2023 Women’s World Cup final tactics analysed

Spain put the seal on a successful 2023 Women's World Cup with victory in a hard-fought final against European champions England. The Spanish, like their opponents, were appearing in the final for the first time, and showed their quality on the biggest stage of all. While England pushed the new world champions all the way, captain Olga Carmona's sweetly struck finish deservedly settled the match in Spain's favour.

The world champions ended the competition with midfielders Aitana Bonmatí and Jennifer Hermoso named the two best players in the tournament, while forward Salma Paralluelo was crowned best young player. For England, goalkeeper Mary Earps won the tournament's Golden Glove award. That might have felt like scant consolation, but it was nevertheless well-deserved. 

“I think we gave everything,” said England head coach Sarina Wiegman, who has now lost consecutive World Cup finals with different nations, after the game. “The players gave everything. We tried different tactics. I also have to give credit to Spain. I think they were the team over the whole tournament who played the best football.”

Here, our coaching experts have analysed the match and selected three important tactical points that contributed to shaping the outcome at Stadium Australia…

Three key tactical points

Full-backs v wing-backs

Victorious head coach Jorge Vilda set his team up in a 4-3-3 formation. Bonmatí operated as the right-sided number eight and looked to link with winger Alba Redondo and overlapping full-back Ona Batlle, who joined attacks from deep (below).

Batlle’s runs pinned Rachel Daly, England’s left wing-back, into a deeper defensive position. In turn, Daly’s deeper starting position allowed Spain to dominate the ball early on, by building around England’s first line of two central forwards. Spain’s best chances subsequently came via crosses, especially when England formed a mid-block to absorb Spanish pressure.

Whenever England’s wing-backs pressed the opposition full-backs higher, or jumped on Spain's eights (below), the Spanish found it more difficult to progress. England’s aggressive high press led to high regains and attempts on goal. Spain’s fluid, short passing was disrupted, forcing them to play longer passes.

As the game of cat and mouse continued, Spain’s eights started to make runs that exploited gaps inside England’s advanced wing-backs and around their wide centre-backs. With England struggling to keep the ball after pressing, Spain’s wide combinations got going again – but the left side differed slightly from the right.

On the left, full-back Carmona moved forward much earlier, often before the ball was played. Hermoso dropped to form a double pivot alongside Teresa Abelleira, as Bonmatí pushed forward. Left winger Mariona Caldentey operated in the gap between England’s right wing-back and right centre-back, creating a key passing lane for Spain to create chances (below).

It was a Caldentey pass in this lane for Carmona, with England’s right wing-back Lucy Bronze out of position on transition, that created the winning goal.

England’s in-possession struggle and Spain’s counter-press

Despite Lauren Hemp hitting the bar in the 16th minute, England struggled for momentum in the first half and created little with their direct style. Alessia Russo made regular runs in behind on the right (below), especially after regains of possession in their own half. These runs may also have been in an attempt to pin the dangerous Carmona deeper, but with England’s wing-backs focusing more on defending in the first phase, Wiegman's team were often narrow in attack.

Spain’s impressive counter-pressing in central midfield (below) also limited England’s attacking in the first half. When Russo’s right-sided runs were covered, Hemp was unavailable, and number 10 Ella Toone wasn't an option behind Spain's midfield line, England struggled to keep the ball. It was their inability to sustain possession in the middle third that ultimately resulted in the only goal of the game.

England's half-time switch

Wiegman converted England to a 4-2-3-1 shape for the second half, with Lauren James (on for Russo) and Chloe Kelly (on for Daly) as England’s wingers. Hemp and Toone then formed a nine and 10 pairing (below), with Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway as the double pivot. This change of shape helped England immediately, as the extra width helped them work around Spain’s 4-2-3-1 block and create good crossing opportunities. Kelly caused Spain problems on England’s right, pinning Carmona, who was barely a threat compared to the first half.

With England’s change of shape, the game’s tactical focus became about individual moments and various 1v1 battles. England’s numbers in wide areas matched Spain’s, with each run and movement tracked (below). England were also better equipped to win possession in the middle third, with greater numbers to work the ball away from pressure and exploit wider areas.

Although they had more frequent and longer spells of possession, England couldn’t create a clear-cut chance. Indeed, they were indebted to goalkeeper Earps for keeping them in the game when she saved a penalty from Hermoso in the 69th minute. At that moment the save felt like a potential game-changer – but Spain kept their composure to see the game out and be crowned world champions.

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