Teresa Abelleira, Ona Batlle, Oihane Hernandez and Alexia Putellas of Spain rejoice after the group’s victory in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 final match in opposition to England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023.
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Spain received its first Women’s World Cup title lower than a yr after a participant riot, holding off England 1-0 on Sunday after Olga Carmona’s first-half objective.
Spain’s first main worldwide trophy made it the first European group to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany in 2007.
At the final whistle the Spanish gamers piled on one another in entrance of their objective.
Carmona’s left-foot shot in the 29th minute went into the far nook of the internet and simply out of attain of diving England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
In celebration she raised her jersey to disclose the phrase “Merchi” scrawled in ink on her undershirt, an obvious nod to her former faculty.
Carmona additionally scored the game-winner in the 89th minute of Spain’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Sweden, turning into the first participant since Carli Lloyd in 2015 to attain in a World Cup semifinal and final.
Spain had an opportunity to double the lead in the 68th however Jenni Hermoso’s penalty try was saved by Earps, who anticipated completely and dived to her left.
Spain’s victory comes regardless of a near-mutiny by gamers final yr. Fifteen gamers stated they had been stepping away from the nationwide group for his or her psychological well being whereas additionally calling for a extra skilled surroundings.
Three of these gamers — Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey — reconciled with the federation and had been at the World Cup.
England had momentum going into the event after successful the European Championship at dwelling final summer time. But three of the group’s finest gamers, captain Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead, all had knee accidents that saved them off the World Cup squad.
England coach Sarina Wiegman was the first coach to take her groups to back-to-back World Cup title matches. She led the Netherlands to the final in 2019, however fell 2-Zero to the United States. She’s now 0-2.
England was coming off a 3-1 victory over host Australia in the semifinal. Lauren James, who was the group’s high scorer with three objectives and three assists, was pressured to take a seat out two matches due to a suspension for stomping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie to open the knockout stage.
While James was out there for the final, Wiegman began Ella Toone. James got here into the match to start out the second half.
The recreation was briefly interrupted in the 25th minute by an individual who raced onto the discipline however was rapidly tackled by safety.
One of England’s finest probabilities was in the 16th when Lauren Hemp’s blast caromed off the crossbar. A minute later, Salma Paralluelo raced to the objective however couldn’t get a clear shot and Earps stopped Alba Redondo’s try in the scramble in entrance of the internet.
Vilda began 19-year-old Paralluelo, who scored the breakthrough objective for Spain in opposition to Sweden, and the game-winner in further time over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
Paralluelo’s practically scored seconds from half time however her shot hit the publish. She was handed a yellow card in the 78th minute for a foul on Alex Greenwood, who had a reduce above her eye.
Hemp had one other likelihood in the 54th however despatched it huge. A minute later she was handed a yellow card for a foul on Laia Codina.
Spain had an opportunity to double the lead in the 68th after a video assessment awarded a penalty after Keira Walsh’s handball. But Earps saved England in the recreation, as she did with a succession of saves late.
Coach Jorge Vilda had a problem in working round two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who was nonetheless working her method again from a torn ACL final yr. For the final, Putellas was on the bench at the begin.
Putellas went into the recreation with 15 seconds left in regulation, however there have been 13 minutes of stoppage time.
There had been 75,784 followers at the final at Stadium Australia, together with tennis nice Billie Jean King.
The two groups met final yr in the quarterfinals of the Euros, with England coming from behind to beat Spain 2-1 in further time on Georgia Stanway’s objective.