Spain have been working for many years to achieve success on the global stage and those efforts finally paid off on Sunday when they lifted the Women’s World Cup, midfielder Aitana Bonmati said after their 1-0 victory over England.

Spain exacted revenge for their quarter-final loss to England in last year’s European Championship by winning 1-0 at Stadium Australia courtesy of Olga Carmona’s first-half strike.

It caps a stellar year for Bonmati and eight other Barcelona players in the Spain team, as they won La Liga and the Champions League last season.

“I have no words, I’m in shock. What we have done is remarkable, we have known how to suffer and enjoy,” the player of the tournament said.

“I am very happy and proud. This is the dream of any footballer. I can’t ask for anything more, at a sporting level it has been an exceptional year.

“Everyone knew the goal, everyone is competitive, everyone is strong mentally. We have been working a lot of years for this moment,” she added, as Spain lifted
the trophy in only their third appearance in the tournament.

Spain could have been more comfortable in the match had Jennifer Hermoso not had her second-half penalty saved but in the end it did not matter as England could not make the breakthrough.

“It’s the best feeling of my life,” Hermoso said. “We have played the football as we wanted but I still think we are not aware of what we have achieved.”

Spain’s win came despite a number of their players being excluded from the squad last year due to a dispute with the coaching staff and showcases their immense depth of talent.

No less than 15 players, including Bonmati, went on strike last year as they called for a change of leadership, but the RFEF’s decision to stick with coach Jorge Vilda has paid off.

Eight of the revolting 15 were available for the World Cup squad selection. Of that group, a high-quality trio made the cut. Ona Batlle, fresh from joining Barcelona from Manchester United, forward Mariona Caldentey and, most importantly, Bonmati.

The repercussions of her skipping the World Cup may have been as drastic for Spain as Alexia Putellas missing out. Her influence can’t be underestimated in Spain winning their first World Cup.

The return of these three and the involvement of Putellas, Hermoso and Irene Paredes has helped drive the team through the tournament. Over the last few weeks, the players have avoided praising the manager publicly.

However, coach Vilda’s future now looks safe. His eight-year stint may well continue as he prepares his side for the beginning of the Nations League next month — his team play Sweden on September 22.

Written with inputs from Reuters