By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
After one month of football actions, the 9th edition of FIFA Women’s World Cup will come to a glorious end when England and Spain clash in the epic final of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand
For the first time in a long time, two countries that have not won the FIFA World Cup before will be playing in the final as England and Spain reached the final of the biggest women’s football competition in the world for the very first time.
The match which will be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday, August 20, 2023 by 11 am Nigerian time has continued to attract global attentions for obvious reasons.
Some of the reasons England and Spain reached the final in Down Under include the technical and tactical prowess of the Head Coach of England Sarina Wiegman and her Spain counterpart Jorge Vilda, two gaffers whose teams have played better than others to get to the final in Australia.
Wiegman who leads the Three Lionesses of England to this final had four years ago in France also led her country of birth, Netherlands to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final for the country and her first-ever World Cup final.
The English Football Association (The FA) poached her from the camp of Netherlands after the feat in France and handed her the Three Lionesses and she has been delivering trophies including the UEFA Women’s Championship trophy in 2022 which England won for the first time on home soil.
Her team is blessed with talented players including Alessia Russo who scored in both the quarter-final and semi-final stages for England and experienced goalkeeper Mary Earps whose composure and incredible blocks and saves have helped to keep England in the hunt for the World Cup final in Australia.
Russo sealed the final spot with late goal in the semi-final to see off co-hosts Australia after Spain had already went through to the final by defeating Sweden in the firstsemi-final tie.
Ella Toone fired a superb strike into the top corner to put Sarina Wiegman’s side ahead, only for Chelsea striker and Australia captain Sam Kerr to equalise with a stunning goal of her own.
Hemp capitalised on a defensive error to restore England’s lead, then set up Russo, who added a third to secure a first World Cup final spot and end Australia’s hopes of winning the tournament. Australia finished in the 4th Place after losing 0-2 to Sweden in the 3rd Place match on Saturday in Australia.
England began their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Haiti, scored early on in the second match against Denmark and also won the third group game against China PR. READ ALSO:
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Lauren James superb as England hit China for six and James who was also England’s matchwinner against Denmark and was in unstoppable form against China.
She scored two excellent goals, created three assists and was unlucky to be denied another goal by a controversial video assistant referee decision.
James helped England secure a 6-1 victory as they cruised through as group winners with nine points from three matches.
Penalty joy against Nigeria after James red card James was the star against China but had a moment to forget in the last 16 when she was sent off for standing on the back of Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie, who was lying face down on the grass.
England had to battle throughout extra time a player short and stayed in the game to force a penalty shootout.
Georgia Stanway, who scored a retaken penalty in the 1-0 win over Haiti, went first and shot wide, only for Nigeria’s Desire Oparanozie to also miss. Beth England scored and Alozie fired over the bar to give the Lionesses the advantage.
Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood converted their efforts before Chloe Kelly, who netted the winner in last summer’s Euro 2022 final, kept her cool to take England into the quarter-finals.
England fight back to beat Colombia. England also had to fight hard in their quarter-final with Colombia.
Leicy Santos put the South Americans ahead, lobbing goalkeeper Mary Earps, just before half-time, but England grabbed an equaliser through Lauren Hemp in the sixth minute of first-half injury time.
Russo put the Lionesses ahead after 63 minutes and although Colombia had chances to take the game to extra time, Earps and the England defence denied them to advance into the final four where England defeated Australia as stated earlier.
Meanwhile, Spain put off-field problems behind them to have a great start as Spain’s build-up to the tournament had been dominated by a player revolt, with a number of players wanting Head coach Jorge Vilda to be sacked.
But Vilda stayed on, and his side made a superb start by beating Costa Rica 3-0 and hapless Zambia 5-0 in the opening two matches and despite dominating possession, Spain were thrashed 4-0 by Japan in their final Group C match.
The 2011 world champions scored three times in the first half, two from Hinata Miyazawa and one from Riko Ueki before substitute Mina Tanaka added a late fourth to leave already-qualified Spain in second place in the group.
But Spain returned to form in style as they gained a 5-1 victory over Switzerland in the Round of 16 to secure their first knockout-stage win at the World Cup.
Superstar, Aitana Bonmati scored twice and made two further goals, with Alba Redondo, Laia Codina (who had earlier scored a bizarre own goal from 40 yards out) and Jennifer Hermoso also on the scoresheet to ensure a place in the last eight.
Teenager Salma Paralluelo’s extra-time goal eliminates Netherlands
The Netherlands, runners-up four years ago, were Spain’s quarter-final opponents with Vilda’s team scoring an 80th-minute penalty from Mariona Caldentey.
Stefanie van der Gragt grabbed a 91st-minute equaliser for the Dutch to force extra time, but 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo became her country’s youngest scorer at a Women’s World Cup with her winner in the 111th minute.
The last-minute winner takes Spain into final Sweden, a side third in the world rankings, were Spain’s opponents in the semi-final and it was another thrilling finish, with all three goals scored inside the last 10 minutes.
Paralluelo opened the scoring, Rebecka Blomqvist equalised but just 93 seconds later captain Olga Carmona scored an 89th-minute winner to spark wild scenes of jubilation among the Spanish supporters.
With both countries boasting of goal scorers and coaches who are poised to win one more game to be crowned the world champions, the final will be interesting to watch as it will be action-packed.
It goes without saying that the coach with better tactics will carry the day, although everything points to the fact that England looks like the more balanced team with the experience of Sarina Wiegman who is the only ‘Woman Standing’ in Australia out of half dozen women coaches who led teams to Down Under.
Wiegman is assured of winning her second medal in World Cup in a row as finalists are already guaranteed either Gold or Silver medal on Sunday. So whatever happens at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Wiegman and Vilda would have created history of their own in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
