review awarded a penalty after Keira Walsh’s handball. But, Earps kept England in the game, as she did with a succession of saves late.
Coach Jorge Vilda had a challenge in working around two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who was still working her way back from a torn ACL last year. For the final, Putellas was on the bench at the start.
Putellas went into the game with 15 seconds left in regulation, but there were 13 minutes of stoppage time.
There were 75,784 fans at the final at Stadium Australia, including tennis great Billie Jean King.
The two teams met last year in the quarters of the Euros, with England coming from behind to beat Spain 2-1 in extra time on Georgia Stanway’s goal.