It all comes down to this: after playing in two different continents for a month, England and Spain will face each other in the World Cup final, hoping to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
For England, it would be a historic achievement to match the men’s team that won the World Cup in 1966.
And after winning the European championship last summer, a World Cup title would confirm the Lionesses as the best team in the world, dethroning the U.S. women’s national team.
For Spain, it would be a remarkable culmination of a rapid rise fueled by investment, both at the club and national level.
But it would not be without controversy; a dozen players were left out of the squad after a revolt last year over the coaching style of Jorge Vilda.
"Starting Lineups for the World Cup Final: Spain vs. England"
Spain vs. England World Cup final starting lineups Spain’s teenage sensation Salma Paralluelo will start in the final against England on Sunday, while star player Alexia Putellas will be on the bench.
WORLD CUP CENTRAL: 2023 Women’s World Cup Live Scores, Schedules, Standings, Bracket and More.
Paralluelo scored the decisive goal against the Netherlands in extra time of the quarterfinals, and the 19-year-old also scored Spain’s second goal in the semifinal win over Sweden.
Check out Spain’s starting IX:
👤 ¡ESTA ES LA DISPOSICIÓN!
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) August 20, 2023
😍 Así formará España para disputar la final de la Copa del Mundo.#JugarLucharYGanar I #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/rjUxv771kp
England’s forward Lauren James is back in the squad, but she will be a substitute after serving a two-game suspension for a red card.
Check out England’s starting IX:
Your #Lionesses for the final! 💙 pic.twitter.com/ObVQ0Y1BKW
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) August 20, 2023
"At what time is the World Cup final in Australia scheduled?"
The World Cup final between England and Spain will kick off at 6 a.m. ET Sunday at Stadium Australia. That’s 8 p.m. in Sydney, Australia, where the game will take place.
How to Watch the World Cup Final Live: Spain vs. England
You can watch the World Cup final live online in English on FoxSports.com and in Spanish on Peacock. You can also use your preferred streaming service that offers live TV, such as DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo.
How both squads arrived.
Spain's journey
Spain started the tournament with a bang. La Roja scored eight goals and conceded none in their first two games. However, they suffered a stunning 4-0 defeat against Japan and finished second in their group.
Jorge Vilda’s team bounced back with a 5-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16, their first ever knockout victory, before edging out the Netherlands and Sweden in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.
Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 after extra time. In the semifinals, they scored a late goal to beat Sweden 2-1 and reach the final for the first time.
England’s route to the final.
England was not at their best, but they still topped their group with three wins out of three games.
In their last group stage game against China, they showed their scoring prowess with a 6-1 win.
However, England struggled to maintain that momentum in the knockout stages as Sarina Wiegman’s team beat Nigeria on penalties and then defeated Colombia with a 2-1 scoreline in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals against co-host Australia, England improved their performance and crushed the Matildas’ dreams with a 3-1 victory.
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Who will be the game-changer?
Spain’s secret weapon!
Spain was lacking creativity in its quarterfinal and semifinal games, and head coach Vilda had to look to his bench for some extra spark.
Vilda chose Salma Paralluelo and it is fair to say the young talent made the difference for La Roja.
The 19-year-old has shone from the bench and scored crucial goals in both of Spain’s last two World Cup games – a 111th minute winner against the Netherlands in the quarterfinal, before scoring an 81st minute opener in the semifinal against Sweden.
Will Vilda start Paralluelo or will he stick to the proven strategy of bringing on the Barcelona winger from the bench?
England’s tactical adjustment.
England entered the World Cup missing key players due to injury. Tactics have also changed throughout the tournament with head coach Wiegman switching from the usual 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 formation and performances improved as a result.
One of the main beneficiaries from this tactical change is dynamic forward Lauren Hemp.
The Manchester City attacker had a disappointing start to the World Cup, but since partnering with Alessia Russo upfront, Hemp has been England’s best player.
The speed and skill of the 23-year-old have been on full show, and especially in the semifinal win against Australia.
Hemp ended with a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win with her pace on the counterattack vital to England’s historic victory.
