Women’s World Cup: Heartbreak for England as Lionesses miss out on last glory after defeat to Spain
England’s Lionesses have missed out on glory on the Women’s World Cup after being overwhelmed 1-0 by Spain.
Closely lacking out on repeating their success at Euros 2022, Sarina Wiegman’s workforce fought to the very finish at a packed-out Stadium Australia in Sydney.
But a first-half purpose by Spain’s Olga Carmona, who shot throughout Mary Earps into the far nook within the twenty eighth minute, broke England’s hearts.
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England had come near taking the lead themselves within the fifteenth minute when Lauren Hemp’s shot hit the bar.
Spain’s purpose by Olga Carmona
A shot from England’s Lauren Hemp, proper, hits the crossbar. Pic: AP
Two adjustments at half-time noticed Lauren James and Chloe Kelly substitute Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo for the Lionesses, as they tried to show the sport round.
Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso then missed an opportunity to double her facet’s lead from a penalty – granted after a handball by Keira Walsh – after a heroic save by Earps, who dived to her left to avoid wasting within the 69th minute.
James then compelled a save from Spain’s goalkeeper from a decent angle a couple of minutes later, as England pushed for an equaliser.
But it wasn’t to be, because the Lionesses fell quick on the last hurdle.
The sport will nonetheless go down in historical past as the primary time the Lionesses have reached the ultimate of the match.
It can be solely the third time Spain have certified for the World Cup, solely having received a single match within the match till this yr.
But La Roja are actually champions of the world, with a victory which can push ahead the ladies’s sport in Europe.
Hopeful of an England victory, the nation flocked to pubs and bars for the 11am kick-off (BST), with the sport tipped to provide a £185m increase to the UK financial system.
The King and Queen additionally issued a rallying cry of “roar to victory” beforehand and the prime minister urged gamers to convey the trophy dwelling, though neither attended the sport.
Play was briefly disrupted in the course of the first half after a protester entered the pitch earlier than an England free kick. The man was swiftly faraway from the pith by stewards.
A protester stormed the pitch in the course of the first half of the match
Disappointment after undefeated run to last
England have been undefeated within the match earlier than as we speak’s sport, however the journey to the ultimate wasn’t with out its challenges.
Before the World Cup even started, captain Leah Williamson and striker Beth Mead have been dominated out of taking part in within the match attributable to ACL accidents.
The first two video games noticed the workforce safe 1-0 victories in opposition to Haiti and Denmark, adopted by a whopping 6-1 win over China to complete prime of Group D.
But the Lionesses have been shortly pushed to their limits when arising in opposition to Nigeria.
A crimson card handed to Lauren James – which was later adopted by a two-game suspension – meant the workforce have been all the way down to 10 gamers within the final 16 match.
The sport went all the way down to a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, earlier than a 4-2 win noticed them progress into the quarter-finals in opposition to Columbia.
After falling behind to a purpose from Leicy Santos, objectives from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo booked them a slot within the semi-finals in opposition to co-hosts Australia.
A shocking 3-1 win against the Matildas secured the Lionesses’ spot within the last in opposition to Spain, which even with out the win felt like a “fairytale” to Weigman, who additionally took the Netherlands to the ultimate of the match in 2019.
Last time England confronted Spain – within the 2022 Euro quarter-finals – they received 2-1.