1-1: England increase their showcases with the first ‘Finalissima’ in history

England has become a real world power in women’s football. After winning the last European Championship in front of their home crowd, the team from Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Chloe Kelly extended its showcases with the first ‘Finalissima’ in history after defeating Brazil, which lasted a packed Wembley until penalties after drawing 1-1 to fall from the eleven meters with a save from Mary Earps and a wrong throw of Raphaelle.

There was suspense until the end in a very even contest between the European champion and the 2022 American champion, in the first women’s edition of this final. Wembley, nearly full to bursting (83,132 spectators), respond to the call of ‘Finalissima’. Both teams measured the force of both continents and the Brazilian team showed that the differences are narrowing and becoming more thanks to a competitive gene where they survived until the penalty shootout thanks to a poor goal andIn Andressa’s 93rd minute.

Brazil came to the meeting as the supreme dominator of its continent. For several decades. The data supports a massive abuse of choice that he directs Pia Sundhage: Of the nine America’s Cups played, they won eight. Only Argentina, in 2006, broke Brazil’s hegemony. This is an exception.

But globally, the World Cup has never been won by a South American team. The United States, with four of eight possible titles, occupies the top spot on the podium. Germany, with two trophies and Norway and Japan, with one, continue the list. Brazil, in 2007, touched the victory with a runner-up and years later warmed up to try to give a coup at the World Cup that will be held this summer in Australia and New Zealand.

The clash against England, in addition to serving as a yardstick to measure the state of football on both continents, also served Pia Sundhage to examine the depth of her memory and evoke a historical and nostalgic date for her.

The Brazil coach re-entered the venue where she became the first female footballer to score a goal at Wembley. He celebrated this in 1989, when he played for Sweden in a match against England which they won 0-2. After almost 25 years, he returned to sit on the bench for Brazil and had the responsibility of inaugurating the ‘Finalissima’ with the title for Brazil.

Sundhage was unable to throw the historic Marta, who is recovering from an injury to his left posterior hamstring. On the other hand, England coach Sarina Wiegman also had to deal with a major setback, that of Beth Mead (second ranked in the Ballon d’Or behind Alexia Putellas), who is battling to leave a torn cruciate ligament on one knee.

In that script, England completely dominated the first half. He nullified Brazil from the first minute to minute 45. Completely intimidated by the setting and the drive of the British, he completed the first 45 gray minutes where he was at the mercy of his rival.

England had plenty of chances until Toone headed home, finishing off a Lucy Bronze-Georgia Stanway combo on twenty minutes with a shot from the penalty spot that leveled the scores. Later, Lauren James -very demanding on the left wing- was able to extend it, but her lack of energy allowed Brazil to leave the changing rooms alive.

Sundhage’s changes (Adressa Alves for Lauren and Adriana for Zaneratto) had an impact for Brazil, who won straight and abandoned its predictable game for a more electric one that caused some concern in England.

The culmination of Brazilian dominance came in the 59th minute, when Geyse unleashed a shot from outside the area that Earps saved with a providential dive. The ball came to hit the crossbar, went into a corner and the best chance of the ‘canarinha’ ended up in limbo.

Clearly, the wind direction has changed and Brazil’s newfound dominance looks set to last as long as their players’ bodies can handle it. It took another quarter of an hour and in that time he failed to level the balance. However, in one last desperate burst, which was in added time, Earps mishandled the ball, leaving it dead at the feet of Andressa Alves and the equalizer was a pitcher of cold water for England.

With penalties, the British team recovered and became more successful. Earps saved one for Tamires and Rafaelle smashed another against the crossbar. Chloe Kelly didn’t miss the decision and ‘Finalissima’ found its first champion. The British team won its second title in history after the Euro Cup it lifted in September 2022. Brazil showed a race and ran as a candidate to compete in the World Cup.

— Data sheet:

England: ears; Copper, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; Hemp (Robinson, min. 88), Russo (Daly, min. 74) and James (Kelly, min. 74).

Brazil: Leticia; Lauren (Andressa Alves, min. 46), Kathellen, Rafaelle, Tamires; Antonia (Gabi Nunes, min. 87), Ary (Fernanda, min. 87), Luana (Duda, min. 69), Kerolin; Zaneratto (Adriana, min. 46) and Geyse.

The objectives: 1-0 min. 23:Toone; 1-1 min. 93: Andressa; Penalties: 1-0: Stanway; 1-1: Adriana; 1-1: Toone, for Letícia; 1-1: Tamires, for Earps; 2-1: Daly; 2-1: Rafaelle, miss (on the crossbar); 3-1, Greenwood; 3-2: Caroline; 4-2: Kelly.

Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France). He showed yellow cards to Rafaelle (min. 39) for Brazil and Earps (min. 75) and Hemp (min. 82) for England.

Incidents: match equivalent to the ‘Finalissima’ played at Wembley Stadium (London) in front of 83,132 spectators.