Lionesses Miss Chance To Establish Legend Status As England Loses WWC Final
The Lionesses felt their finest chance to win a Women’s World Cup had been lost when the full-time whistle blew in Sydney, and they collapsed, many of them in tears.
The Lionesses felt their finest chance to win a Women's World Cup had been lost when the full-time whistle blew in Sydney, and they collapsed, many of them in tears.
The Lionesses felt their finest chance to win a Women’s World Cup had been lost when the full-time whistle blew in Sydney, and they collapsed, many of them in tears.
Beforehand, optimism had surged across England since Sarina Wiegman, regarded as the finest female coach in the world, had led them to the European championships and a 38-game losing streak.
They had to overcome significant injuries, Lauren James‘ two-match ban, and other setbacks to reach the final. They overcame these challenges by persevering and achieving results, even when they weren’t at their best.
All they had to do was do it again.
Bright, the Lionesses captain, said, “We are heartbroken.”
In response to England’s loss, some said, “They are still heroes.”
However, England’s good fortune had run out, Wiegman’s brilliance had been tested, and they had faced a much superior squad that day.
Even before Spain kicked a ball, their potential was undeniable. Seven players in their starting lineup participated in Barcelona’s second Women’s Champions League triumph in June.
Alexia Putellas, the winner of the Ballon d’Or, was sitting on the bench since she had not yet fully recovered from injury. But other famous players weren’t in Australia because of a disagreement between 15 players and the Spanish football organization.
Due to their victory against Spain in the quarterfinals on their way to winning Euro 2022, England entered the final knowing it would be a difficult contest.
Current winner America was eliminated from the competition in the round of 16, Germany, one of the tournament’s heavyweights, failed to advance past the group stage, and Japan, which had excelled early on, was defeated by Sweden. England was unquestionably going all the way this year.
In the preceding eight days, they had bid farewell to co-hosts Australia and Colombia before returning to Sydney. Wiegman even selected the same starting lineup, and this time, the 75,000 spectators largely favored them.
After Lauren Hemp recovered from an aggressive tackle from Irene Parades and forced goalie Cata Coll to make an early save, chants of “En-ger-land” and “It’s Coming Home” could be heard five minutes after the game began.
Things appeared to be going well until Hemp slammed a shot off the crossbar.
Spain then suddenly appeared. They soon determined the whereabouts of the openings in the gaps behind their press after surviving England’s tight start.
By halftime, with the Lionesses behind 1-0, Spain had given England many issues with one-touch passing, deft flicks, a few nutmegs, and brilliant movement.
Wiegman took quick action when it was her turn to shine. She shifted from a defensive back trio to the tried-and-true 4-3-3 that has produced so much success in her two years of coaching, bringing in James and Chloe Kelly instead of Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly.
It was a development, and England began to generate opportunities. When their fullbacks attacked, they were less exposed, but Spain was given another chance when midfielder Kiera Walsh fouled in the area.
When England’s trusty custodian Mary Earps expertly saved Jenni Hermoso‘s penalty in Euro 2022 against Spain, that may be the spark for a change in momentum. England had previously fought back from a goal down.
Wiegman claimed in the aftermath that she had been “convinced” that England would score but that something was lacking this time; Spain appeared at ease, and the Lionesses were quickly running out of options.
A last corner delivery was stopped by Spain goalkeeper Coll 14 minutes into stoppage time, and the referee blew the final horn. The English defender, Lucy Bronze, instantly collapsed, her face buried in the six-yard area’s turf.
Bronze, the English player with the greatest desire to win, turned the ball over in the moments leading up to the goal. She has a trophy case overflowing with club and individual accolades, but the World Cup—the ultimate reward in football and the one that would guarantee her place in history—was the one she most coveted.
She may never have another opportunity to win it at the age of 31, and she cut a devastated figure as she went by the trophy to obtain a runners-up medal, then watched as several of her Barcelona teammates celebrated by raising it in front of her afterward.
The picture will remain in the mind for a very long time.
The success of this specific Lionesses team will have a long-lasting effect on women’s football in England, notwithstanding the outcome.
They have shattered records, written history, questioned cultural perceptions of women’s sports, pressed the UK government for more funding, and inspired a country.
They were the group that was expected to succeed and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. They would be included in the list of celebrated members of the 1966 men’s side, the only English football players who have captured a senior World Cup.
The conditions were ideal.
- England had a golden generation of female athletes.
- Their manager was the finest in the world.
- The odds were in their favor.
Although they have brought their fans many happy moments, the players who gave their best will always feel that this was a squandered chance.
