Spain vs England. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

Spain will face England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final match at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney City, Australia. The fixture will take place on Sunday, August 20, beginning at 15:30 IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Spain News & Current Form: 

The 10th FIFA Women’s World Cup, which takes place on the fields of Australia and New Zealand, has reached its climax. Spain and England will meet in the final match of the tournament. By the way, none of these teams have not previously reached the finals of the World Cup.

If the English became bronze medallists in 2015, and at the previous Mundial became fourth, losing to Sweden in the bronze medal match, the Spaniards have never played even in the semi-finals. Moreover, they have reached the semi-finals of European Championships only once, while England are just the reigning continental champions. 

For La Roja, this is a great achievement, as the development of women’s football in Spain has been quite difficult. It has only received serious attention in the country in the last eight to ten years. In 2015, the team overcame the qualifying stage for the first time and made it to the World Cup final stages in Canada, where they drew once and suffered two defeats.

Four years later, in 2019, the result was better, the Spaniards were able to reach the playoffs, but they were unlucky with their opponent. Team USA proved to be stronger, and eventually became world champions for the fourth time. It happened the same way at the continental championships. Apart from reaching the semi-finals in 1997, the Spanish team started to play consistently in the play-offs only since 2013, but their ceiling has always been the quarter-finals.

The development of women’s football followed the path of men’s football. An internal league was created, players began to develop within the club systems and reach a high level. If you look at the squad now, almost ninety per cent of it consists of players from FC Barcelona Femeni, Real Madrid CF and Atlético de Madrid Femenino. Do not discount the fact that the Catalan women’s club won the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season. 

Finally, things came together in 2023. In the group, Jorge Vilda’s charges started very confidently. Already on the second day of the competition, they easily beat Costa Rica with a score of 3:0, and then defeated the team of Zambia with a score of 5:0.

Players of the Spanish national team celebrating promotion to the final of World Cup 2023

In the third round, the Spaniards found out in a match with Japan, who reached the playoffs from the first place. This game made many question the future prospects of La Roja. This time the Spaniards suffered a major defeat with a score of 0:4.

Despite the disappointment from the defeat in the last round of the group stage, the Spanish team took out in the 1/8 finals in a match against Switzerland with a score of 5:1. 

Spain had a harder time in the quarter-finals in the match against the Netherlands. It ended with a score of 2:1. In regular time the Spaniards scored Mariona Caldentey and scored a penalty. However, the opponent got back already in added time. In overtime, the winning goal was scored by 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo, who came on as a substitute. In the semi-finals, they snatched a 2:1 victory from Sweden.

Aitana Bonmati, Spanish midfielder, about the surreal feeling of playing in Mundial final battle:

“It’s crazy, crazy. We’re in the World Cup final. The World Cup final. It’s unbelievable. It’s a very special moment. It’s an incredible feeling for all of us. Some of us are very lucky. We’ve won two Champions Leagues with Barcelona. We’ve played at Camp Nou many times. We have a record crowd – 90,000 people came to see us play.”

“We’ve played in many big games with big crowds, great atmospheres. But playing a World Cup final in front of 75,000, it will be crazy. I can’t believe it’s going to happen. Am I in a dream? To play in a World Cup final is already very special, but this will be on another level.”

“This tournament has been amazing for women’s football. The standard of football, the great games, the atmospheres. To get the chance to play in the final is something we’ve dreamed about for so long. It was a very tough match, so we’re very happy, relieved, proud, excited.”

“But whoever it is, we will give it everything. Everything. This is a World Cup final!”

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England News & Current Form: 

The English women’s national team, as it should be the pioneers of football, was created long before the official world and European tournaments, back in 1972. Accordingly, it has a lot more achievements on its account.

Already at the first European Championship, which took place in 1984, the British were able to reach the final, where they lost to Sweden in a penalty shootout. In the new century, the representatives of Foggy Albion are regular participants of European championships, but they managed to win only once in their home country in 2022. 

Speaking of the world stage, the Lionesses have played there more often, and at the last two planetary championships even reached the semi-finals: at the 2015 World Cup they won the bronze medals, and at the 2019 they remained in fourth place. 

The team traveled to Australia and New Zealand as one of the medal contenders and were able to confirm their status with an excellent performance. Sarina Wiegman’s wards flawlessly conducted the qualifying cycle for the Mundial, winning all 10 matches.

It is impossible not to mention the goal difference, which amounted to – 80:0. At the main stage of the tournament, the Englishwomen easily won their Group D, defeating all their opponents in the quartet with a total score of 8:1. 

After the first two matches of the group stage, their abilities became treated with skepticism, as the national teams of Haiti (1:0) and Denmark (1:0) were beaten with a minimal advantage.

But in the third round, the team had enough fun in the match against China (6:0). Problematic was the first match of the play-off round against Nigeria (1:0), but luck smiled on the European team. The quarter-final against Colombia (2:0) was not easy either, where they had to win back. 

Alessia Russo – player of Arsenal WFC and English national team

Sarina Wiegman’s team was down by 44 minutes, but turned the tide of the game and succeeded in regular time. At the end of the first half, Lauren Hemp equalized after a gross goalkeeper error. Alessia Russo scored the winning goal in the second half. 

In the semi-final match with the hostesses of the tournament England had to show character after Sam Kerr was able to equalize the score. But the England team went on to win (3:1). Some may say that it was lucky in the play-offs with its opponents, but they still had to beat those too. Most of the team’s players play for home clubs, mainly Manchester City and Chelsea FC Women.

The reigning UEFA Women’s Euro champions have lost only once in regular time in their last 37 matches in all tournaments, and that was in April this year in a friendly against Australia (0:2).

Lucy Bronze, captain of the Lionesses, praised the upcoming opponent for their technique:

“Spain has got the best technical players in the world in my opinion. They’ve been unbelievable in this tournament and they’ve dominated most games in possession. They’ve got their strengths, but they’ve also got their weaknesses.”

“They like to feel in control of the game with possession but we’re a team that can possess the ball or be comfortable without it. We showed against Australia we’re really good on the break. We can build goals, score from set-pieces and from counter-attacks.”

“A lot of the goals Spain have conceded have been on the counter. That seems to be their vulnerability – and it’s one of our strengths. We’ve got players like Lauren Hemp, who is incredibly fast, and Alessia Russo, who has got an eye for goal. It’s a good recipe.”

Spain form guide: W-W-L-W-W-W

England form guide: W-W-W-W-W-W

Spain vs England Head-To-Head Record:

• April 9, 2019: England 2 – 1 Spain (International Friendly);
• March 12, 2020: England 0 – 1 Spain (International Friendly);
• February  20, 2022: England 0 – 0 Spain (International Friendly);
• July 20, 2022: England 2 – 1 Spain (UEFA EURO).

Spain vs England Predicted XI:

Spain’s possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Coll; Camona, Codina, Paredes, Batlle; Putellas, Abelleira, Bonmatí; Caldentey, Jenni, Redondo.

England’s possible starting lineup (3-4-1-2): Earps; Greenwood, Bright, Carter; Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Bronze; Toone; Hemp, Russo.

Statistical preview of the match Spain vs England:

• Spain’s First XI average age is 26.5 yrs.
• England’s First XI average age is 27.3 yrs.
• The highest achievement of the Spanish national team at the World Cups was reaching the playoffs in 2019.
• The players of the team at the current championship have 17 goals scored and 7 goals conceded.
• Jennifer Hermoso, Aitana Bonmati and Alba Redondo managed to score 3 goals each in the opponents’ goal at the World Cup.
• The England national team is the reigning European champion, the highest achievement at the World Cups was bronze in 2015.
• For 6 matches at the current championship, England players scored 13 goals in the opponents’ goal and conceded 3.
• Lauren Hemp is the top scorer of the national team, she has scored 3 goals.
• England have scored in 12 of their last 13 matches in the tournament, while scoring in the 1st half in 10 of their last 11 matches.
• Spain have scored in 9 of their last 10 matches.
• England have scored at least two goals in three of their last four matches.
• In three of the last four matches in a row, Spain have exchanged goals.

What has been said before the match:

Jorge Vilda, gaffer of La Roja, after the game with semi-final game with Sweden:

“It is something that is fabulous for Spanish football, everyone who’s worked throughout so many years. Everyone who has contributed to this goes through your head. I’m proud of my team, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s very emotional for me because it’s the culmination of your profession. It’s marvelous to make so many people happy.”

“The plan was to control the game; to try to get them tired by passing the ball, our positioning, and reaching their goal as well, which did happen. We knew that they would also have their moments and that we had to deploy speed, talent, and the quality of Salma and other players who can really open up the game.”

“We are going to be very attentive to what happens tomorrow. Both teams are extremely competitive. They are extremely good trainers and have done excellent work. Both sides are there through merit. I think that they’re the two best sides that could have reached that semi-final. We have no preference.”

The main coach of the Lionesses Sarina Wiegman is hopeful to take the Cup home to England:

“We really want to leave with that World Cup. We have an opponent that’s really strong. What we’re focusing on is how we want to play, and we’re going to do anything to be at our best. And then hopefully that gives us the success we want.”.

“I have a lot of confidence in our team. I think we’re in a very good place. Everyone wants to start but if any player is not starting – which will be 12 players not starting – I know that they’re ready when we need them – that they’re ready to come on and play the best.”

“It’s just really, really nice when you get so far in a tournament and you make a final that everyone is watching. And that gives a boost to the women’s game in England, but also worldwide, here in Australia.”

Spain vs England Prediction:

In the grand theater of the World Cup, a riveting spectacle awaits as Spain and England gear up for a clash that stands a solitary step away from hoisting the coveted trophy. While the colossal strides of the English titans on the global football canvas come as no surprise, the Spanish contingent has defied its historical narrative, catapulting beyond the confines of the 1/8 finals with an audacious flourish.

In the customary ebb and flow of World Cup dynamics, the group stage often witnesses the flare of attacking artistry, only for the knockout rounds to usher in a more cautious approach. Yet, the 2023 edition has turned this script on its head. The knockout phase has metamorphosed into a canvas where goals paint vivid portraits, a trend that has cascaded into the semi-finals. This crescendo of goal-scoring intensity injects an added layer of intrigue to the forthcoming final, with both Spain and England showcasing vibrant offensive stratagems that set the pitch ablaze with spontaneity. Statistical evidence amplifies this narrative: La Roja have orchestrated a goal-laden symphony, amassing a pulsating average of 2.83 goals per game, while their English counterparts stand second in this edition’s attacking pantheon, notching up an average of 2.16 goals per 90 minutes. England’s slightly more tempered attacking cadence stems from their emphasis on balance, while their resolute defensive acumen, conceding a mere 0.5 goals per match, stands as a sentinel of tournament excellence.

Amidst the symphony of sensational triumphs and exhilarating offensive showcases, the pendulum of favoritism gently sways towards the Lionesses as they brace for the climactic showdown. In this pivotal moment of reckoning, the embodiment of experience emerges as the definitive ace. Here, the Red and Whites hold a trump card, flaunting a storied World Cup heritage, augmented by their triumphant conquest of Euro 2022 just a year prior, with the same core ensemble anchoring their ambitions.

Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: England will not lose in the regular time and the match total will be under 3,5 – Yes.

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