Spain crowned Women’s World Cup champions after beating England in historic win

In front of a crowd of nearly 76,000 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Spain were the more accomplished side and had more chances, including missing a second-half penalty.

Spain's triumph is vindication for Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation, who stuck with the coach even after 15 players last year said they no longer wanted to represent their country under him.

England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has now suffered back-to-back defeats in the final, and her European champions can have few complaints.

Spain are the fifth team to lift the World Cup since the tournament began in 1991, joining outgoing champions the US, Germany, Norway and Japan.

In front of Spain's Queen Letizia, defender Carmona scored what turned out to be the winner, rampaging from left-back to thrash the ball in low and hard on 29 minutes.

Carmona’s left-foot shot in the 29th minute went into the far corner of the net and just out of reach of diving England goalkeeper Mary Earps. 

In celebration, she raised her jersey to reveal the word “Merchi” scrawled in ink on her undershirt, an apparent nod to her former school.

The win gave the Spanish women their first major international trophy and avenged a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion England in the European championship last year.

England's Lionesses went into the final unbeaten and aiming to bring a World Cup back to England for the first time since 1966.

Goalkeeper Earps made a stunning save to Jenni Hermoso's penalty kick in the 70th after Keira Walsh was penalised for a hand ball on a VAR review.

England's best chance came from Lauren Hemp, who rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike. A minute later, Salma Paralluelo raced to the goal but couldn’t get a clean shot and Earps stopped