England win first-ever Women’s Finalissima in dramatic penalty shootout
England’s Lionesses faced a tough test against a young Brazilian side in the first Women’s Finalissima on Thursday night, conceding a late equaliser and having to deal with the pressures of a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium.
But the team, under coach Sarina Wiegman, passed the test with flying colours, winning the shootout after maintaining their long unbeaten run, now standing at 30 matches.
The victory was a valuable experience for the team as they head to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in four months, ensuring they are well-prepared and resilient enough to overcome challenges.
The team has shown resilience before, responding to Germany’s equaliser in the Euro 2022 final to deliver Chloe Kelly’s infamous winner in extra time, and overcoming world champions the USA in a friendly at Wembley amid fresh expectations generated by their victory in the summer.
Wiegman praised the team’s resilience and ability to deliver on the big stage, saying that every experience can help them move forward.
The victory was particularly important as the team had not won a penalty shootout like this before, and they demonstrated their ability to handle pressure and take penalties in front of a big crowd.
The victory was also a testament to the team’s character, with goalkeeper Mary Earps bouncing back from a mistake that led to Brazil’s equaliser to make an important save in the shootout, showing the team’s faith in her.
Winning and lifting trophies is becoming a habit for the Lionesses, who are racking up silverware under Wiegman, but the hard-fought victory against Brazil was a reminder that there is always room for improvement and that every challenge can be a learning experience.