Spain has made history by winning the Women's World Cup for the first time, beating England 1-0 in the final in Sydney. Despite the turmoil and division that has plagued the Spanish national team throughout the tournament, La Roja triumphed against the reigning European champion and pre-match favorite. Spain outplayed England in terms of possession and attempts on goal, with Salma Paralluelo, the 19-year-old who was named the tournament's best young player, proving to be an ever-present danger in attack.

However, the victory is bittersweet, as it comes amid a dispute between the players, coaching staff, and the country's soccer federation. Last September, 15 Spanish players declared themselves unavailable for selection, saying they were unhappy with the training methods of head coach Jorge Vilda. Only three of those players were selected for the World Cup squad, with one of them, Aitana Bonmati, winning the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.

While this win could be transformative for women's soccer in Spain, it is not a unifying one. The international futures of the exiled players remain unclear, and the questions surrounding the national set-up and how the dispute can be resolved do not disappear with victory.

Despite the off-pitch issues, Spain's win is a testament to the pool of talent at the country's disposal. The team has become a world champion without some of its best players, talents who are the finest in the world in their respective positions.

As Spain's players celebrated on the pitch, many of England's players were in tears, as hopes of becoming the country's first senior soccer world champion since 1966 were ended by a brilliant Spain. However, there is some solace for the Lionesses, as they had progressed further than ever before in this competition.

Prince William paid tribute to the "spirit" of the Lionesses, saying that they had done themselves and the nation proud. While England had the first real chance to break the deadlock, with Lauren Hemp hitting the crossbar in the 15th minute, Spain's technical superiority allowed them to pass with finesse and capitalize on England's defensive gaps.

Spain's win is a historic moment for the country, with some of its most famous faces, such as tennis star Rafael Nadal, reveling in the team's success. However, the victory is also a reminder of the divisions and uncertainties that have plagued the Spanish national team throughout the tournament. As Spain celebrates its triumph, the future of the exiled players and the national set-up remains uncertain.