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Three and a half months before the Women’s World Cup, the English, European football champions, won the Finalissima in London on Thursday against the Brazilians, champions of South America.
The English European champions beat Thursday, April 6, their South American counterparts, Brazil, on penalties (1-1, 4-2 after pens), at Wembley, during the first women’s edition of the Finalissima.
Tamires’ attempt stopped by Mary Earp and that of Arsenal player, Rafaelle, on the bar, allowed the Lionesses to chain a 30th match without defeat since the arrival of the Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman on the bench, at three and a half months of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The match had two very different periods, the English dominating the first 45 minutes with a head and shoulders against the very timid Brazilians.
But the offensive changes made from the start by Swedish coach Pia Sundhage, vice-world champion in 2011 and Olympic champion in 2008 and 2012 with the United States, almost allowed the Auriverdes to come back to the score.
England, 4th world nation in the FIFA rankings, however, generally displayed superior mastery and maturity. The winning goal, scored by Manchester United striker Ella Toone, leader of the English Women’s Super League, was an illustration of this.
Brazil wakes up
The way the English team knew how to bring the ball to life and find the gap for Lucy Bronze on the left, who served Toone in the back, in the 23rd minute, once again demonstrated all the collective quality of which the Lionesses are capable. .
Archi-dominant on their continent, where they have won the championship in the last four editions and eight times out of nine, the Brazilians, world No.9, showed a radically different face in the second half.
Much more aggressive, they instilled doubt in the minds of the English, first with half chances, like a crushed shot from Alessandra Alves (47th), or a missed volley from Adrianna, ten minutes later.
Barcelona striker Geyse then shook Wembley with a long shot (59th), then recovering the ball at the feet of Alex Greenwood, but could not find a partner in front of goal (69th).
And while the English seemed to have regained a foothold in the match, on a hand fault by Earps, Alves was able to equalize from close range in extremis (1-1, 90 + 3). Fortunately for her, the Red Devils goalkeeper made up for her blunder during the penalty shootout and England will have one last preparation meeting before the World Cup in five days, against one of the co-hosts. , Australia.
With AFP