Spain vs England – Final – Preview & Prediction | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
THE FACTS
When is Spain vs England on and what time does it start? Spain vs England will take place on Sunday 20th August, 2023 – 11:00 (UK)
Where is Spain vs England taking place? Spain vs England will take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia
Where can I get tickets for Spain vs England? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Spain vs England
What channel is Spain vs England on in the UK? Spain vs England will be televised live on ITV1 and BBC One
Where can I stream Spain vs England in the UK? Spain vs England can be streamed on ITVX, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
THE LOWDOWN
SPAIN
- Following a breathless final ten minutes of normal time in a semi-final that saw three goals scored across that period, Spain came out on top against Sweden by two goals to one, thus booking their place in a first-ever Women’s World Cup final.
- Alexia Putellas started in the semi-finals for the first time in the knockout stage and Jorge Vilda has a big decision to make not only regarding whether Putellas is fit enough to start once again, but also on whether to start Salma Paralluelo, or unleash her from the bench as he did to great effect on Tuesday, the 19-year-old scoring Spain’s winning goal.
ENGLAND
- England brilliantly weathered both the Australian wave of pressure and a partisan home crowd to overcome the Matildas 3-1 and reach their first Women’s World Cup final, also maintaining their unbeaten record across the tournament.
- Lionesses’ boss Sarina Wiegman has the opportunity to banish the demons of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final when her native Netherlands side was beaten by United States, however to do so she must get her starting line-up right and the big decision will be whether to bring Lauren James back into the XI following her return from a two-game suspension, the Chelsea star having accrued three goals and three assists in the competition so far.
THE TEAM NEWS
SPAIN
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona; Bonmati, Abelleira, Putellas; Paralluelo, Jenni Hermoso, Caldentey
UNAVAILABLE: Garcia (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ENGLAND
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Stanway, Walsh, Daly; Toone; Russo, Hemp
UNAVAILABLE: Kirby (Injured), Mead (Injured), Williamson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE KEY STATS
- This is the first FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter between these two nations. Overall, England lead their head-to-head record with seven wins to Spain’s three and they have also drawn on six occasions. Their most recent meeting was in the UEFA Women’s EURO quarter-finals in 2022 when England edged through 2-1 after extra-time on their way to winning the tournament.
- This is the first time since the inaugural edition in 1991, that the FIFA Women’s World Cup final will be contested by two teams who have never featured in the final previously.
- Three of the previous nine finals in the FIFA Women’s World Cup have required extra-time, with two of those being decided by a penalty shoot-out; 1999: USA – China PR 0-0 AET 5-4 PSO, 2003: Germany – Sweden 2-1 AET and 2011: Japan – USA 2-2 AET 3-1 PSO
- Spain are leading goalscorers at Australia & New Zealand 2023 with 17 goals – the most they have ever scored in a single edition.
- Spain have won five of their previous six matches at the 2023 finals (W5 L1). They had only won one of seven FIFA Women’s World Cup matches prior to this edition of the tournament.
- Spain have defeated European opposition in each of their knockout round matches on their way to reaching the final; W 5-1 v. Switzerland (round of 16), W 2-1 aet v. Netherlands (quarter-finals) and W 2-1 v. Sweden (semi-finals).
- Spain could become only the second team to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup after suffering a defeat on their way to winning the competition. Japan previously achieved this having lost 2-0 against England in the group stage when they lifted the trophy in 2011.
- 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 U17 Women’s World Cup titles – she won the U17 in 2018, U20 in 2022.
- Against Sweden, Salma Paralluelo became the first player to score in successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches for Spain.
- England have won 11 and drawn one of their last 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (W11 D1 L2).
- England have won five of their last six FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European teams (W5 L1).
- England’s total of 13 goals at the 2023 finals has equalled their highest tally in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final competition which they achieved in 2019.
- England have only failed to score in one of their last 19 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- Sarina Wiegman has now reached the final at each of the last four FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's EURO final competitions in which she has coached: Netherlands (Women's EURO 2017, FIFA Women's World Cup 2019); England (Women's EURO 2022, FIFA Women's World Cup 2023)
- Sarina Wiegman is the first coach to reach the FIFA Women's World Cup final with two different nations.
THE PREDICTION
We have an incredible 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in store between two European powerhouses in Spain and England. Both are special times packed full of special players and fine margins will more than likely decide this final. When England defeated Spain after extra time last summer in the quarter-finals of EURO 2022, the Spaniards were without two key players in Putellas and Jenni Hermoso. Exactly 13 months on from that night in Brighton and Spain are significantly stronger side with both back in the fold. England meanwhile, have also improved and are the envy of the football world with their strength-in-depth. It’s incredible to think that the European champions have made it here without a number of their standout players from that tournament in Beth Mead, Jill Scott (now retired) and captain Leah Williamson.
Expect a high-quality encounter, a real technical battle as both teams combine their attacking tendencies with the defensive stability needed to succeed. However, the difference between the two nations could come from their respective dugouts. Vilda has never taken charge of his country in a game of such magnitude, whilst Wiegman has won international trophies before and is vastly experienced in major tournament finals. She has proven her tactical acumen time and time again, making key changes and adjustments when needed and it may be her who provides the keys required for her side to gain the edge over Spain. It would be no surprise to see this final go the distance but when all is said and done, back England to be the ones lifting the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their footballing history.
TIP: ENGLAND TO LIFT THE TROPHY
