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Spain Are World Cup Champions

By Lord Castleton | TV | August 20, 2023

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Header Image Source: Lord Castleton

It’s over, and when all the confetti stops falling, it won’t be a stretch to say that this result was never in doubt.

England, the 2022 European champions, and the #3 ranked side in the world were thoroughly and resoundingly dominated by La Roja, who, at #6, were the lowest-ranked team to ever raise the World Cup trophy.

It was a fitting and appropriate end to a tournament that felt a little crazy from the get go. To say the right team won - all respect to Japan - is an understatement. Spain led the tournament in almost every key statistic and left no stone unturned in their rise to the top of the Women’s game. The victory was so decisive, over an outstanding English side coached by one of the top minds in the game, no less, that even the oft-gruff Carli Lloyd was unable to be self-referential in her framing of the event. “Even when the United States won in the past,” Lloyd conceded, “they never won like this.”

If you follow the sport, the women of the La Roja are ascending to the status of the mighty US teams of the past. Alexia Putellas, the defending two-time Ballon D’Or winner who is widely regarded as the best player on the planet, basically rode the pine for the entire tournament. It’s unclear if her absence was an injury concern or a cautious return to play, but what does it say when you can sit the best player in the world and still crush everyone?

Salma Paralluelo, a 19 year old phenom, won the Best Young Player award. She came off the bench for most of the tournament, but started the final. Whenever she was on the field, she felt like an imminent threat to the opposition. Rangy, lithe and deadly, it’s astounding to see a player of her age have the skill, footwork and athleticism that was on display for the whole tournament. Every professional team on the planet should be courting her. If she’s this good now where might the limit be for a player of this caliber?

Mary Earps, the England goalkeeper, took home the Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalie, and did she ever deserve it, going so far as to stop a penalty kick in the final itself. Earps seems to navigate the cusp between brilliant and insane, much the way they describe artists and pitchers in BULL DURHAM. If you have time, you should check out her TikTok. For those of us who love her, Mearps is a goddamned hoot.

Despite being knocked out in the Quarterfinals by Sweden, Japan’s Hinaka Miyazawa ended up winning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer. Did her hairband placement holding her hair forward rather than away from her face confound some people? Yes, yes it did. But hairband or no, Miyazawa was impressive, seeing the field, making inspired runs and finishing with lethal accuracy. The Japan side was technically stunning, and they’ll be a force in women’s soccer for the foreseeable future.

Spain’s best player, Aitana Bonmati, was awarded the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top player. Aitana, (as she prefers to be called, rather than by her last name), is one of those generational players who lives, breathes and loves the game of soccer. She reminds me of famous hockey player Bobby Orr in that neither of them ever seem to make mistakes. When they need to pass they pass. When they need to score, they score. They always seem to do the right thing at the right time and make everyone around them better. If you’ve been following Pajiba’s coverage, you know that we highlighted her from the get-go and she came through with flying colors. Her footwork is unreal, her split-second, one-touch processing is clinical, and her love of the game is contagious. If you’re new to the women’s game and don’t know who to root for: root for Aitana. She’s a goddess.

The rumors are flying about Alexia Putellas’ injury and that she might, in fact, retire. Especially after achieving her lifelong dream of hoisting the World Cup. But those are just rumors. If she keeps playing, and actually returns to her pre-injury form? A team with her, Aitana, Paralluelo and players like Olga Carmona, Ola Batlle and Alba Redondo feels nigh unbeatable. But they said similar things about the United States program once upon a time, and now America is facing its worst performance ever at the World Cup and in search of a new coach.

The one true concern for Spain is their troubled, unpopular, nepo-baby coach. Winning the World Cup with him at the wheel probably means he’ll have a lifelong invite to drive. Millions of people worldwide love the Spanish team and the players, but groaned at the premise of Jorge Vilda winning it all. He’s a divisive fixture, and because of him and his refusal to honor the changes demanded by world-class players, Spanish players like Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina chose to opt out of a once-in-a-lifetime event. You have to admire their character even as you lament the magnitude of not being able to add World Cup champion to their resume.

One final note of praise for the runner-up England side and Sweden, who defeated host nation Australia to take the third place medal.

The group stage was a story of shocking upsets. The knockout round largely saw favorites advance. The quarterfinals were universally exciting. The semis were heartbreaking and the final was nothing short of a 103-minute coronation. Spain are the new queens of soccer, and if you come for their crown, you’re going to need to raise your play to a place you never thought it could go, because this team is sharp, tactical, and dominant.

If you like sprawling, ADHD pieces that cover everything from the announcers to the commercials to the referees to who’s dating who, pop over The Antagonist on Wednesday to catch my final World Cup roundup. I’ll put it all to bed in the type of whirlwind, meandering piece that used to be illegal in most civilized countries.

Congrats to Champions Spain and to women’s soccer in general, which broke every single attendance record on the books. Thanks for being a part of our 2023 Women’s World Cup coverage!



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