Photo essay: Sydney & World Cup 2023, one year on

On the anniversary of last summer's World Cup final in Australia, it was time to open up the camera roll and reminisce.

Photo essay: Sydney & World Cup 2023, one year on
Spain celebrates at the final whistle after beating England in the 2023 World Cup final | Theo Lloyd-Hughes

At this exact time last year, Olga Carmona was on the loose. On a grass pitch in New South Wales, she broke into space on the left wing and sniped a low shot past a powerless Mary Earps.

That historic goal broke English hearts and ushered in Spain as a new World Cup champion. It also closed the book on a magical tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Where the world of football gathered and thrived Down Under.

I was lucky enough to be in Sydney for the final two weeks of the tournament. Traveling with me were two 35mm cameras: My wife's trusty point-and-shoot- Olympus Stylus Epic 80; and my father's ancient and highly manual SLR, Pentax K1000.

Here is a selection of some photographs I took during that special time. Sand, football, cool air, contemporaries, bus journeys, laughs, kicks, kits, highs, lows, emotion, coffee, passion, friends, colour, softness, long nights, a boat trip, pressers, mics, and, so much more too.

What a year it has been. I hope you can reflect too. Enjoy.

England captain Millie Bright swarmed by the media after losing the World Cup final to Spain