In an unprecedented final, Spain won over England by winning 1-0. La Roja thus won its first Women’s World Cup.
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This final promised us whatever happens an unprecedented winner at Stadium Australia in Sydney since neither England nor Spain had ever won the Women’s World Cup. After the early elimination of the main favorites, including the United States and Germany, winners of six of the eight editions of the competition so far, the Spaniards and the English were offered a golden opportunity to register their name on the World Cup list. In this little game, it was La Roja who best knew how to seize his chance.
In a rather balanced start to the match, the English had nevertheless started the meeting well. From the 4th minute of play, Lauren Hemp forced the Spanish goalkeeper to work to push back his shot into the penalty area before hitting the crossbar with a long shot in the 15th minute.
Salma Paralluelo holder, Alexia Putellas on the bench
But the Spaniards then quickly picked up the thread of the game, in particular thanks to their young nugget Salma Paralluelo. The winger, hitherto confined to a role of luxury joker, had already been decisive when he came into play in the quarter and semi-finals, scoring a goal each time. This time, coach Jorge Vilda had decided to start her as a starter and leave the double Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas on the sidelines and he took it well. On her left side, the FC Barcelona player hurt the English defense very badly, which ended up giving in on a cross shot from Spanish captain Olga Carmona in the 28th minute.
On returning from the locker room, the changes made by coach Sarina Wiegman with the entry into play of Chloe Kelly and Lauren James will give a little vigor to the Lioness who will still have a hard time existing against La Roja, despite the efforts of Lauren Hemp untenable on the front of the English attack, but alone to make the difference.
The Spaniards could have driven the point home in the 68th minute on a contentious penalty awarded by the referee if the English goalkeeper Mary Earps had not diverted the shot from Jennifer Hermoso and restored some hope to her team. It will finally be a waste of time, the English will push without success until the end of the meeting and despite the thirteen minutes of stoppage time granted by the referee. Spain thus offers itself the first World Cup in its history for its third participation in the competition.
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