By any measure you choose to measure it, this is the biggest Women’s World Cup in history: breadth of participants, depth of talent, height of achievement, volume of observers, breadth of impact. Now, however, that is nothing but the wake. This is all that is left.
By Sunday night in Australia, there will be a new women’s world champion. For the first time, that status will be granted to England or Spain, both of whom will make their debuts in the final. Whichever way it falls, it represents the arrival of Europe — or, at least, the moneyed major leagues of Western Europe — as the game’s main force. It is the culmination of one journey, and the beginning of another.
It feels, instinctively, as if England should be favorites to take that last step. Sarina Wiegman’s team is not the only one undefeated in this tournament. It is that it is the reigning European champion, too, the taste of that victory last summer is still fresh. That is, while injury has robbed England of some of its best players, the squad is not in a state of simmering feud with its coach. It is not holding it together with some uneasy, and certainly temporary, truce.
England’s advantage is slim enough, however, that the final outcome may be affected by how the dice are rolled. Both coaches have big selection decisions to make. Wiegman lost Lauren James to suspension for both the quarterfinal and semifinal; her replacement, Ella Toone, opened the scoring against Australia on Wednesday. Wiegman decided to stand by him: Toone remains in his place, with James starting the final on the bench.
Jorge Vilda, his Spanish counterpart, had a more delicate choice. Alexia Putellas, the player they call la Reina (the Queen), started in Spain’s semifinal win over Sweden, but seemed to be more of a minor type, a spectator in the game rather than a participant. He is still, as Vilda always points out, recovering from the knee injury that cost him much of the last year of his career.
It was only when she was replaced, by the dynamic Salma Paralluelo, that Spain had the strength to upset Sweden. Paralluelo, 19, is one of the breakout stars in this competition. On form, on impact, he should start the final, and he will. But expect Putellas to have a role: His experience, but also his status, his quality and — not least — the weakness of Spain’s collective morale, means that he can still play an important role as a replacement, especially if the match requires a game- changer late.
It’s not impossible for the game to turn on those two options. There is, in reality, very little between these groups. England carry more of a threat. Spain holds greater gifts. It has been the biggest, widest, deepest, widest World Cup in history. The differences, now that everything else is here, are very small indeed.