It wasn't to be for England. Spain needed just one goal in an entertaining match to overcome the Lionesses and win an historic first World Cup.

Eventually, the Lionesses will reflect on a magnificent tournament. For Spain, they have written their names in sporting history.

What a final, what a tournament.

Read Emma Sanders' report from Stadium Australia here and keep up to date with all the reaction from Spain's historic win on our Women's World Cup page.

Image source, Getty Images

England's Mary Earps has been named the best goalkeeper at the 2023 Women's World Cup and claimed the Golden Glove award.

Earps, 30, played in all of England's seven matches, conceding four goals and made some crucial saves.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named Player of the Tournament with 19-year-old Spain winger Salma Paralluelo taking the young player award.

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa won the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals, with her total of five.

Relive some of the best moments of the World Cup in images.

What a tournament we have enjoyed for the past month.

Image source, Getty Images

England goal keeper Mary Earps: In a couple of weeks, when the emotion has settled down we will probably be able to look back and feel proud - it is no small feat to get to a World Cup final. But we are very competitive people, we came here to win the game and get a gold medal, not a silver one. At the same time you need to try and be as present as possible. These moments don't come around very often. I will probably look back on this as up there as one of my career highlights but right now it just doesn't feel like it.

England captain Millie Bright: A massive amount of pride. The girls were unbelievable. We had a lot of critics, a few lost belief in us but we never stopped believing. Sometimes football goes for you, sometimes against you. We played in a World Cup final. In a few weeks we will appreciate this day, but we want to be winners.

England boss Sarina Wiegman: Of course it feels really bad now, very very disappointing. You go into the final and you want to give everything and then you lose it. That happens in sports too but what we have done, how we have shown ourselves, who we are, how we want to play as a team, overcoming so many challenges, I think we can be so proud of ourselves now although it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

Football can be cruel. It will take a while for England to get over this, but they will.

As for Spain, amidst all the unrest, uncertainty and criticism, they emerged World Champions.

An incredible moment for La Roja, also competing in their first World Cup final.

They got the job done.

That loss will hurt. But England can be proud of what they achieved at this tournament. Making history to reach the final.

Maybe next time they can go one better.

Despite a shift in momentum, it was Spain who peppered England's goal with chances and looked like they could make it two.

England couldn't take their chances and it ultimately resulted in heartbreak.

Spain were awarded a penalty after Keira Walsh was deemed to have handled the ball in the box. It took a lengthy VAR check but eventually Jenni Hermoso stepped up to try and double Spain's lead.

Enter Mary Earps, and a superb save which gave England hope.

Lauren Hemp hammered a shot off the crossbar.

So, the story of the final.

After an end to end opening 20 minutes it was Spain and the captain Olga Carmona who broke the deadlock...

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC One

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He [Fifa President Gianna Infantino] should be opening those doors to be honest.

This World Cup has shown the world what women's football can do, what women can do on the biggest stage. How they can light up each nation, how they can inspire generations and you can see by the investment of Australia already [the co-hosts have committed $200 million to female sports facilities] which is just incredible to be honest.

We need them to help us open those doors and give women's football and women's sport a platform to grow and develop.

Tom Garry
The Telegraph speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live at Stadium Australia

Image source, Getty Images

A speculative positive in this sad moment, perhaps this loss will put extra fire in the belly of Sarina Wiegman?

There were wonderings that if England had won today would she have looked at going somewhere new? Now that it is defeat, perhaps she will want to go again now with this England side in 2027.

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC One

Sarina Wiegman made my dreams come true becoming a European champion. She has made some of these players dreams come true of being selected to be part of the World Cup.

What Sarina Wiegman has done for this England team has been phenomenal and she'll be very proud of herself.

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on BBC One

Image source, Getty Images

It's not just the players, us as ex-players and every England fan will be absolutely gutted, but will also be immensely proud of what these girls have achieved.

They will go back to the UK in a couple of days and they are heroes, getting to the World Cup final, the first time for an England team since 1966.

It will put respect on women's football. People will not say women can't play football.

Little boys will allow little girls to play football together in the playground, that's the difference this will make.

Our colleagues over at BBC Bitesize have put together this lovely guide of three takeaways from the Lionesses' World Cup disappointment.

It's supposed to be directed at the young ones but I reckon we can all take something from it.

Have a read over here.

Among many other things, we've had some cracking saves in this tournament.

We know Mary Earps won the Golden Glove, but here are some other world class saves from the 2023 World Cup.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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England keeper Mary Earps speaking to Radio 5 Live: "I feel like they had a chance and took it, and we didn't. I felt like we were really in the game. I'm sure we will feel really proud in a couple of weeks but right now it is really raw. Gutting.

On her final performance being a consolation in any way: "No not really. I feel like I just try to go out and do my job for the team, leave everything on the pitch. The team result is the most important thing really and we couldn't get that today.

On soaking in the tournament as whole: "In a couple of weeks, when the emotion has settled down we will probably be able to look back and feel proud - it is no small feat to get to a World Cup final. But we are very competitive people, we came here to win the game and get a gold medal, not a silver one.

"At the same time you need to try and be as present as possible. These moments don't come around very often. I will probably look back on this as up there as one of my career highlights but right now it just doesn't feel like it.

On the penalty save: "I felt like it gave us the momentum, but we just couldn't find an equaliser.

Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC One

Image source, Getty Images

Mary Earps winning the Golden Glove ward is so well deserved. What she has done for this England side, she is FIFA Best goalkeeper and she has shown it on the world stage.

She has been phenomenal, she has kept England in games, she gave them an extra boost with her penalty save.

What she has done and what she has gone through for the last three or four years, her development as a goalkeeper, her mentality has been absolutely phenomenal.

It's credit to her and her character.

Here was that incredible penalty save from Mary Earps. It felt like a turning point but, ultimately, it invigorated Spain.