Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023: A tale of Spanish resurgence and overwhelming emotion Premium

Spain’s win marked a new dawn in women’s football, with the underdogs proving their mettle and the established teams showing their class. Spain’s win, Morocco’s dream run, NZ’s first victory & Linda Caicedo’s cancer-survival story made 2023 FIFA WWC a tale of emotions. La Roja’s success was due to their Barcelona core, Putellas & Paralluelo, while England’s Wiegman won her 3rd FIFA Best coach award. Despite controversies, the tournament was a success, with the underdogs proving their mettle & established teams showing their class.

Be it Colombia’s teenaged, cancer-survivor and ray of hope Linda Caicedo, Spain’s 19-year-old impact player Salma Paralluelo, co-host New Zealand’s first taste of victory or Morocco’s dream run, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a tale of overwhelming emotions.

Spain’s success marked its re-emergence on the world map; a school of play which gave the world the tiki-taka en route the 2010 men’s World Cup triumph. However, the nation has faltered since, managing to win only two major trophies until this year.

The Spanish men marked their return with their UEFA Nations League title last month, while their women adorned the crowning jewel on Sunday, making Spain the second country after Germany to win both men’s and women’s world titles.

Culer mentality

The success of La Roja, like that of their male counterparts in 2010, lies in their Barcelona core. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas played a huge role on and off the field in bringing the side this far. Putellas’ anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of 2022 Women’s Euro proved disastrous for them, with the team eventually bowing out to England in the quarterfinal.

Putellas’ return from injury in the tournament was subdued, something Spain recovered from, thanks to the likes of Aitana Bonmati, tournament’s golden ball winner, stepping up. The Barcelona midfielder, likened to Andres Iniesta by Pep Guardiola, is having a tremendous season so far and is among the favourites for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Real Madrid midfielder Teresa Abelleira, arguably the best holding midfielder in the tournament, proved to be her perfect companion as Spain’s midfield terrorised opponents, forming a ‘black hole’ in the middle of the park from where retrieving the ball was virtually impossible.