Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Lionesses receive heartwarming homecoming as attention turns to next game
Spain 1-0 England: Olga Carmona’s goal sees the Lionesses lose in England’s first World Cup final for 57 years despite Mary Earps’ penalty save
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).
Follow the latest updates as the Lionesses fly home:
Sarina Wiegman is ‘proud but disappointed’ after World Cup final
In an interview with England Football Sarina Wiegman sat down to discuss and reflect on the Women’s World Cup and the journey that took England all the way to the final.
“Of course, I’m very disappointed that we didn’t win. But most of all, I’m proud of the team,” she said, “Considering how we performed during the tournament and all the challenges we faced before and during the tournament, how we grew into the tournament and we stuck together to play our best game, I think we’ve done really well.
“So I’m proud of the team. I’m a little disappointed but Spain were really good, too. They were fine margins but they played just a little bit better.
“I’ve seen some of the players this morning. They are still waking up. Last night, we all came together with our families and friends. Now we’re heading home, disappointed, but also proud.
“Before the tournament we had a lot of challenges and then in the tournament we had challenges. The team adapted all the time and showed resilience.
“It’s such a pleasure to work with this group. There’s so much commitment and eagerness to improve and to grow and do better every single day.”
Spanish FA boss under fire for kissing player filmed making obscene gesture
Luis Rubiales, the Spanish FA president at the centre of a storm following the Women’s World Cup final, has been caught making an obscene gesture during celebrations at full-time.
Rubiales came under fire in the aftermath of Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney for kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the lips on the presentation stage.
Asked about the moment, Hermoso intially said: “Eh... yeah, I did not enjoy that.” Later, via quotes put out by the Spanish FA, she described the kiss with the organisation’s president as “mutual and spontaneous”.
Spanish FA boss who kissed player filmed making obscene gesture
Footage has emerged of Luis Rubiales grabbing his genitals in celebration in the moments after Spain’s victory
Lionesses deserve honours after World Cup final run, says Labour leader
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has become the first out of the blocks to call for the Lionesses to be given honours after they came runners-up in the Women’s World Cup.
Sarina Wiegman’s England side suffered disappointment after losing 1-0 to Spain in the final held in Sydney, Australia.
But Sir Keir said the Lionesses had “galvanised the whole nation through their historic achievement” after becoming the first senior women’s England team to make the final two in a World Cup competition.
Lionesses deserve honours after World Cup final run, says Labour leader
Head coach Sarina Wiegman and members of her squad were recognised in the New Year Honours list after their Euros success.
Millie Bright: England will bounce back from World Cup disappointment
Captain Millie Bright is confident England will emerge a stronger side after processing the gut-wrenching reality of finishing as World Cup runners-up.
The Lionesses overcame obstacles and disproved doubters over the expanded month-long competition, which for the first time saw 32 teams whittled down to two, Spain and England, who were both making their debuts in the showpiece final.
Olga Carmona’s first-half strike in Sydney proved enough to send La Roja home with the trophy, while England were reminded that football can be a game of cruel inches after Lauren Hemp’s near-opener pinged off the crossbar.
Millie Bright: England will bounce back from World Cup disappointment
Sarina Wiegman’s side were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final.
England players ‘heartbroken’ after World Cup final defeat to Spain
England captain Millie Bright said the Lionesses are “heartbroken” after an agonising defeat to Spain in the World Cup final.
Olga Carmona’s first-half strike settled the Sydney final as England’s bid to win their first World Cup in 57 years came up short.
The Lionesses were given hope when Mary Earps brilliantly saved Jenni Hermoso’s penalty, but Sarina Wiegman’s side were unable to find the equaliser.
Read the full reaction from members of the England camp below:
England players ‘heartbroken’ after World Cup final defeat to Spain
The Lionesses were denied a first Women’s World Cup title as Spain saw out a 1-0 win in Syndey
FA chief Mark Bullingham says Sarina Wiegman could be an England men’s candidate
Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham would not rule out the possibility that Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman could one day lead the England men’s team.
The 53-year-old’s stock as a serial winner has risen steadily since securing the European Championship trophy with her native Netherlands in 2017, then doing the same with England last summer.
She has now guided England to a first-ever World Cup final, in the process becoming the only manager to do so with two different nations in the women’s showpiece after steering her home country to the same stage four years ago.
FA chief Mark Bullingham says Sarina Wiegman could be an England men’s candidate
Wiegman’s stock as a serial winner has risen steadily after reaching her fourth successive final as a head coach in international football.
US will not poach ‘special’ World Cup coach Sarina Wiegman, insists FA
The Football Association will resist any USA approach for Sarina Wiegman, chief executive Mark Bullingham has said. He also insisted that the ongoing players’ bonuses dispute is now merely a “matter of time” rather than detail, and revealed the FA will also seek to host the Women’s World Cup themselves.
Wiegman is now one game away from a history double, as she took a senior English national team to a World Cup final for the first time. That has naturally attracted interest from the USA, whose coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned after a huge underperformance that saw the deposed world champions eliminated in the last 16.
Bullingham said the FA would “100 per cent” reject any approach.
“It is not about money. We are very, very happy with her and we feel she is happy. I think that is the answer.”
US will not poach ‘special’ World Cup manager Sarina Wiegman, FA insists
Wiegman is a coach in demand after steering England to consecutive major finals
Prince William sends ‘thank you’ message to Lionesses after World Cup final defeat
The Prince of Wales has shared a message of consolation with the Lionesses after their defeat against Spain at the World Cup final.
Spain’s women’s football team beat England 1-0 in the final, the first time since 1966 that any England football team had reached a World Cup final. In response to the disappointing result, William sent an encouraging message to the team on social media.
“Although it’s the result none of us wanted, @Lionesses you have done yourselves and this nation proud,” he wrote on Sunday afternoon.
“Your spirit & drive have inspired so many people and paved the way for generations to come. Thank you for the footballing memories.”
He concluded his message by sharing a message of congratulations to Spain, before signing off with his initial, “W”.
A change too far? England’s last roll of the dice comes up short
England had covered the gaps, they had filled the holes. They had adjusted, adapted, repositioned, created a new formation, and reached a first World Cup final. Then England changed again.
Down 1-0 in the World Cup final, Sarina Wiegman went for a last roll of the dice, a double substitution that saw Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly brought off and Lauren James and Chloe Kelly come on. That 3-5-2 that was England’s revelation of the tournament, that changed their World Cup? It was binned. England went back to 4-3-3. They disposed of the wing-backs and brought on the wingers. They stopped pressing Spain and abandoned their plan.
But perhaps Wiegman and England needed to stick with their conviction. For the first time at the World Cup, the Lionesses did not find the changes that were required. James and Kelly brought moments of improvement, but the truth is that England were at their most dangerous when Lauren Hemp and Russo were combining as a front two. Hemp’s switch to a central role took away the threat that was everywhere in the first half, and left Wiegman searching for something else. On came Beth England. Up went Millie Bright. But this was a situation England could not overcome.
Read Jamie Braidwood’s full report from Sydney:
A change too far? England’s last roll of the dice comes up short
England 0-1 Spain: Sarina Wiegman replaced Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly at half time for Lauren James and Chloe Kelly, but the Lionesses fell short in Sydney
‘I don’t have any words for this moment’ sais Aitana Bonmati
Spain’s World Cup winner, Aitana Bonmati was left almost speechless after her side’s 1-0 win against England to win the Women’s World Cup.
Bonmati, who has been a lynchpin of the Spanish side throughout the tournament, put in another solid display as Spain’s captain, Olga Carmona, fired them to a famous victory in Australia.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, she said: “I don’t have any words for this moment, it’s unbelievable. I’m so proud because he had a great tournament. We suffered but we enjoyed and we deserve it.
“Everyone knew the goal at the beginning of the tournament. Everyone is competitive, everyone has a strong mentality to win. We have been working for a lot of years for this moment and now we have it. We have the trophy.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies