Spain and England clash in a mega final on Sunday at Stadium Australia to decide the winner of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
SPA-W vs ENG-W Match Details
Date: Sunday, 20 August 2023
Time: 15:30 (IST), 20:00 (ACT)
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
SPA-W vs ENG-W Match Preview
Just two teams remain of a high voltage month-long tournament filled with drama, upsets and history created in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and they will now battle it out for their first title in history. Spain graced the main stage in some style by ramping in the group stages apart from a 4-0 loss to Japan and finding late winners in the knockouts. The team who has never gone beyond the last 16 stages of the competition is gracing the showpiece now. All because of a stunner from Olga Carmona that decided the semi-final tie with Sweden 2-1 after Salma Paralluelo shined as a substitute again by breaking the resistance in the 81st minute through again. Her counterpart Rebecka Blomqvist, also a substitute, scored Sweden’s equalizer from one of her first touches of the match but it did not matter at the end. It seemed the evening always belonged to Spain who have got the chance now to replicate the men’s historical World Cup triumph in 2010. But for them, it will further ensure the progress of women’s football in the nation and the space they deserve. While the credit might not go to their coach Jorge Vilda who remained numb when asked about the player’s mutiny against him and the federation. La Roja was the only team that gave the serious prospect of elimination to the eventual champions England before the final in the Euros last summer. They will want to repeat it and get over the line this time to script history. Having scored 17 goals in the tournament and on a record three-game winning run in the finals, Spain will hope to prevent the team with the favourites tag in the final.
England also progressed to their first-ever final of the Women’s World Cup after failing at the semifinal stage in the last two editions. Against the co-hosts Australia and the incredible support behind them, the Lionesses showed their elite mentality by taking the lead through a banger by Ella Toone on the stroke of half-time and also after Sam Kerr scored one of the goals of the tournament to bring the game level. Lauren Hemp capitalised on Ellie Carpenter’s mistake and Alessia Russo killed the game off in the 86th minute in the 3-1 win. Climbing to back-to-back finals of major tournament shows the standard England are setting and winning the Women’s World Cup will bring an unprecedented pedigree to the game, not just women’s, in the nation. The curator of it will be Sarina Wiegman who is the first manager to manage two different nations in the showpiece and to the final in the fourth straight major competitions. After failing to do with her nation four years ago, the Dutch boss is aiming to clinch the silverware for the first time for her and the Lionesses. With the mentality England displayed throughout the tournament and also against Spain winning from a goal down in the previous meeting in their run to be Euro Champions will give them an edge in the battle. However, Wiegman’s team will know the fact La Roja could still trouble them despite having less experience of this stage in competitions World Cup or otherwise. Not only through their style but also having serial winners with their club in the squad. England could unleash their own Aitana Bonmati as Lauren James is back from her suspension to make the difference between the sides.
Recent Form (Women’s World Cup)
SPA-W: WWWLWW
ENG-W: WWDWWW
SPA-W vs ENG-W Team News
Spain could allow Salma Paralluelo to start games again having scored two vital goals off the bench in as many matches in the knockouts. Reprising the same role is also not ruled out. Jenni Hermoso could move back into the midfield after starting up front in the last match to give even more control in that area of the pitch. Alexia Putellas is still hoping to get back to her best from the ACL injury so will move back to the bench after starting the semifinals. Full-back Oihane Hernandez has completed her suspension but Olga Carmona will retain her place after scoring the stunning winner in the semi-final.
The big news for England is Lauren James has served the two-match ban for her red card offence in the quarterfinals and is available for selection. Whether she will return to the starting eleven is a big decision for Sarina Weigman to make as Ella Toone put in a remarkable performance against Australia. James’ introduction will add more fuel to the attack that is now firing all cylinders due to the excellent front two of Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
SPA-W vs ENG-W Predicted Lineups
SPA-W: Coll; Batlle, Codina, Paredes, Camona; Hermoso, Abelleira, Bonmatí; Caldentey, Redondo, Paralluelo
ENG-W: Earps; Greenwood, Bright, Carter; Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Bronze; James; Hemp, Russo
SPA-W vs ENG-W Head to Head
Played - 11
SPA-W won - 2
Drawn - 3
ENG-W won - 6
SPA-W vs ENG-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Earps (Cr - 8, Pts - 176)
DEF: A Greenwood (Cr - 9, Pts - 323), Bright (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 236), Battle (Cr - 8, Pts - 234)
MID: Hermoso (Cr - 9, Pts - 370), Bonmati (Cr - 9, Pts - 364), Abelleira (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 346), James (Cr - 9, Pts - 279)
FW: Hemp (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 237), Russo (Cr - 9, Pts - 268), Paralluelo (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 259)
Vice-captain: Lauren Hemp
Captain: Alessia Russo
