The Spanish Football Revolution: How Aitana Bonmati Led Her Team to Glory in the World Cup

England fell at the final hurdle, beaten narrowly by Jorge Vilda's Spain in the Women's World Cup final in Sydney - what contributed to their downfall?

Shape played into Spanish hands

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Mariona Caldentey successfully defends against Lucy Bronze. Sarina Wiegman faced a dilemma, while Jorge Vilda made a strategic adjustment. The Lionesses, who had performed exceptionally well against Australia in the semi-finals, remained confident as they entered Sunday's final with an unchanged lineup. However, this game presented unique challenges, suggesting the need for a modified approach.

Vilda strategically benched the reigning Ballon d'Or Féminin champion, Alexia Putellas, and instead utilized Salma Paralluelo who proved to be a brilliant replacement. The young Barcelona forward proved to be a constant threat to England's defense, creating numerous difficulties by consistently pulling them out of position.

England has shown strong discipline and organization throughout the tournament, particularly in their defensive play, but their performance against Spain was an exception. Rachel Daly and Lucy Bronze often found themselves caught too far up the field, leaving space for players like One Batlle and Olga Carmona to exploit out wide. The first signs of weakness began to appear.

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Spain captain Ivana Andres proudly raises the trophy for the Women's World Cup.

Bronze, a steadfast player for England in the position of full-back, will forever be remembered as one of the finest female athletes to don the national jersey. She has triumphed in all championship competitions, except for the prestigious World Cup. Unfortunately, fate dealt her a devastating blow, as her unfortunate error resulted in Carmona's victorious goal.

Bronze pushed forward but encountered congestion in the central area, resulting in a turnover for Spain and a swift counterattack. In an instant, Carmona connected skillfully with Mariona Caldentey, and directed the ball into the far corner past Mary Earps.

"We had difficulty pressing the ball in the first half," Wiegman admitted after the match. "However, we made a switch to a 4-3-3 formation in the second half, and I believe we gained more momentum."

Similar style, better substance

Regrettably, at that point in time, the detrimental consequences had already materialized. The solidarity that England had initially presented had been shattered in a single, decisive moment.

Wiegman addressed the significance of England's performance in the introduction, emphasizing that they had given their best effort. Captain Millie Bright echoed this sentiment. However, there is a substantial distinction between merely speaking confidently and actually following through with actions.

The lack of success was not due to a lack of effort - both striving and exertion were present, but Spain's precision passing and agile movement surpassed that of England's. Even Mary Earps' penalty save failed to inspire.

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Wiegman gracefully admitted that Spain had surpassed us by a slight margin today.

Vilda's team exhibited superiority by their astute utilization of passing triangles and give-and-go plays. There were instances when England struggled to even come close. This was not their typical strategy of playing most of the game without possession, and surrendering so much control appeared to unsettle England's top players.

Baller Bonmati

Spain's triumph in the World Cup cannot be credited to any individual player alone. However, it would be unforgivable to overlook the extraordinary skills showcased by Bonmati.

As well as securing a World Cup championship medal, the enchanting midfielder was also honored with the prestigious Golden Ball prize for a series of remarkable solo performances, in which she received special acclaim for her flawless vision and impeccable timing in controlling the ball.

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Aitana Bonmati was named Golden Ball winner in the Women's World Cup

After the final whistle, Bonmati expressed her delight, stating, "We have been working for many years towards this moment, and finally, we have the trophy."

Her class deserves the accolade of World Cup winner - it won't be the last piece of silverware on her busy mantelpiece. Step aside Putellas, Bonmati is the future of football.