Spain emerge champions after a slick and synchronised show

Skipper Carmona’s 29th-minute goal against England gives them their first-ever Women’s WC title

- Dhiman Sarkar

Spain won their first Women's World Cup with a showing as slick as it was synchronised. Skipper Olga Carmona's 29th minute goal made the difference in the final but England needed desperate defending and help from the framework to keep the scoreline at 1-0. Carmona became the first player since USA's Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in the semi-final and the final of a World Cup.

Spain are the second country after Germany to have won the men's and the women's World Cup titles. It happened 15 days after winning their first World Cup knockout match, 20 days after their worst loss in 11 years and with a squad missing 12 of the 15 players who had rebelled against coach Jorge Vilda. It happened without much help from two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas who was a 90th minute substitute at Sydney's Stadium Australia. Cue, a players' pile-up of joy and vindication for Vilda.

"England have a great team, but I think it was our game," Carmona told Spanish broadcasters La 1, as per AFP. "I thought that Spain were a little bit better than us today," said England coach Sarina Wiegman. This is the second successive World Cup final defeat for Wiegman.