WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Whose name will appear on Women’s World Cup trophy as Spain take on England?

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2023

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 final on Sunday will see a new name etched on to the tournament trophy, as European duo Spain and England meet – for the first time in the competition – to do battle for the coveted crown.

The sides’ most recent meeting was in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 quarter-finals, when England edged through in a 2-1 extra-time victory en route to winning the tournament.

After eliminating Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden to get to the final, Spain will not be daunted by the task and will look to assert their trademark passing game on this showpiece encounter.

England have overcome Nigeria, Colombia and Australia to reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ final for the first time and will be going all out to follow up on their Women’s EURO triumph and lift the trophy at Stadium Australia.

Both teams have grown stronger by the round, and it now all boils down to this one-off match, which promises to be a classic and the perfect way to round off what has been an exceptional tournament.

Last meeting:

20/07/2022, England 2-1 Spain, UEFA European Women’s Championship England 2022, American Express Community Stadium, Falmer (England)

Key facts

The fact that both Spain and England will feature in the final for the first time brings the number of nations to have reached the FIFA Women’s World Cup showpiece to 10.
This will be the third all-European FIFA Women’s World Cup final, after the showpieces at the 1995 (Norway 2-0 Germany) and 2003 (Germany 2-1 Sweden – aet) editions.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup will be lifted by a European team for the first time since 2007, when Germany defeated Brazil 2-0 to clinch their second title following their triumph at the 2003 finals. Norway are the only other European side to have won the competition (1995).
Germany are the only nation to have won both the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Spain or England will match that achievement.
This will be the first time since the inaugural instalment in 1991 that the FIFA Women’s World Cup final will be contested by two teams that have never previously featured in the tournament decider.
Three of the nine FIFA Women’s World Cup finals have required extra time, with two of those being decided by a penalty shoot-out:

– 1999 – USA 0-0 China PR (aet) 5-4 PSO

– 2003 – Germany 2-1 Sweden (aet)

– 2011 – Japan 2-2 USA (aet) 3-1 PSO.

Spain’sLa Roja are the leading goalscorers at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 with 17 goals – the most they have ever scored in a single edition of the tournament.
Spain have emerged victorious in five of their six matches at this year’s finals (W5 L1). They had only won one of their seven FIFA Women’s World Cup encounters prior to this edition of the tournament.
Spain have defeated European opposition in each of their knockout-stage matches en route to the final:Won 5-1 v. Switzerland (round of 16) Won 2-1 v. Netherlands (aet) (quarter-finals) Won 2-1 v. Sweden (semi-finals).
Spain could become only the second team to secure the FIFA Women’s World Cup crown after suffering defeat en route to glory. Japan did so at the 2011 edition after slipping to a 2-0 group-stage defeat to England.
Spain are the current FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup champions, having won both competitions in 2022. They could become the first country to hold all three titles at the same time. Japan are the only nation to have triumphed at all three tournaments: the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, the 2018 edition of the U-20 competition and the 2014 instalment of the U-17 tournament, but they did not hold all three titles at the same time.
Spain’s Salma Paralluelo could become the first player to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – she tasted glory at the U-17 competition in 2018 and the 2022 edition of the U-20 tournament.
Her strike against Sweden saw Salma Paralluelo become the first Spanish player to have scored in successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes have featured in each of Spain’s 13 FIFA Women’s World Cup encounters since the nation’s maiden outing at the 2015 finals.
England have won 11 and drawn one of their last 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (Won 11, Drew 1, Lost 2).
England have won five of their last six FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European teams (Won 5, Lost 1).
England’s 13-goal haul at this year’s finals has seen them equal their record tally in the competition, which they achieved at the 2019 tournament.
England have only failed to score in one of their last 19 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
The Lionesses’ Lucy Bronze has lined up in 19 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches and is set to become only the second England player to have made 20 appearances in the competition, after Jill Scott (21).
Sarina Wiegman has now reached the showpiece at each of the last four FIFA Women’s World Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO final competitions:Netherlands (UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™), England (UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™).
Sarina Wiegman is the first coach to have led two different nations to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final.

SPAIN TEAM FACTS

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

Overall record: Played : 13,Won: 6, Drew: 2, Lost: 5, Goals For: 23, Goals Against: 15, Goal Difference: 8
Biggest win: 5-0 Spain v. Zambia (26/07/2023)
Biggest defeat: 0-4Spain v. Japan (31/07/2023)
Highest scoring match: 6 goals – Spain 5-1 Switzerland (05/08/2023)
Most goals scored in a match: 5 – Spain 5-0 Zambia (26/07/2023)/Spain 5-1 Switzerland (05/08/2023)
Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – Spain 0-4 Japan (31/07/2023)
Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 17 – 2023 (6 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2015 (3 matches)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 7 – 2023 (6 matches)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2015 (3 matches)/2019 (4 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

Successive wins: 3 (2023-present)
Successive defeats: 2 (2015)
Successive draws: 1 (2015 and 2019)
Successive matches without a defeat: 3 (2023-present)
Successive matches without a win: 3 (2015 and 2019)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 3 (2019-2023 and 2023-present)
Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
Successive clean sheets: 2 (2023)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES

11/08/2023 Spain 2-1 Netherlands (quarter-finals)

ENGLAND TEAM FACTS

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ TEAM RECORDS

Overall record: Played: 32,Won: 20, Drawn: 5, Lost: 7, Goals For: 56, Goals Against: 33, Goals Difference: 23
Biggest win: England 6-1 Argentina, 17/09/2007), England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
Biggest defeat: 0-3 England 0-3Germany 13/06/1995), England 0-3 USA (22/09/2007)
Highest scoring match: 7 goals – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)and England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
Most goals scored in a match: 6 – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)and England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
Most goals conceded in a match: 3 – England 0-3 Germany (13/06/1995)and England 0-3 USA (22/09/2007)
Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 2019 (7 matches) and 2023 (6 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 6 – 1995 and 2011 (4 matches)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 9 – 1995 (4 matches)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2011 (3 matches) and 2023 (6 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

Successive wins: 6 (2015-2019)
Successive defeats: 2 (2019)
Successive draws: 2 (2007)
Successive matches without a defeat: 6 (2015-2019 and 2023-present)
Successive matches without a win: 3 (1995-2007)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 16 (2015-2023)
Successive matches without scoring: 1 (six times, the last of which was 2023-present) Successive clean sheets: 4 (2019)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ EXTRA-TIME MATCHES

09/07/2011 England 1-1 France (3-4 PSO) (quarter-finals)
04/07/2015 England 1-0 Germany (match for third place)
07/08/2023 England 0-0 Nigeria (4-2 PSO) (round of 16)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS (Won 1, Lost 1)

09/07/2011 England 3-4 France (PSO) (quarter-finals)
07/08/2023 England 4-2 Nigeria (PSO) (round of 16)

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!

Published

2 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria Super Falconets gave Nigerians additional joy after their 4-0 defeat of Venezuela in Cali, Colombia in their last group match. Their victory followed up with an earlier 3-0 win by the Super Eagles in their opening Group D match with Benin Republic in Uyo.

The Falconets’ win means they have qualified for the Round of 16 where they are most likely going to face Japan when the group games are completed on Sunday.

Both Nigeria and Germany tied on six points, but Germany have one goal better than Nigeria on goal difference.

The Super Falcons made early hays when Amina Bello put Nigeria ahead after 16 minutes. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu doubled the lead in the 28^th minute before Flourish Sebastine put in the third five minutes into the added time of the first half. Joy Igbokwe put in the back breaker four minutes into the added time of the second hald.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Okwuchukwu shines despite Nigeria’s defeat to Germany in U-20 Women’s World Cup

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign suffered a setback as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against a clinical German side in Bogota, Colombia on Wednesday night.

The result secures Germany’s place in the knockout stages, while leaving the Falconets with work to do in their final group match.

In an end-to-end encounter, both sides created numerous chances, but it was Germany who struck first. Cora Zicai’s pinpoint cross found Alara Sehitler, who nodded home in the 17th minute to give the Europeans the lead.

Nigeria’s star performer, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, had earlier come close to opening the scoring with a magnificent solo run, only to be denied by German goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk.

Okwuchukwu’s persistence paid off early in the second half when she capitalized on a defensive mix-up to draw Nigeria level, celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘siuuu’ celebration.

However, Germany’s quality shone through as they regained the lead through Sofie Zdebel, again assisted by the impressive Zicai.

Despite Okwuchukwu having another goal ruled out for offside, Germany sealed the win in stoppage time with Sarah Ernst’s powerful header.

The defeat leaves Nigeria on three points from two matches, with their final group game against Venezuela in Cali now crucial to their hopes of progressing.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Points of Note in Falconets’ loss to Germany

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Germany beat Nigeria’s Falconets 3-1 in their second group game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. With Germany’s win, the Europeans have made it to the last 16 stage, even with a game to spare.

The coach of Germany, Kathrin Peter acknowledged the efforts of the Nigerian team , saying: “It was a really tough match today.

“That was expected, but we actually had big problems in defence. They had a few chances where we had the necessary luck, we have to admit that.

“But in the second half we were really good and asserted our dominance and I think we deserved to win in the end.”

Here are some major points:

Germany beat Nigeria 2-0 in the final match 14 years ago in Germany.

Germany have now won their last four FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup meetings with Nigeria. Alex Popp inspired a 2-0 victory in the 2010 final, Lena Petermann settled the decider in extra-time four year later, and Stefanie Sanders was the solitary scorer in Group D in 2018.