Spain earn first Women’s World Cup title

SYDNEY (AP):

Spain are celebrating their first Women’s World Cup trophy after an impressive display proved too much for England in a 1-0 victory yesterday.

Olga Carmona scored in the first half of the final, and Spain held on to cap the month-long tournament.

Overcoming the turmoil that had surrounded the team, the victory made Spain the first team to hold the under-17, under-20, and senior world titles at the same time. Spain are the fifth winners in nine editions of the Women’s World Cup and joined Germany as the only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s titles.

At the final whistle, the Spanish players piled on each other in front of their goal. They were still dancing on the field until the trophy presentations, where they kissed the trophy and raised their arms triumphantly as golden glitter fell from above.

“We’ve suffered a lot throughout the past 12 months, but I think everything has a reason to be. This has made us a stronger team,” Carmona said after the game. “And it’s really incredible. I don’t know just why Spain are the world champions, but I think that we deserved it.”

After the final, Carmona learned of her father’s death, the Spanish football federation said. It did not say when Carmona’s father died or give a cause of death.

The Lionesses were trying to bring a World Cup back to England for the first time since the men won it in 1966. The wait will go on.

29TH-MINUTE GOAL

In an open game featuring multiple chances for both teams, Carmona’s left-foot strike in the 29th minute – finishing off a fast-breaking counterattack after England’s Lucy Bronze lost possession – remained the only goal.

Carmona also scored the game-winner in the 89th minute of Spain’s 2-1 semi-final victory over Sweden, becoming the first player since Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in a World Cup semi-final and final.

Spain had a chance to double the lead in the 68th after a VAR review awarded a penalty for Keira Walsh’s handball, but Jenni Hermoso’s penalty attempt was saved by Mary Earps.

Spain’s victory comes despite a near-mutiny by players last year. Fifteen players said they were stepping away from the national team for their mental health while also calling for a more professional environment.

Three of those players – Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey – reconciled with the federation and were at the World Cup.

The victory was also a bit of redemption for La Roja, which fell to England 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the European Championship last year. England went on to win the Euros on home soil.