World Cup champions Spain
ISLAMABAD: Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history on Sunday thanks to a goal from captain Olga Carmona that gave them a well-deserved 1-0 victory over England.
Spain was the more skilled team and had more opportunities in front of a crowd of over 76,000 spectators at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, including missing a second-half penalty. With Spain’s victory, Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation have been vindicated for sticking with the coach even after 15 players last year swore they would no longer represent their country under his leadership.
Sarina Wiegman, the coach of the European champions England, who has already lost the final twice, can hardly be upset. In addition to the current winners, the United States, Germany, Norway, and Japan, Spain is the fifth team to win the World Cup since the competition’s inception in 1991.
The game’s decisive goal was scored by defender Carmona in front of Spain’s Queen Letizia on minute 29 after charging from left back to hammer the ball in low and hard. After serving a two-match suspension, Wiegman resisted the urge to bring back Chelsea forward Lauren James and stuck with the group that defeated fellow hosts Australia 3-1 in the semifinals.
In the fifth minute, England, who were wearing their blue second kit, had the first sniff of an opportunity, but Lauren Hemp’s feeble attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Cata Coll. And with the England goal gaping, Alba Redondo unleashed a first-time effort that went straight to Mary Earps. The game was briefly stopped in the 24th minute when a spectator ducked onto the field before being dragged out by security. Hemp then saw another weak attempt saved.
Published in EDP BLOGS on August 21,2023.
