Spain win World Cup as England’s 57-year nightmare continues

In a hard-fought match, Spain’s 29th minute goal through captain Olga Carmona proved decisive as England couldn’t find the back of the net.

Whoever won would make history as both England and Spain had not won a Women’s World Cup, nor even been to the final before.

They become just the fifth nation in Women’s World Cup history to win the title and join the national men’s team, who claimed World Cup glory in South Africa in 2010. They become the second nation to win both the men’s and women’s World Cups after Germany, who have four titles in men’s World Cups (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014), while its women have two (2003 and 2007).

For England, the drought continues even longer as they hadn’t had a team make a World Cup final since their one and only success for the men in the 1966 tournament.

The Lionesses came into the match undefeated and with the European title under their belts but fell short in the decider.

On Channel 7, Grace Gill said: “Incredible, just incredible from Spain. A team that has battled adversity and overcome their own challenges to lift the trophy on the world’s brightest stage. “What an achievement.”

Steve Wilson said on Optus: “Heartbreaking for England, delirium for Spain.”

Arguably more impressive, it comes after it appeared that the Spanish coach Jorge Vilda had lost the dressing room.

After the semi-final, Vilda was left by himself as the players celebrated together.

Footage of the incident quickly whipped around social media, leaving World Cup fans stunned at what they were watching unfold.

The issues of his management date back several years, as up until 2019 Spanish players were reportedly banned from locking their hotel room doors before midnight.

That was so Vilda could carry out checks of the rooms, while players were also forced to show the contents of their bags if they brought something in to training.

It led to 15 players walking away from the national team, although three came back.

Elise Kellond-Knight said after the game on 7: “I think Jorge Vilda has won the dressing-room back now.”

For England, Kellond-Knight said the Spaniards were all over them.

“They smothered them tonight, they were always out numbering them in areas, England had no answers tonight, they tried everything,” she said.

Socceroos legend John Aloisi said simply: “On the night, Spain were the better team.”

While England hit the woodwork in the early stages, they couldn’t get many more chances, apart from a ball that was tipped over the top off Lauren James.

However, Spain were all over the Lionesses and looked the most likely to score.

England’s keeper Mary Earps pulled off a piece of magic in the 66th minute after Keira Walsh handball in the box, saving Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty shot.

But it wasn’t enough to inspire the Lionesses to a goal as Spain kept them at arms length.

9.50pm – Injury time

It’s getting right down now.

There’s 13 minutes of injury time but Spain are doing their best to make every second tick away.

9.40pm – 10 minutes to go

England are running out of time to even up the score with the clock now over the 80th minute.

While it’s believed there will be able 6-8 minutes of injury time after the long VAR adjudication and Alex Greenwood copping an injury blow that saw her on the turf for some time but regardless, the time is running out.

9.26pm – England hero salvages handball disaster

England’s hope to end 57-years of World Cup misery is still alive after Mary Earps saved a penalty goal.

Keira Walsh was pinged for a handball after a long deliberation by the referee but it was decided that it was a “punishable handball”.

It sent Spain to the spot but Jennifer Hermoso couldn’t convert as Earps made the most clutch of saves.

“It may be a defining moment for England. It wasn’t particularly well taken. But it was well read by Mary Earps,” David Basheer said.

Grace Gill added: “If that’s going to lift a team, now is the moment. Mary Earps, coming up huge for England.”

8.59pm – ‘Cannot do that’: Star slammed

Two legends of English football broke down the critical mistake on the BBC.

England’s right-back Lucy Bronze embarked on a long, enterprising run with the ball before being surrounded in midfield. She took one touch too many, handing over possession, and the Spanish team pounced immediately, sending a long ball back into the space Bronze had left completely vacant.

English winger Alessia Russo sprinted back desperately in an effort to plug the gap, but Spain was typically ruthless, and Olga Carmona exploited the overlap to score.

“This one kills me, because everyone knows how much I love Lucy Bronze, and to stand here now and highlight a huge mistake…” Alex Scott, who made 140 appearances for England, said on the BBC at halftime.

“When you are on the ball – and we love these long, busting runs where you’re driving England up the field – the moment you come inside to where the bodies are, and you’re overloaded, you cannot give the ball away in that area.

“This is where we highlight the intelligence of Spain, knowing that, ‘OK, Lucy Bronze has left that area, that is where the ball needs to go, at pace.’ And they overload us down that side. And don’t get me wrong, it’s a great finish, but it comes from a mistake.”

“I think it’s OK that she’s driving. It’s what she’s going to do with the ball. I don’t know if she knows what she’s actually going to do with it,” said Ellen White, England’s top goalscorer.

“She’s leaving space, meaning that Alessia Russo has run 60 yards to try and defend. And (Bronze) does not need to be there. She needs to give the ball quicker and she needs to be smarter.”

On Optus Sport, former Matilda Catherine Cannuli said Bronze: “She’s running, she’s getting forward, she’s looking for someone to make the forward run, she’s looking for someone to grab.

“She loses possession of the ball, she chucks a little tantrum and then Spain capitalise. They hit them on that left-hand side and took advantage of those numbers.”

8.49pm – Spain lead 1-0 at halftime

After 45 minutes, Spain lead the World Cup Final 1-0 after Olga Carmona’s first half goal have the Spaniards the lead.

It’s been a high-quality match so far and England have had their fair share of chances as well — it gives the feeling that a 1-0 scoreline may not be enough.

Carmona’s goal has led to the mystery of the tournament however, with the Spanish captain lifting her jersey to reveal an undershirt which appeared to reach “Merchi”.

Google Translate translates it as “Merchandise”, but another Twitter user pointed to an Instagram post to get to the bottom of it.

Whether that’s the actual answer, we know as much as everyone else.

But what we do know is that if “It’s coming home”, England will need to hit back.

8.31pm – Spain score

Spanish captain Olga Carmona has scored the opening goal of the Women’s World Cup final.

It’d been coming for some time as both sides were getting great chances on goal.

But the Spanish skipper has broken through, nailing her strike low and into the back of the net.

“What a neat technical finish that was as well,” Grace Gill said on Channel 7.

“Spain have been building for some time. They looked promising.

“Spain have been asking a few questions.”

She added that the English left side defence has been looking “dubious”.

8.19pm – ‘How’d she miss?’: Spain go cloose

To be fair, both sides have gone close.

An England strike from Lauren Hemp came off the woodwork, but Alba Redondo has had a huge shot on the angle, which has been saved by Mary Earps for England.

The ball came in on a tight angle but Redondo pushed it too far across the face where Earps could save it.

“A big chance for Redondo! How she missed?! It was an open goal virtually on the angle,” David Basheer said on 7.

Grace Gill added: “That’s a huge save from Mary Earps. Standing up big time and time again for this English side.”

8.02pm – The World Cup Final is underway

It’s been 64 matches in 32 days but we’re finally at the end of arguably the greatest Women’s World Cup in history.

Who will win — England or Spain?

We’ll find out in a couple of hours.

And England have got us underway.

7.20pm — Ballon d’Or winner dropped for Spain

Reigning two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas has been dropped from Spain’s starting line-up for Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final against an unchanged England in Sydney.

The Barcelona attacking midfielder was replaced by teenage club colleague Salma Paralluelo in the only change from the side which beat Sweden 2-1 in the semi-finals.

Putellas’s tournament has never really got going as she struggles to regain form and fitness after a serious knee injury.

“All tournament, she hasn’t played a lot of minutes. She’s coming back from an ACL,” said Eni Aluko, a former English international who is now an analyst for Britain’s ITV.

“We know she is the best player in the world, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner. But I think this Spanish team have figured out how to play without her.”

However, she started the semi-final win over Sweden, but was subbed out in the 57th minute. She was replaced by Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono, who scored in the 81st minute.

Paralluelo will start the final as the centre forward, while Jenni has dropped back to the midfield.

England coach Sarina Wiegman resisted the temptation to recall Chelsea attacker Lauren James after her two-game ban ended.

James was named on the bench as Wiegman named unchanged side from the one that defeated co-hosts Australia 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Spain (4-3-2-1): Coll; Battle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona (capt); Bonmati, Abelleira, Hermoso; Redondo, Caldentey; Paralluelo Coach: Jorge Vilda (ESP)

England (5-3-2): Earps; Bronze, Carter, Bright (capt), Greenwood, Daly; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; Hemp, Russo Coach: Sarina Wiegman (NED)

Referee: Tori Penso (USA)

— AFP

6.30pm – Prince William snubs England’s Cup final

It might be England’s first appearance in a men’s or women’s World Cup final in nearly 60 years but Prince William, won’t be making the trip to Sydney to watch the Lionesses in action.

Members of the Spanish royal family will be present for the historic game, including Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter, Infanta Sofia.

But William, who is normally a fixture at major England sporting events, particularly football as he is the Football Association president, won’t be making the trip.

On Saturday, the future King – alongside his eight-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte – shared a video message of support to the Lionesses and apologised for not being there to cheer them on in person.

“Lionesses, I want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow,” he told them.

“We’re sorry we can’t be there in person but we’re so proud of everything you have achieved and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world. So go out there tomorrow and really enjoy yourselves.”

A smiling Charlotte then added: “Good luck, Lionesses!”

The reason given by Kensington Palace source was because of the carbon footprint of a long-haul flight.

However, there are also other reports that he is on summer vacation and didn’t want to take such a long flight for a short trip.

It comes after many people, including high-profile figures such as Piers Morgan, urged the Prince to show his support for the women’s team with his attendance.

Morgan tweeted: “With respect, YRH, you should have got on a plane.

“Ridiculous that the Queen of Spain is attending the World Cup Final to support her nation’s team, and you won’t be there despite being President of the FA.”

English fans pointed out that Prince William also didn’t attend England’s triumph in the Euros last year.

LBC radio host Nick Ferrari said: “Spain can send its Queen and her daughter, and we send the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer. If it was the blokes you’d have everybody there.

“You’d possibly have the King. You’d certainly have Prince William, who’s the chairman of the FA. You’d have the prime minister. You’d probably have Simon Cowell and Stephen Fry.

“They’d all get out there. But not, it would appear, for the girls.”

Others explained a constitutional rule means Prince William may not be allowed to visit Australia before King Charles does.

6.30pm – England set for huge boost

The Lionesses are set to welcome back star striker Lauren James from suspension for the most important game of the World Cup.

James was banned for two games for stomping on the back of Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in the round of 16 clash that England won on penalties.

The striker was dominant in front of goal early in the tournament and could be the X-factor England needs to lift the trophy.

How to watch the World Cup final

You can catch the action on Channel 7’s main channel or you can stream the match via 7plus.

Originally published as Spain win World Cup as England’s 57-year nightmare continues