SYDNEY — To win this World Cup, Spain played with a technical precision which every other country can only aspire to match.
If England’s journey towards Sunday’s showpiece in Sydney was years in the making, so was Spain’s triumph – except the building blocks had a final gloss which the Lionesses lacked.
Keira Walsh is the closest thing Sarina Wiegman has to an Aitana Bonmati or, when fit, Alexia Putellas. They are now Barcelona teammates and it is no coincidence that the side which has reached four of the last five Champions League finals laid the groundwork for Spain’s international success.
The acceleration of Barcelona Femeni has been remarkable. The club only became professional in 2015, putting it on roughly the same timescale as England’s top clubs. Within four years, Barca were challenging for European titles and they won their first of two in 2021.
In many ways, that game felt like a dress rehearsal for the World Cup final. Even then, as Chelsea were beaten 4-0, the gulf that lies between the dominant forces on the continent and the cream of the WSL was clear. Bonmati shone and Millie Bright and Jess Carter struggled to keep pace with Barcelona’s passing, which left Emma Hayes’ side stretched to their limits.
The answer as to where England go from here, as always, has to be about the WSL. In a month’s time, these players will return to crowds that will have swelled slightly because of World Cup interest, but will still be in the low thousands when they are not playing at the men’s stadiums.
It is admirable to want girls to start playing football and look to the Lionesses of the future. That does not come without serious funding into academies, expanding those academies outside the big cities, and attracting elite coaches into the women’s game, even at grassroots level.
As it stands, the reality is that WSL clubs can only compete in the top flight if they have the backing of a men’s Premier League side. Relegated Reading found that and Bristol City will likely learn it the hard way too in the upcoming season. That is only feasible if the funding comes from elsewhere. Even the top clubs do not have the resources to pay even remotely competitive salaries compared to the Premier League. Mary Earps, the world’s best goalkeeper, is believed to earn around £150,000 a year.
English football must also come to terms with its own success. For many years, the likes of Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris had to go abroad to win trophies but now, the WSL basks in its ability to attract European talent. Tellingly, Barcelona went four years without signing a player from outside Spain. Now they are more diverse, led by Asisat Oshoala, Lieke Martens and Caroline Graham Hansen, but the development of their female La Masia has gone hand in hand with Spain’s rise to a first World Cup trophy.
As for England’s individuals, not all of them will come again. The next step depends on finding long-term replacements for Lucy Bronze (most likely the versatile Maya Le Tissier) and Millie Bright (Jess Carter and Esme Morgan are the most likely candidates from the current squad). Wiegman will have to reintroduce Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, though sadly it is hard to see an international future for Fran Kirby.
Some of them, notably Lauren James, will be that bit more savvy in four years’ time. She will never stamp on an opponent’s back again but honing her abilities is still a question of positioning and decision-making.
If it is any consolation, if England want to win the next World Cup, Spain have at least given them the template for where to begin.
England’s probable team for Euro 2025: Earps; Le Tissier, Bright, Williamson, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway, James; Hemp, Russo, Mead
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