Spain vs England: Where the 2023 Women's World Cup final will be won & lost
- England will play in their inaugural World Cup final against fellow first-timers Spain
- The midfield battle will be key between Barcelona teammates
- Veterans and young-stars alike may be the difference makers
The much anticipated final of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup between England and Spain promises world-class battles.
Some of the best players in the world will be going head-to-head to compete for their inaugural World Cup.
Both teams boast an abundance of exceptional talent which sets the stage for a captivating showdown on the grandest platform of football.
As we approach kick-off, here's where the final could be won and lost. Whoever wins these battles has a very good chance of lifting the trophy.
Club teammates battle in midfield
The significance of the midfield battle cannot be underestimated as it is often where a football match is won or lost. Both midfields will be hoping to halt their opponents' attacks and orchestrate plays from the defensive end.
The battle between Aitana Bonmati and Keira Walsh stands out as a compelling contest. The two are teammates at Barcelona, and last season they won both the league title and the Champions League together.
However on Sunday, they meet as opponents. Bonmati has established herself as a creative force for Spain, contributing three goals and two assists so far this summer.
Walsh will have to be at her best to disrupt Bonmati's flow of play and restrict her Barcelona counterpart's ability to influence the game - as she has done thus far against other opponents.
The conventional strategy of neutralising Walsh's impact, often employed to beat England, might not be as easy for Spain, given the evolution of Georgia Stanway which has made England's midfield more compact.
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Will Bronze and Daly be able to roam free?
The full-backs from both Spain and England have impressed at this tournament, with both pairs enjoying the freedom of venturing forward and joining their respective teams in attack.
Lucy Bronze will be coming up against Olga Carmona. The two are club rivals, with Bronze playing for Barcelona and Carmona playing for Real Madrid.
Bronze has managed well in Sarina Wiegman’s innovative back-five system, assuming a slightly more advanced role as a wing-back. Although she hasn't had the best tournament, Jess Carter, her partner at right centre-back, has been able to cover for her and offer defensive strength.
Carmona is a similar player who even has an eye for goal - evident by her spectacular match-winning goal in Spain's semi-final against Sweden.
Given Bronze has more license to go forward as part of a back-five rather than a back-four which Spain play with, Carmona may need to adopt a more negative approach to prevent the Lionesses from exploiting space on that flank.
Rachel Daly started the tournament on the bench, but she finishes it having firmly established herself as England's starting left-back, despite starring for Aston Villa as a striker. Her creativity caused numerous issues for Australia in the previous round, and Spain will try to stifle it through Ona Batlle, who is widely regarded as one of the best in the world in her position.
James & Paralluelo: Starters or super-subs?
Lauren James lit up the tournament in the group stages. Salma Paralluelo did the same in the knockouts. The two youngsters aren't guaranteed a spot in their respective teams' starting XI, but they will surely contribute in some capacity.
James' creativity and eye for goal saw her register three goals and three assists in the groups before her red card against Nigeria. Paralluelo's speed, flair, and ruthlessness have come in clutch for Spain in do-or-die moments, with the teenager scoring the winning goal against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and the opener against Sweden in the semis.
At different stages throughout the tournament, the two have been crafting themselves into formidable forces, making sure that their names are known by those who may have not been familiar with them before. They'll want one last chance to make it count in the final.
WATCH THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FINAL PREVIEW EDITION OF 90MIN TALKS
Rachel & Sophie from Girls On The Ball chat with Alex Ibaceta for this extra special episode of 90min Talks, discussing the semi-finals which saw The Lionesses beat hosts Australia and look ahead at the historic World Cup final.
If you can't see this embed, click here for the full video!