Queen’s We Are The Champions filled Wembley after England defeated Brazil on penalties to claim the first women’s Finalissima trophy.
Golden glitter rained down on Lionesses wearing yet another gold medal. Winning is an all too familiar feeling for Sarina Wiegman’s side, who extended their unbeaten run to 30 games. Goals scored in those matches: 138, goals conceded: 10.
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Against Brazil, though, England had to suffer a bit for their victory and, before this summer’s World Cup, that is no bad thing.
The last time England were really under pressure was the 2-1 win over the United States here six months ago. Since then they have hardly been challenged and in the first half of the Finalissima, too, it seemed that would be the same story. Euro 2022 champions England dominated possession against Copa America 2022 winners Brazil, with 81 per cent of the ball, and scored a wonderfully worked team goal, finished off by Ella Toone.
Ella Toone at Wembley… You know the rest ⚽
A wonderfully crafted team goal is finished expertly by Toone. England lead against Brazil!#ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/zTaAfavnE3
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 6, 2023
That all changed in the second half as Brazil changed formation, switching from five at the back to a 4-4-2. The extra body in midfield allowed them to press higher up the pitch and England had difficulty dealing with it. “Rocky, complacent, not good on the ball,” was England captain Leah Williamson’s assessment of their second-half performance.
“We were a bit sloppy and didn’t recognise the pressure as quickly as we should have,” added left-back Jess Carter. “We’re really disappointed to concede the goal but the learnings are very important so that we can figure out how to adapt for the future.”
Wiegman has emphasised the importance of reacting to tactical changes within games and conceded England struggled in the second half, but said “it’s good for us”.
Mary Earps’ uncharacteristic error in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, which allowed Andressa Alves to pounce and equalise, may be a blessing in disguise for England’s No 1 and the team. It forced England into an uncomfortable position: penalties in front of an expectant 83,132 fans, an experience that can never be replicated on the training pitch.
“Maybe we got what we deserved and had to finish the game off in a different way,” said Williamson. “But it is good to expose yourself to all these challenges.”
England had not even experienced the practicalities of a shootout in their 17 months under Wiegman, so this was another box ticked before they travel to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July.
Although Rachel Daly admitted they had been practising for the Brazil meeting going all the way. “I might have known (I was going to take one) — I can’t give away my secrets,” said Daly.
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The order of England’s takers even changed at the last minute.
“They showed us the order,” defender Lucy Bronze said. “I was sixth and Chloe (Kelly) was seventh. Leah was meant to be in the five. Leah said, ‘Chloe needs to be in the five’, so they put her third. I said, ‘No, put Chloe fifth. She is going to score the winner’.” Kelly, ice cold under pressure, duly delivered, as she had in extra time against Germany in the Euros final last summer.
Chloe Kelly wins the Finalissima for England! 🤩🏆#Finalissima | #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/mFnVhe1Ss3
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 6, 2023
“We’ve worked a lot on penalties, so it’s nice to put that work into action,” added Bronze. “The girls who stepped up were brave and confident.”
Earps put her mistake to bed immediately in the shootout, getting a hand to Brazil’s first penalty before pulling off a brilliant save to deny Tamires on their second, Rafaelle then put the third one over via the crossbar.
“We’ve not faced (penalties) before,” said player of the match Keira Walsh. “We’re going into a World Cup where that could happen. It was a good test for us. It showed that we bounced back.
“We’ve got improvements to make. We’d rather that now than when we get there (the World Cup), so it’s about being ready in July. It’s more about the performance than the result.”
England have invaluable lessons to learn. “They’re almost bigger than the positives because we need to be able to find a way to come out on top,” Carter said.
Wiegman added: “If you’re not challenged in those moments and then it starts at the World Cup, you didn’t have that practice. You take things from every game. We hoped to be challenged in defence and in transition moments and that’s what happened.”
It is not the World Cup yet. England are on a journey and this was a step in the right direction.
The challenge Brazil posed last night is exactly what they needed as part of their preparation.
(Top photo: JMP/Getty Images)
