"NEXT QUESTION"
England have been mostly ruthless and machine-like in reaching the final, especially in silencing the home crowd in the 3-1 victory over Australia.
Spain are more slick and have often passed their opponents into submission, coupled with sparks of attacking flair.
England are unbeaten at the tournament, but a notable blip for Jorge Vilda's side was their 4-0 drubbing to a Japan team which hit Spain at pace on the counterattack in the group phase.
Spain had never even won a knockout match at the World Cup until this edition and their exploits are even more impressive for the turmoil that threatened to torpedo their chances.
In September last year, 15 players - many of them from European powerhouse Barcelona - came out and said they no longer wanted to represent their country.
They had numerous complaints, but their chief issue was with Vilda - how strict he was, his lack of success, his tactics and his methods.
Three of the 15 mutineers returned for the World Cup and one of them, Barcelona midfield schemer Aitana Bonmati, has been among the best players at the tournament.
Vilda has been asked repeatedly by reporters at the World Cup about the missing players and was once quizzed if the ones he brought to Australia and New Zealand even liked him.
On the eve of the final he appeared to have had enough of that line of questioning, replying: "Next question, please."
He was more forthright about the spirit among his players, saying they were "united".
"The training sessions, the games, everything that's happened outside has been extraordinary," he said.
"They will have memories for the rest of their lives."
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vc3BvcnQvd29tZW5zLXdvcmxkLWN1cC1maW5hbC1wcmV2aWV3LWVuZ2xhbmQtc3BhaW4tMzcxMDczMdIBAA?oc=5
2023-08-20 04:54:03Z
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