In a thrilling showdown of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday, Spain achieved an incredible milestone by capturing their inaugural Women's World Cup title. The victory came through a narrow 1-0 triumph over England in what Reuters termed as the most-watched women's event in England and Spain.
Although Jennifer Hermoso saw her penalty saved by Mary Earps, the first-half strike from Olga Carmona proved to be the decisive factor that propelled La Roja to their first-ever world championship.
This monumental achievement highlights Spain's remarkable journey throughout the FIFA Women's World Cup. Their history-making campaign saw them break through a previous barrier, having never advanced past the Round of 16. The path to the final, secured by knockout victories over Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden, was a significant first for Spain. The final triumph adds a more jubilant touch to this historic moment, prompting an even grander celebration. Sweden secured third place after beating Australia 2-0 in the third-place playoff.
Right from the kickoff, La Roja displayed exceptional game control, effectively neutralizing any offensive threats posed by the Lionesses.
Amid Spain's dominance, the reigning 2022 European Champions did manage an early opportunity – arguably their best within the 90 minutes – yet their shot struck the crossbar.
This missed chance dealt a blow to England as they grappled to dismantle Spain's possession-oriented strategy while La Roja continued to exert pressure in response.
England's goalkeeper, Mary Earps, showcased her skills by denying Spain a goal in the 17th minute, executing another remarkable save to keep her team in contention. However, all her efforts were in vain as Olga Carmona soon found the back of the net with a powerful shot at the half-hour mark to swing the odds in their favor. bet365 presented different betting markets throughout the tournament, with pre tournament favorites USA, Germany, and Brazil not making it to the finals.
During halftime, England made two crucial substitutions, introducing Lauren James and Chloe Kelly in place of Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly. Despite both players' attacking threat, they struggled to impact Spain's resilient defense.
In the 65th minute, a handball by Keira Walsh presented La Roja with another scoring opportunity – a penalty. Jennifer Hermoso stepped up, yet Earps once again extended a lifeline to her nation by thwarting the shot.
The save injected new energy into England as James and Kelly endeavored to conjure something remarkable for the Lionesses. Although their attempts were noteworthy, none proved sufficient to breach Spain's defensive setup.
La Roja appeared as a team well-versed in performing on the world's grandest stage, despite never having progressed beyond the quarter-finals in a FIFA Women's World Cup before.
Ultimately, Spain's poise and confidence with the ball secured their victory in the final, a far cry from their 4-0 defeat to Japan in the group stage earlier in the tournament.
The unity among the Spanish players was evident, as they came together when it mattered most, etching history for their nation.
Individual Awards
The 2023 Women's World Cup saw some standout performers receiving individual FIFA awards. Spain's Salma Paralluelo, Aitana Bonmati, England's Mary Earps, and Japan's Miyazawa Hinata were honored for their exceptional performances.
Paralluelo was recognized as the Young Player of the Tournament, while Bonmati was bestowed with the prestigious Golden Ball award. These accolades came just before they lifted the Women's World Cup trophy for Spain for the first time in history.
Despite Japan's exit from the tournament at the quarter-finals stage, Miyazawa Hinata was granted the Golden Boot award, scoring an impressive five goals. She was closely followed by Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt and France's Kadidiatou Diani in the goal-scoring rankings.
England's Mary Earps was rightfully presented with the Golden Glove award for her remarkable campaign, which included crucial saves during the final against Spain, signifying her outstanding goalkeeping prowess throughout the tournament.