England had been overwhelmed on the final hurdle as Olga Carmona’s excellent strike was sufficient for Spain to win 1-0 and raise the Girls’s World Cup trophy for the primary time.
The Lionesses had been unable to copy their Euros success from final summer time as they had been masters of their very own downfall after a tepid first half.
Spain dominated not solely the possession, however the total play as England had been responsible of constructing poor errors and it was a Lucy Bronze giveaway in midfield that finally allowed Carmona to rifle residence an excellent effort within the twenty ninth minute.
Sarina Wiegman – that includes in her fourth successive main match ultimate – made a daring assertion at half-time, bringing Lauren James and Chloe Kelly on for Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly, switching again to a 4-3-3 formation.
The Lionesses had been vastly improved, however as has been the case for many of the World Cup, Mary Earps’ heroics saved England within the sport. She expertly saved a Jennifer Hermoso penalty, which was taken after a six-minute VAR test for a Keira Walsh handball.
The Lionesses goalkeeper was awarded the Golden Glove in the course of the award ceremony, however she added to Sky Sports activities Information: “I am happy with that achievement, it is onerous to attain. However I’d commerce that for a gold medal any day. Simply gutted that we fell quick.”
Each groups pressed for an additional purpose however, in the end, Spain took benefit of their huge second whereas for England it was a step too far.
England and Wiegman’s look forward to a World Cup title goes on, whereas for all of Spain’s pre-tournament points, they’ve triumphed on the largest of levels.
Lionesses captain Millie Brilliant advised BBC Sport after the sport: “It is actually onerous to take. We gave every thing, hand on coronary heart. First half we weren’t at our greatest. We confirmed our battle, confirmed our character. We had possibilities right this moment, we hit the bar, and clearly they put their likelihood at the back of the web.
“There was a number of perception. We have been 1-0 down in video games earlier than, we have bounced again, we by no means give in. It is onerous to take, but it surely’s soccer – we’re heartbroken.
“The ladies are unbelievable. We had a number of critics at the beginning of this match, just a few stopped believing, however we by no means stopped believing in ourselves. Even right this moment we had full perception. We have made it to a World Cup ultimate, in just a few weeks we’ll look again and actually respect at the present time.”
How England had been overwhelmed within the World Cup ultimate
It was a feisty begin at Stadium Australia, however an opportunity at both finish ignited the tie. Lauren Hemp smacked the highest of the crossbar within the sixteenth minute, earlier than Earps was compelled right into a tremendous save to disclaim Alba Redondo.
However Bronze, who had misplaced within the earlier two World Cup semi-finals, made a expensive error to permit Spain to attain first. She misplaced the ball in midfield, with Teresa Abelleira discovering Mariona Caldentey. She in flip picked out captain Carmona, who rifled a sensational effort previous Earps, scoring in a second successive World Cup match.
England took some time to reply as Spain continued to dominate, however their first assault since going behind was virtually promising. Hemp and Alessia Russo mixed down the fitting, however the latter’s cross in for Toone simply ran too far previous the midfielder. The offside flag was additionally rightly raised.
Spain may have added one other with the ultimate kick of the half to make England’s virtually mammoth job even more durable. Nonetheless, 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo’s low effort hit the underside of the submit earlier than going behind.
Olga Carmona celebrates after opening the scoring for Spain within the Girls’s World Cup ultimate
Wiegman’s daring half-time modifications virtually paid off too. Kelly proved why she was purchased on with a elegant cross into the realm – missed by Irene Parades – that Hemp may solely ship vast. Caldentey additionally drew a tremendous save from Earps, whereas Aitana Bonmati too despatched a floated effort over the crossbar.
A prolonged journey to a Spain penalty started within the 62nd minute in a loud attraction for a handball. The ball brushed the hand of Walsh from shut vary as Caldentey appeared to go previous the England midfielder, which VAR reviewed together with the referee on the pitchside monitor.
Mary Earps saved Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty, capping a tremendous match for the goalkeeper
The penalty was finally awarded within the 68th minute, with one other 90 seconds earlier than Hermoso may take it as England complained in regards to the ball not being positioned correctly on the spot. When she did finally strike, Earps leapt to her left to maintain it out, as soon as once more saving the Lionesses’ pores and skin.
It was an end-to-end end, though there have been questions over a potential second reserving for Paralluelo, who obtained away with kicking the ball away, having beforehand seen a yellow card for a foul on Alex Greenwood.
However in the end, England had been unable to pressure additional time regardless of an improved second half, as Spain celebrated their maiden World Cup title.
Wiegman: We could be proud – it simply would not really feel prefer it in the mean time
England supervisor Sarina Wiegman to BBC Sport:
“Everybody has seen an unbelievable sport, a really open sport, two groups who need to play soccer. A sport of two halves for us. The primary half we struggled to press the ball. We modified it second half, again to 4-3-3, and I believe we obtained some momentum then. However then the tempo went out of the sport.
“We obtained momentum after which gave away the penalty. And the damage with Alex [Greenwood]. In spite of everything, Spain had been just a bit bit higher than we had been right this moment and so they had a fantastic match. Congrats for Spain.
“In fact it feels actually unhealthy now. We’re very disenchanted. What now we have carried out, what now we have proven, to play how now we have as a group, overcoming so many challenges, we could be so happy with ourselves. Solely it would not really feel like that in the mean time.”
Earps: We overcame a number of adversity to be right here
England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps received the Girls’s World Cup Golden Glove
England goalkeeper Mary Earps to Sky Sports activities Information:
“I do not suppose that [making people proud] actually hits proper now, to be trustworthy. I believe it can in a few weeks, I hope we will look again and mirror.
“I do know attending to a World Cup ultimate is an unbelievable achievement, however now, we’re disenchanted. We’re opponents, we got here right here for the gold medal and we had been so shut. We simply fell quick.
“We have overcome a number of adversity to be on this place. I am actually happy with the group for that and I believe there’s extra ranges to go as effectively.”
Stanway: I am proud to be English
Georgia Stanway to Sky Sports activities Information:
“We’re completely gutted. Spain had been excellent, particularly in that first half, that is the place they dominated us. However we could be happy with the efficiency within the second half, we could be happy with the final seven days in whole. I hope everybody at residence realises how onerous it’s to get to a World Cup ultimate.
“To choose up silver remains to be a proud second… I am proud to be English, to put on the badge and when the mud settles, it will be an excellent higher feeling. However to be so shut and miss out, it is actually tough, however that is soccer.
“However we have been by conditions, we’ll energy by them, we’ll knock down boundaries, we’ll be there to make folks proud and proceed to push.”
How Twitter reacted to Lionesses
Redknapp: Expertise has been distinctive
Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Redknapp talking on Tremendous Sunday:
“Successful the Euros and attending to the ultimate of a World Cup is an unbelievable achievement. [They’ve] impressed so many individuals, ladies, boys as effectively, all people’s checked out this. Their expertise has been distinctive.
Izzy Christiansen, Ashley Cole and Jamie Redknapp admit England’s gamers might be heartbroken with World Cup ultimate defeat to Spain however they need to be immensely happy with what they’ve achieved
“It is heartbreaking for them and they’ll be hurting so badly, however they need to even be so happy with what they’ve achieved. The supervisor and the gamers, it has been an unbelievable achievement throughout, and so they’ll get welcomed so kindly once they get again.
“It is so disappointing, as we had been watching the sport we had been cheering, simply hoping for one second. We thought when the penalty was saved that was going to be it. It wasn’t to be, however they have been unbelievable on this match.”
England: I hope ladies’s soccer can preserve striving ahead
Soccer Sunday’s Dean Ashton and Kerys Harrop focus on Sarina Wiegman’s speedy future after England fell to World Cup ultimate defeat in opposition to Spain
Bethany England to Sky Sports activities Information:
“I simply need to say thanks to everybody that is adopted us, whether or not you have travelled out right here or adopted again at residence, you have been with us each step of the best way for each kick, each sort out, each penalty save that Mary makes.
“I need to say an enormous thanks to everybody and we’re sorry we could not get there ultimately however I hope we have carried out you proud.
“I hope there’s so many younger ladies on the market that may see this and suppose that they’ll obtain that. I hope there’s nonetheless extra funding that will get pumped into that, ensure that there’s pathways and programmes, any assets potential to guarantee that as a nation, we proceed to attempt ahead.
“We made historical past getting right here and that was for everybody previous, current and future to come back that we have proven we will do it. We simply fell quick on the final hurdle and hopefully, that likelihood comes round once more and we get throughout the road subsequent time.”