Spain beat England 1-0 to win their first ever Women’s World Cup

Spain have beaten England 1-0 in the World Cup final to claim their first ever Women's World Cup title.

Olga Carmona’s first-half strike proved enough to secure Spain a 1-0 victory in Sydney.

Sarina Wiegman’s side still achieved a best-ever second-place finish, but that will be little consolation to a team, who came within inches of an opener when Lauren Hemp clipped the crossbar in the first half.

FIFA Best goalkeeper Mary Earps produced several fine saves to keep England in the contest, including the vital block to deny Jennifer Hermoso’s second-half spot kick as her determined team-mates tried to stage a comeback.

That never came, and while the Lionesses had their chances they ultimately could not find a way past speedy Spain, who survived 13 minutes of stoppage time to secure a deserved maiden world title.

Wiegman named an unchanged side from the one that beat Australia 3-1 to advance to this stage for the first time.

World Cup debutant Lauren James, who had scored three times and added the same number of assists in the group stage, was available for the England boss after serving a two-match ban and came on as a second-half substitute.

Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who has not looked fully fit this tournament, was among the substitutes for Spain while 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo got the nod from La Roja boss Jorge Vilda.

Spain looked the more threatening side in the opening exchanges and frequently encroaching on England’s final third, sending crosses across the face of goal but never posing any real danger to Earps.

Lauren Hemp, who was a standout in the semi-final, had a low, left-footed effort easily smothered by keeper Catalina Coll, who soon nullified the threat of Alex Greenwood’s corner when she leapt