England fans around UK react to Women's World Cup final against Spain
England heartbreakingly lost 1-0 to Spain in their first Women’s World Cup final as Olga Carmona’s first-half goal proved enough to break the Lionesses’s hearts.
Sarina Wiegman and her players were looking to bring the game’s biggest prize home from Sydney but Carmona drilled a finish into the far corner on 29 minutes and, although Mary Earps brilliantly saved Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty with 20 minutes remaining, England couldn’t fashion an equaliser.
It was the first time the England men’s or women’s team have reached a football World Cup final since 1966 and the nation came to a halt for the historic occasion – which was briefly interrupted by an anti-Putin protester invading the pitch in the first half – but were left bereft as Spain saw out the victory.
Lauren Hemp came closest to scoring for the Lionesses when her curling effort struck the bar in the 16th minute but Spain were good value for the win as they became just the fifth nation to lift the Women’s World Cup, following in the footsteps of USA (4), Germany (2), Norway (1) and Japan (1).
Relive England’s clash against Spain below:
‘England did us proud’: Gary Lineker leads stars congratulating Lionesses for World Cup final efforts
England’s Lionesses have received messages of appreciation from the showbiz world after losing to Spain in the Women’s World Cup final.
Spain secured a final 1-0 victory in Sydney on Sunday following Olga Carmona’s first-half goal. However, Sarina Wiegman’s side still achieved a best-ever second-place finish.
Read more about the messages of support below:
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 16:00
Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup - story of the final
In the end, however, Earps’s save would be in vain. England huffed and puffed but were unable to create a game-changing chance to draw the game level. Substitute Lauren James had a decent effort denied but after a late corner was cleared, the full-time whistle sounded and Spain were victorious:
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:44
Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup - story of the final
After the break, Earps was called into action on numerous occasions, making smart saves to deny Caldentey from the edge of the box. Her biggest moment, though, would come in the 70th minute when Spain were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR check.
Kiera Walsh was adjudged to have handled the ball but England’s shot-stopper bailed her out with a vital penalty save to deny Hermoso:
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:42
Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup - story of the final
For England, it could have got even worse just before the break when the young Salma Paralluelo nearly doubled Spain’s lead on the brink of half-time. Having been found by Ona Batlle, her sweeping effort just bounced off the post and wide.
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:39
Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup - story of the final
Spain, however, would continue to grow into the game, having more of the ball and controlling the game’s tempo. They were rewarded for that pressure as a slight mistake from Lucy Bronze was punished as Olga Carmona fired home what would be the winning goal:
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:37
Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup - story of the final
Now the dust has settled, let’s begin to take a look back at the key moments from today’s final.
After a tense opening period, England had the first big chance to open the scoring when Lauren Hemp’s strike crashed off the bar after just 16 minutes.
What a different game it could have been if this had gone in:
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:30
‘Vilda In’ - Spanish FA celebrates controversial coach after World Cup win
The Spanish head coach is a controversial figure within the Spanish women’s football setup with 12 current players still refusing to play for the national team until Jorge Vilda is removed.
Despite this, the Spanish FA (RFEF) has continued to back the 42-year-old and have now publically reaffirmed their support for the manager after Spain’s victory today:
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:20
Pitch invader forces delay in the Women’s World Cup final
In case you missed it, a pitch invader forced a delay in the Women’s World Cup final during the first half.
The game had been going on for 26 minutes when a man wearing a mask and with a political message on his shirt entered the field of play. The man got close to England international Lauren Hemp before being rugby-tackled by stewards.
The man had a t-shirt on with a message saying ‘stop Putler’ likening Russian president Vladimir Putin to former German dictator Adolf Hitler.
The back of the shirt had a Ukraine flag and read ‘free Ukraine’.
(REUTERS)
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:12
Olga Carmona dedicates goal to mother of a friend who passed away
As the Spanish captain wheeled away in celebration after scoring Spain’s winning goal in the World Cup final, the left-back lifted up her shirt to reveal a message: “Merchi”
It has now been revealed by the Spaniard that the word was in memory of a friend’s mother who recently passed away.
(Getty Images)
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 15:03
Mary Earps speaks to BBC Radio 5 Live
“They had a chance and took it, and we didn’t. I felt like we were really in the game. I’m sure we will feel really proud in a couple of weeks but right now it is really raw. Gutting.
“In a couple of weeks, when the emotion has settled down we will probably be able to look back and feel proud - it is no small feat to get to a World Cup final. But we are very competitive people, we came here to win the game and get a gold medal, not a silver one.
“At the same time, you need to try and be as present as possible. These moments don’t come around very often. I will probably look back on this as up there as one of my career highlights but right now it just doesn’t feel like it.”
(Getty Images)
Ben Fleming20 August 2023 14:48
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