Spain 1 England 0
Sarina Wiegman had urged her European champions to play the game of their lives in the World Cup final. They did, but against a mesmeric Spain the game of England’s lives was not enough to put a first star on the shirt.
Instead, a Spain side who dominate the ball with fluid, efficient beauty will have a first gold start stitched above their crest. A Spain side riddled with controversy and divisions still prevailed, the left-back Olga Carmona’s first-half strike the difference, because their brand of football just cannot be stopped.
Wiegman, who has now lost two games in major tournaments, back-to-back World Cup finals, stuck with the XI that had earned a 3-1 victory over the co-hosts Australia. Ella Toone kept her place in the No 10 role, with the manager declining the opportunity to return Lauren James to the starting line-up after her two-game suspension for stepping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie. It was a risk in a game where England would not see much of the ball, their player with the best close control not on the pitch in the biggest of games.
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For the maligned Spain manager, Jorge Vilda, there was one change to the team that beat Sweden 2-1 to progress to the final, also for the first time. The Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas, who is being used sparingly on her return from an ACL injury suffered before the Euros, dropped to the bench in favour of the 19-year-old Barcelona forward Salma Paralluelo.
This was always going to be a difficult test of England’s resilience; how long could they withstand the pressure of Spain’s possession-heavy play? England would only have 36 per cent possession in the opening half. When they did have the ball Spain’s press was relentless, forcing errors from Wiegman’s charges, who just couldn’t release the ball fast enough.
England had chances, with Alessia Russo’s stumbling flick on to Lauren Hemp allowing the forward to get a shot away that lacked power and was straight at the 22-year-old goalkeeper Catalina Coll. Hemp got another gilt-edged chance 16 minutes in, lashing a shot off the bar. Spain broke, though, with a cross from the left missed by Paralluelo but smacked goalwards by Alba Redondo, who forced a smart stop from Mary Earps.
Paralluelo was a thorn in England’s side from the off. She was penalised for tripping England’s captain, Millie Bright, as she attempted to round her and minutes later as Spain broke two-on-two she pinged the ball straight at Alex Greenwood, who turned it out for a throw-in.
Hemp had another chance, attempting to curl the ball around Coll but placing it too close to the keeper.
Spain’s goal was coming, though, and it was a lapse in composure from England’s most experienced head which proved costly. Lucy Bronze drove infield but was dispossessed centrally, Spain pounced on the out-of-position wing back, Ona Batlle pinging the ball into the space vacated by Bronze and Mariona Caldentey met it, played to Carmona on the overlap and the left-back stroked it past the diving hand of Earps into the far corner.
England pushed for the equaliser before the close of the half, with Toone missing Russo’s through ball but she was flagged offside to spare her blushes. A parting warning shot at the end of the half came from Paralluelo, who clipped a long-range effort off the outside of the post.
Wiegman had seen enough, Rachel Daly and Russo making way for Chloe Kelly and James at half-time with a switch out of the 3-5-2 that had proved so effective from the 6-1 defeat of China onwards. Jess Carter moved from the middle to left-back, with James ahead of her in the 4-3-3.
Kelly was England’s outlet early in the second half and her whipped cross from the right towards Hemp was powered wide by Batlle, who just got there first.
In the 64th minute Walsh conceded a penalty, her outstretched hand brushing the ball and she competed with Caldentey for it. Earps though, so hugely important for England in this tournament, went the right way for Jenni Hermoso’s low spot-kick, grasping the ball and keeping her country’s dreams alive.
The save roared the England-heavy 75,784-strong crowd to life and James went close not long after, overlapping on Hemp before forcing Coll to tip the ball over. There was a hopefulness to England’s play, but with each drive forward and time ticking down the chances of being caught on the counter grew.
There was a lengthy stoppage after Greenwood, who had the most touches, chances created and passes of anyone in the tournament, took a heavy blow to the forehead from Paralluelo’s knee, the Spaniard being booked.
England pushed but Spain were ruthlessly organised, the masters of control and dark arts at the close, slowing the game into a stop-start mess that prevented England from getting any rhythm.
The future is bright for England despite defeat. The absence of injured players prompted expectations to drop before the World Cup. A final was beyond many people’s wildest dreams. Terrifyingly, though, Spain will be back stronger too; their off-field woes will surely be resolved eventually despite the success under Vilda’s divisive leadership. Spain dominated despite him – imagine what they could look like unified. – Guardian
