Spain clinched its inaugural Women’s World Cup championship less than a year after a player uprising, triumphing over England 1-0 on Sunday with Olga Carmona’s first-half goal.

This historic victory marked Spain’s first major international trophy and made them the first European team to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany’s triumph in 2007.

The jubilant Spanish players celebrated by piling up in front of their goal at the final whistle.

Carmona’s skillful left-footed shot in the 29th minute found its way into the net’s far corner, just eluding the diving grasp of England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps.

In a heartwarming gesture of celebration, Carmona raised her jersey to reveal the word “Merchi” inscribed in ink on her undershirt, a touching homage to her former school.

Her decisive goal in the 29th minute mirrored her game-winning strike in the 89th minute of Spain’s 2-1 semifinal triumph over Sweden, a feat achieved by only one other player since 2015.

Despite previous challenges, Spain had a chance to widen the gap in the 68th minute through a penalty, but Jenni Hermoso’s attempt was skillfully saved by Earps, who anticipated the shot and dove to her left.

The victory came in spite of a near-mutiny by players last year, with fifteen players temporarily stepping away from the national team for their mental well-being while advocating for a more professional environment. Several of these players, including Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí, and Mariona Caldentey, eventually reconciled with the federation and participated in the World Cup.

England entered the tournament with momentum, having won the European Championship at home the previous summer. However, injuries to key players Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby, and Beth Mead prevented their participation in the World Cup.

Sarina Wiegman, England’s coach, became the first to lead her teams to consecutive World Cup title matches. Having previously led the Netherlands to the final in 2019, Wiegman faced a second defeat in the championship match, falling 2-0 to the United States.

The game saw a brief interruption in the 25th minute as a person dashed onto the field before being swiftly tackled by security.

While the match saw its share of chances, including Lauren Hemp’s shot bouncing off the crossbar and Salma Paralluelo’s scramble in front of the net, Carmona’s goal ultimately proved the deciding factor in Spain’s historic victory.

Source: AP