Spain vs England: Is the trophy “coming home” or heading to Madrid?
Finally today is here. Call it Super Sunday and you will be right. Cut embellishment and simply say it is Women World cup final you will equally be right for that indeed is what it is.
Today at the 83,000 capacity Australia Stadium now currently known as Acor Stadium for sponsorship purposes England and Spain will lock horns to determine who wins the 9th edition of the FIFA Women World Cup. Interestingly neither of the two sides has won the trophy in the past which means that a winner today will be joining the elite club of Women World cup winners.
Only four countries have clinched the prestigious trophy viz United states (1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019) Norway 1995, Germany (2003, 2007) and Japan 2011.
This year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand the first time it will feature 32 teams lived up to expectation and left no one in doubt that the Women football is ready to fly to greater heights.
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The group state exit of 4-time winners and defending champions USA gave the hint that indeed anything can happen.
Even debutant teams Ireland, Zambia Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal and Vietnam put up a good show refusing to simply bow out without a fight confirming submissions in several quarters that there are no minnows in football anymore.
From 32 teams that began the battle in July 20, only four survived to finish the last batch of the battle Sweden who beat Co-host Australia to win the third place on Saturday, Spain and England who will not doubt be fighting to the finish today.
The odds some may say favour England who are making their fifth appearance and who have reached the quarterfinals twice, and finished in the third place once and fourth place once.
Winning today will crown their effort and dogged fight to finally win the trophy. Aside from that it will be a huge plus for the Lionesses who are current European Champions with the world Cup serving as the garnishing on the cake.
Underrating Spain will be a huge mistake. La Roja or The Reds as the Spanish ladies are called have qualified for the world cup three times 2015, 2019 and 2023.
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Theirs has been a progressive story since making a debut, crashing out in the group stage in 2015, getting to the round of 16 in 2019 in France and now in the final in their third attempt.
It will be wrong to simply dismiss any other the two teams slugging it out today with the wave of the left hand.
Certainly it promises to be full of fireworks and lovers of women football will enjoy a full dose today. So the big question will be is it coming home like the popular England slogan or will the Reds divert the cup to Madrid? The question will be answered on the pitch today!