A new power has emerged in women's football after Spain added the FIFA Women's World Cup to those they hold at U-20 and U-17 levels on August 20, "La Roja" prevailing 1-0 over England in the Final in front of another full house - 75,784 fans - at Stadium Australia as the quadrennial celebration of the women's game drew to a close. This tournament marked the first time the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals had been held in the southern hemisphere, and the first time it had been co-hosted, a role which both Australia and New Zealand have performed brilliantly over the course of the last month. Thus it was fitting that the finalists were both bidding to win the most prized honour in women's football for the first time, with "The Lionesses" first to fire a shot in anger, Lauren Hemp drawing a smothering save from Cata Coll just five minutes after the game had kicked off. Spain were swiftly into their passing game, many of their promising early raids bearing the pawmarks of Aitana Bonmati all over them. It wasn't until the fourteenth minute that they first carved out an opportunity, however, Teresa Abelleira slipping a pass to Salma Paralleulo, who skipped past two players before playing the ball back to Abelleira. Alex Greenwood cleared that particular threat, while Spain's defence was under siege two minutes later, Lucy Bronze leading the charge on the right. She played the ball back for Georgia Stanway, whose driving run into the penalty box resulted in a cross which was cleared as far as Rachel Davy. The multi-talented player, as at home as a striker as she has been in the left wingback role she has occupied throughout these Finals, slipped a neat pass inside to Hemp, whose delightful curling chip arced over Coll from twenty yards, only to crash against the crossbar and rebound back into play. Spain cleared their lines, and counter-attacked down the left through Olga Carmona, the overlapping fullback's cross zooming across the bows of the incoming figure of Paralluelo, who should have at least made contact with the ball. Alba Redondo was following in on the far post, her shot prompting a super reflex save by Mary Earps which ensured the game remained scoreless for now. Back came England, Coll again denying Hemp after Spain had conceded possession cheaply just outside their penalty area, Emma Toone taking the chance to set up her team-mate as "The Lionesses" looked to roar once more. Spain's response was immediate, Paralluelo powering down the left before looking to pick out Redondo with a cross. Earps saved at the forward's feet on this occasion, but in the 29th minute was tasked with fishing the ball out of the back of her net as Spain opened the scoring. Bronze set off on a mazy, buccaneering run out of defence which took her into the centre circle, and into trouble. Bonmati picked her pocket, and Abelleira instantly took charge of proceedings, directing the ball back from whence Bronze came, a void which England were now struggling to fill. Not "La Roja", however. They had players prowling in abundance down the left, one of whom, Mariona Caldentey, received Abelleira's pass and drew the defence before slipping the ball into the stride of Carmona as she overlapped her team-mate on a driving run into the penalty area. Without breaking stride, Spain's captain unleashed a superb angled grasscutter across the diving figure of Earps, the ball rolling just beyond her fingertips and into the net by the base of the far post - 1-0 Spain, a fabulous goal given the precision required to guarantee inch-perfect execution. England looked to get back on level terms straight away, but Hemp's progress was expertly shut down by Ona Batlle, sparking a spell in which Sarina Wiegman's team struggled to get out of their own half of the pitch, such was Spain's supremacy in this period of the match. All they had to show for it was an Abelleira free-kick in the 37th minute, which Irene Paredes headed into the goalmouth. Milly Bright returned the favour, inviting Spain's ever-present centre half to chance her arm via a left-footed volley - in such circumstances, you can almost always guarantee a defender's finish, and this attempt was par for the course! Four minutes before half-time, Hemp - England's best - forged her way into Spanish territory and took advantage of an untimely stumble to get in behind and deliver a cross with which Ella Toone, arriving at the near post, should have at least made contact. The chance was lost, however, and with the very last kick of the half, so very nearly was the contest from England's perspective. Bonmati's wayward cross ultimately found its way to Caldentey, and the ball was gradually worked back across the park to Batlle, whose low cross prompted a first-time shot from Paralluelo which clipped the post - it could just as easily have gone in! England had to change things at half-time, and the introduction of Lauren James was a given. But for the versatile Daly? That was a big call by Wiegman, given the outgoing player's prowess in front of goal, and England's need to score at least one to remain in the contest. It was the Spanish who fired the first shot in anger in this half, Jennifer Hermoso and Caldentey weaving patterns down the left before the ball was played to Bonmati, who returned it to Caldentey. She nutmegged Bronze - a World Cup Final performance she'll want to forget - before seeing her shot turned round the post by Earps. Back came England, Bronze, Walsh and Stanway teaming up with halftime substitute Chloe Kelly, whose cross was missed by Paredes. Hemp was unable to capitalise, firing wide of the far post in the 54th minute. Buoyed by that close call, England looked to step things up a bit, but Spain generally kept them at arm's length, and continued to look for a second goal themselves. Such as in the 62nd minute, when Paralluelo and Hermoso teamed up with Bonmati, who dashed through from deep and let rip from twenty-five yards with a shot which flew inches

over the bar. Two minutes later, Spain pressed again, Bonmati again at the forefront of the raid. This time she teamed up with Carmona, who pulled the ball back for Caldentey. She wriggled her way into the penalty area, where the ball struck the outstretched hand of Walsh, right in front of USA referee Tori Penso. Play continued, with Paralluelo eventually firing a shot which ricocheted for a corner. It was never taken, however, as the Video Assistant Referee was assessing the Walsh incident, and invited referee Penso to peruse the footage … cue another interminable wait for something which had been clearly obvious the second it happened, and finally the inevitable penalty was awarded. Cue some English gamesmanship, Bronze particularly prominent in this regard, and perhaps understandable given her first half blunder was ultimately responsible for giving Spain their advantage. Hermoso was looking to double it, and eventually got the chance to let fly from twelve yards in the 69th minute, some five minutes after the incident occurred. Her penalty was a poor one, however, and was well saved by Earps, although there was certainly an element of doubt as to whether it should have been retaken - the 'keeper was some distance off her line when she made her save. A second Spain goal then would have settled the contest, but buoyed by their goalkeeper's efforts, England looked to finish strongly. Hemp was thwarted by Coll, to which Spain responded through Paralluelo - Earps' raking clearance put the skids on that opportunity. That sparked a counter-attack in which Hemp's cross for Kelly was cleared by Carmona, but only as far as James, who moved into the penalty area and unleashed a rising drive towards the roof of the net by the near post. Coll leapt skywards and tipped the ball over the bar. England kept on coming, James leading the charge until she was felled by Carmona just outside the penalty area. Referee Penso waved play on, but while "The Lionesses" were coming with a wet sail, Spain weren't done by a long chalk, Bonmati inspiring an 89th minute raid which saw Caldentey play a through ball for Hermoso which she was only prevented from firing goalwards by Jessica Carter's vital block. Thirteen minutes of stoppage time was signalled, a combination of injuries - Greenwood copping an unintentional boot in the face was the worst of those - and our dear friend VAR's unnecessarily lengthy decision-making processes extending the length of the match by almost a third of a half of football! (There's something awry when that's the case - it needs addressing). During stoppage time, Jorge Vilda's team held sway. Ivana Andres switched play to Bonmati, who played a scrumptious through ball for Batlle to exploit. She charged into the penalty area before letting fly, her shot deflecting off Carter and drawing a fine save with her outstretched leg by Earps as England wobbled. Soon after, the freshly introduced Alexia Putellas combined with Bonmati, who sent Oihane Hernandez haring down the right. Her delicious cross was missed by Bronze, who had Paralluelo right behind her - the striker wasn't anticipating the defender's latest blunder, so was unable to capitalise on the opportunity. Eight minutes into stoppage time, another driving run from the relentless Bonmati had England on the back foot again, and only Bronze's desperate lunge prevented Paralluelo from finding the net and finishing the game as a contest. Three minutes later, Greenwood produced a brilliant tackle in the penalty area to thwart Hernandez, after the pair had gone stride for stride down the right from virtually the halfway line - a superb piece of defending. Back came England, their last chance to snatch an equaliser and force extra time. Hemp - who else? - led the charge down the right before crossing towards Beth England. Batlle's superbly timed headed clearance averted this threat, and after Coll had dealt with a desperate cross seconds later, the final whistle sounded - Spain, 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup winners. Deservedly, too! They were the best footballing team throughout the tournament, with their lone conquerors in group action, Japan, right up there alongside Spain in this regard. As well, the Spanish scored an unmatched eighteen goals during the Finals. They also claimed three individual honours, with Paralluelo named Young Player of the Tournament, Hermoso picking up the Silver Ball, while the Golden Ball - the Player of the Tournament - belonged to Bonmati, who played like a boss throughout this memorable month. Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt claimed the Bronze Ball, while Japan's Hinata Miyazawa struck five goals to claim the Golden Boot. Earps, meanwhile, added the Golden Glove award to the goalkeeping honour she was awarded at FIFA's The Best awards earlier this year. And so it concludes, this fabulous fiesta of female football throughout New Zealand and Australia, which attracted a staggering 1,978,264 fans to its 64 matches. There have been so many highlights en route - attendance records for a football match in NZ being broken three times at Eden Park, for instance, the first of those being the Football Ferns' tournament-making 1-0 win over Norway in the opening match. 63 games later, 1-0 was again the outcome. VIVA ESPANA, CAMPEONAS DEL MUNDO! Spain:          Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Codina (Andres, 73), Carmona; Bonmati, Abelleira, Hermoso; Redondo (Hernandez, 60), Paralluelo (booked, 78), Caldentey (Putellas, 90) England:     Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Stanway, Walsh, Toone (England, 87), Daly (James, 46); Russo (Kelly, 46), Hemp (booked, 55) Referee:     Tori Penso (USA)