England’s Women’s Euro win ushers in new period of unpredictability as countdown to 2027 World Cup begins

When 16 of Europe’s best national teams started to meet a month ago SwitzerlandIt was hard not to introduce yourself Spain collecting winner medals in Basel While the ladies came to an end. Two years away from their explanation that World Cup victory made for women, they remained one of the world’s best teams thanks to the collective of Elite-attacking talent that they brag and the entertaining playing style that both the men’s and ladies teams of Spain led to success. Their place in the ladies of Sunday, the first time that La Roja had come so far in the history of the competition, was no surprise, and the fact was not the fact that Mariona Caldentey gave them the lead for 25 minutes.

However, the coronation of Spain never came.

Instead, in a dramatic final of the ladies -the champions were the champions EnglandHe benefited from the 57th equalizer of Alessia Russo and two rescues from Hannah Hampton in a penalty shootout to win back-to-back titles. The lion ribbons may have been the reigning champions, but on Sunday they played the role of courageous Underdogs perfectly by handing possession of Spain and eliminating their chances whenever they could. In the first half, admitting was no trouble for England, who fell behind in four of their six games on the euro and only kept the lead in the knockout phase. The champions also took zero shots in a 30 -minute extra time, waiting for a penalty shootout that eventually benefited, even when they missed two own spotkicks.

It was a grim and not -glamorous way of winning, not exactly in keeping with a team whose strength is an attack, complete with dynamic players such as Russo and Michelle Agyemang replaced, the Breakout star of the ladies -who will also leave Switzerland with the best young player prize.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman, however, was justified for choosing an ugly approach to combating Spain’s favorite free -flowing style. Unpredictable because Wiegman’s choice had been possible before the competition began, it was a decision that several other elite managers had taken before her with a trophy on the line, and in some ways an insufficient simple. However, that is a reality of tournaments, and it is just as easy to make the argument that the responsibility in Spain had a strategy to fight such a predictable trick.

The World Cup winners may have come to the semi -final, but in combination with their extra time victory Germany On Wednesday, Sunday’s defeat against England showed that they are now a one -off team. Spain can perform at the height of their powers when the situation benefits them, which may be true for most teams, but at their best it is difficult not To classify them as a cut above the rest. Once they have started their midfield, the results are excellent – they can surpass everyone, and their impressive attacking talent means that the ball is stopped in the back of the net, so little problem comes. That was definitely the case during the first half on Sunday, when they surpassed, surpassed, surpassed and surpassed and surpassed, the game usually went according to plan.

However, Wiegman and the company have correctly identified that a disruption of the passing patterns of Spain would be crucial in their victory. Although to a lesser extent than an understaffing and ultra -fensively Germany, the lion ribbons found La Roja to keep La Roja more often in their own half than they want and forced more long balls from an opposition whose bread and butter is a shorter, more clinical pass.

Finally find the defensive determination that they had already lacked the tournament, England Spain limited to only five shots on goal from 22 total attempts and they looked for the times that they could exploit the non -tested defense of their opponent. That strategy was mainly seen in extra time, when the Lionesses did not register their own shot, but La Roja limited to zero shots on goal and less than one expected goal of five attempts.

Defenders Leah Williamson and Jess Carter Were special standouts in Basel on Sunday, each a personification of the courage that defined their title -winning run in Switzerland more than anything. The couple rewarded Wiegman for her characteristic in-game tactical incision, especially Carter, who returned to the line-up after she was dropped for Esme Morgan in the semi-final victory over Italy. Carter’s performance is especially commendable after what was probably a challenging week-the dual European champion was on the receiving side of racist abuse on social media, but has the public support of her teammates and opponents in the competition and yielded a career-best performance on Sunday.

It was one of the last surprises in a tournament full of them, a list of the first performance of Italy in the semi -final since 1997 and the The Netherlands‘Group phase exit, a unique but binding sense of imperfection that is perhaps one of the most sustainable legacies of the competition. Since a new series of record games and viewers figures created a new chapter of the unmistakable upward trajectory of women’s football, it has created the right type of chaos on the field.

With the ladies-euro, power dynamics shifted a bit, whether it is now aware of the arrival that Italy gets better from historical powerhouses Norway or England who gets revenge two years after losing the World Cup Final of Spain. There is also a ruling sense of imperfection – a few teams had their moments, but nobody looked like the perfect package, this is especially true for a few finalists whose weaknesses were almost as clear to see their strengths.

It perfectly includes an unpredictable tournament and offers a unique sense of excitement as the countdown to the World Cup 2027 officially starts. If Spain had run away with the whole shop, they can be the favorites in two years from now on BrazilBut head coach Montse Tome and the company certainly have room for improvement, while England participates in a long list of poor championship-winning teams. There are so many other exciting uncertainties with two years to go the American national team of women heralds a new generation of talent with 2027 in mind, while hosts do Brazil the same and will undoubtedly aim for an overview of the representation of the World Cup of South America. The pressure is for each of them to realize invoicing, as well as the teams on the CUSP that will be equally ambitious to have the trip to Brazil count.

Two years after the most competitive world cup in the history of the women’s game, it is clear that the product on the field is trending in the right direction if it is a strange imperfection.