Tops
Aligned with the captain’s armband for this final, Olga Carmona was sparkling. Always fair in the recovery, and solid defensively, it was thanks to one of his new overruns that La Roja was able to open the scoring. A single decisive goal as against Sweden, the side of Real Madrid made the difference. Well launched by Caldentey, with a powerful cross shot, the 22-year-old player shook the small right net of the best goalkeeper of the tournament Mary Earps.
Undoubtedly one of the best players of the tournament before the meeting, Aitana Bonmati confirmed her status as essential in Jorge Vilda’s squad to be officially crowned best player of this World Cup. A true centerpiece of La Roja, it orchestrated and directed most of the Spanish offensives. The 25-year-old sickened the Lionesses and single-handedly won the middle battle. As in 2010 for the men, it is thanks to a well-established and very solid midfield that Spain was able to win the first World Cup in its history.
Beyond a victory for La Roja, it is a victory for women’s football. The final drew 75,000 spectators to Australia Stadium in Sydney, the final act of a tournament full of novelties that began a month ago with 32 teams for the first time. Australian fans filled stadiums and fan zones as matches for the Matildas, who finished just off the podium after Saturday’s loss to Sweden (2-0), sent viewership levels skyrocketing at the television.
Flops
Yet dominating at the very beginning of the meeting, the Lionesses have always been sterile in the last Spanish meters. The reigning European champions never really worried the Roja Catalina Coll goalkeeper. Sarina Wiegman’s players had however scored 13 goals before this final but against Spain, neither Laura Hemp, nor Alessia Russo or Ella Toone could carry the absent English women offensively.
The English defense held firm in the face of repeated attacks from the Spanish. But in the lot of this hinge with three defenders (increased to four in the second half), Alex Greenwood was illustrated in the wrong way. The Manchester City player has often been taken by the speed of La Roja forwards.
