Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Creating liberating content

Introducing deBridge Finance: Bridging...

In the dynamic landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi), innovation is a constant,...

Hyperliquid Airdrop: Everything You...

The Hyperliquid blockchain is redefining the crypto space with its lightning-fast Layer-1 technology,...

Unlock the Power of...

Join ArcInvest Today: Get $250 in Bitcoin and a 30% Deposit Bonus to...

Claim Your Hyperliquid Airdrop...

How to Claim Your Hyperliquid Airdrop: A Step-by-Step Guide to HYPE Tokens The Hyperliquid...
HomeSportsThe English beat...

The English beat Brazil on penalties and the lionesses added the finalissima to a growing trophy.

England 1-1 Brazil (Thun, 23′ | Andressa, 90+3′) (England win 4-2 on penalties)

WEMBLEY STADIUM – Sarina Wigman’s down jacket says that summer and the World Cup are still far away. On the contrary, the English know they have little chance of showing their readiness for this tournament other than a victory over Brazil, but Andressa Alves’ late equalizer meant they had to secure an official penalty win.

It was a novelty final, a first in women’s football, and also the debut of the Lionesses’ navy blue shorts, presented as a game-changing change as players were wary of playing in white during their periods.

Among those changes was the familiar comfort of seeing Ella Thun drive away with a perfect team goal for the Lionesses.

A vertical ball overhead split the Brazil back three and Georgia Stanway sent Lucy Bronze from the right. Without stopping for a second, instead of throwing a cross, Brons fired at Thun, who fired from 10 yards. It required almost no technique from their chip, who drew the Euro 2022 final here nine months ago, but who but the legend of the day, Chloe Kelly, scored the decisive penalty?

Players like Tuna’s Manchester United teammate Cathy Zelem were understandably disappointed that Wigman’s side didn’t spot them this time around. Still, it’s impossible to cram all of England’s talent into a three-man midfield, especially when Stanway and Thun’s pressure is central to the Lionesses’ new attack.

Alessia Russo is usually seen as a regular center forward sitting between Lauren James and Lauren Hemp.

Instead, she went wide on both sides, giving England enough leeway to crush Brazil several times.

Russo will likely resign herself to the fact that she may never score as many goals for her country as Ellen White, who received the Golden Boot at halftime to commemorate her place as England’s women’s record holder. In terms of versatility, maybe it just offers more.

Soccer Football - Women Finalissima - England - Brazil - Wembley Stadium, London, UK - April 6, 2023 England's Mary Earps reacts after saving a penalty in the shootout.  Photo courtesy of Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Earps’ two saves in the shootout proved the difference (Photo: Reuters)

A rival like Brazil was an opportunity to test all that momentum. They may not be among the real favorites for the World Cup, mainly due to Eurocentrism, but at home they are already considered heroes.

When the men’s team became the symbol of Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing rule, Brazilian women became the antidote. Their names appeared on the backs of the famous yellow T-shirts like never before. Man No. 9 Richarlison looked at them proudly from the stands.

Once considered a veteran team, this is a new generation of Brazilians and coming of age makes England’s victory all the more impressive. Beatriz has played in the World Cups before she was Brazilian enough to leave school, but she will return in July to take the lead.

Apart from the return of the much-maligned English brass band, the only misfortune of the evening for Wigman’s musicians was that Brazil was very hard to escape. Arsenal defender Rafael Souza has been one of the biggest threats from set pieces; On the other hand, Geise’s pace was just as difficult to control.

The Barcelona striker broke away from Jess Carter, knocked her off the ball and turned her in the wrong direction. The late Carter block brought their efforts to the forefront. England were rarely dispossessed in midfield and Kira Walsh subtly revised procedures.

Leah Williamson could have given England trouble with a short pass that Brons couldn’t find. Although the captain is friends with Rafael due to their time together at club level, she wouldn’t be surprised to let Brazil equalize so easily if Mary Earps didn’t save her. Williamson was lucky not to make a similar mistake just before with another easy ball from behind.

None of this stopped England from having fun, and James’ stepping over was typical of the swagger with which the European champions now play. Geise answered with a pair of his own and almost gave an assist. Williamson himself stood in the way at the time.

Stanway must have felt similarly relieved when she forfeited the ball near her own box to parry Geis, whose shot was blocked by Earps from the crossbar.

England have already beaten the US since winning the European Championship and have now overtaken the winners of the Women’s America’s Cup thanks to two saves from the Earps in the shootout. Now to the rest of the world.

Source: I News

Get notified whenever we post something new!

Continue reading