The top spot in world football has belonged to Spain for quite some time now. The U-20 squad added to the dazzling resume of the Spaniards as they were crowned champions in the U-20 Women’s World Cup. Let’s take a look back at how Spain got their hands on the trophy this time around.
Undefeated Record
From the group stage all the way up to the title match, Spain did not record a single loss in the tournament. Talk about dominance!
In the group stage they only allowed one goal to reach the back of their net. Stellar defense led to magnificent offense as the team notched 16 goals in the group stage alone! The most staggering and one-sided affair was against New Caledonia where the Spanish team scored 11 goals.
Still as the tournament proceeded, they maintained shutouts against their opponents. Against top tier teams, such as Portugal, Brazil, and Italy, keeping such opponents goalless is impressive.
It wasn’t until Spain reached the final where it appeared they had met their match. Against the reigning U-20 WWC champions, DPR Korea, was when Spain could not secure a goal within the original 90+ minutes. Even into extra time, neither team was able to find an opening to goal.
So, penalties were the deciding factor. Spain finished on top in a 4-3 victory.
Hero of the Match
Laia Lopez, goalkeeper for Spain, put on a remarkable performance on the goal line. She saved two penalty shots during the shootout. This helped her secure the Golden Glove award of the tournament.
Spanish Dominance
Spain has now won the U20 Women’s World Cup two times, the first previously being in 2022. As the Spanish organization continues to shine at all levels, there is no question about where to look next: the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Will the Spanish dominance continue next summer in Brazil? It will be exciting to see as competition and skill will be at its highest at the senior level. Keep an eye out and stay up to date as international squads are preparing for next summer.
Featured image via @sefutbolfem
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