<\/p>\n
As Spain\u2019s players celebrated their victory in the final of the Women\u2019s World Cup on Sunday night, one of their fiercest opponents, England defender Lucy Bronze, cut a forlorn figure.<\/p>\n
Bronze was the player who gave away possession in the lead-up to Spain\u2019s goal in the first half, which eventually proved to be the only score of the game. It was a small error, one of hundreds made by every player on the pitch, but the only one to be punished.<\/p>\n
After the trophy presentation, while the jubilant Spanish players enjoyed their triumph, Bronze sat alone on England\u2019s bench, her head downcast.<\/p>\n
Until, in a moment of astonishing class, Spanish defender Ona Batlle approached Bronze to offer comfort, first kneeling in front of the heartbroken English star, then sitting alongside her with an arm around her shoulders.<\/p>\n
It was an instantly iconic moment of sportswomanship, ranking alongside such famous images as England\u2019s Andrew Flintoff comforting Australian Brett Lee<\/a> after the Edgbaston Ashes Test in 2005, or New Zealander Grant Elliott consoling South African Dale Steyn<\/a> after the Cricket World Cup semifinal in 2019.<\/p>\n Bronze and Batlle are teammates at club level, where both play for Spanish club Barcelona.<\/p>\n In a cruel twist of fate, the Englishwoman will be surrounded by the players who just defeated her when she returns to the club \u2013 though if they all show her as much compassion as Batlle, the pain may be lessened.<\/p>\n The mistake from Bronze that led to the final\u2019s lone goal arguably did little to change the eventual result, as Spain was the better team throughout, and England failed to mount much of a challenge in the dying minutes.<\/p>\n Still, it was a major talking point at halftime, when hope remained for the Lionesses.<\/p>\n The moment happened in the 29th minute. Bronze, playing at right-back, embarked on a long, enterprising run with the ball before being surrounded in midfield.<\/p>\n She took one touch too many, handing over possession, and the Spanish team pounced immediately, sending a long ball back into the space Bronze had left vacant.<\/p>\n English winger Alessia Russo sprinted back desperately in an effort to plug the gap, but Spain was typically ruthless, and Olga Carmona exploited the overlap to drive a powerful left-footed shot past the goalkeeper, Mary Earps.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one kills me, because everyone knows how much I love Lucy Bronze, and to stand here now and highlight a huge mistake…\u201d Alex Scott, who made 140 appearances for England, said on the BBC at halftime.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you are on the ball \u2013 and we love these long, busting runs where you\u2019re driving England up the field \u2013 the moment you come inside to where the bodies are, and you\u2019re overloaded, you cannot give the ball away in that area.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is where we highlight the intelligence of Spain, knowing that, \u2018OK, Lucy Bronze has left that area, that is where the ball needs to go, at pace.\u2019 And they overload us down that side. And don\u2019t get me wrong, it\u2019s a great finish, but it comes from a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s OK that she\u2019s driving. It\u2019s what she\u2019s going to do with the ball. I don\u2019t know if she knows what she\u2019s actually going to do with it,\u201d said Ellen White, England\u2019s top goalscorer.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s leaving space, meaning that Alessia Russo has run 60 yards to try and defend. And (Bronze) does not need to be there. She needs to give the ball quicker and she needs to be smarter.\u201d<\/p>\n The analysts were in agreement that Bronze, a world class player, would bounce back.<\/p>\n Bronze was also at the centre of a second noteworthy moment after the match, as she pointedly declined to shake the hand of FIFA President Gianni Infantino while being presented with her runner-up medal.<\/p>\n Infantino had been criticised for remarks earlier in the week that were widely seen as patronising and disrespectful towards the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n \u201cI say to all the women that you have the power to change,\u201d said Infantino before the final.<\/p>\n \u201cPick the right battles. Pick the right fights. You have the power to change. You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don\u2019t have to do.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do it \u2014 just do it. With men, with FIFA, you will find open doors. Just push the doors. They are open.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n