A day has passed and the dust has settled and it is time to digest yesterday’s heartache as England missed out on their first World Cup title against Spain.
The players, Sarina Wiegman and the country will still be hurting, but there is still so much pride in what this group has given us during a period when English sport was needed as an escape from the nation's problems more than ever.
The Lionesses’ rise over the past two years has been a beacon of hope for the nation and it has rallied people from all walks of life to come together and support this fantastic group of people. Their Euro 2022 fairytale captured our hearts and minds as they delivered an unforgettable summer last year. It was the first time the Lionesses had won a major title and the fact it was done on home soil made it that much better.
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Of course it raised everyone’s expectations for the World Cup this summer, but they still had to overcome adversity to get to a second successive major final. Before a ball was kicked Wiegman had to handle the losses of Euro 2022 Player of the Tournament Beth Mead, captain Leah Williamson and attacker Fran Kirby. Three key players who would have had huge roles to play over the past few weeks. So for England to have reached the final without these figures it highlights just how strong this squad is and how strong a coach Wiegman is.
It is a testament to those who have given everything during this tournament. Despite the injuries that weakened the squad on paper, they’ve shown that it wasn’t as big a problem as initially feared. They led England to a World Cup final, their first World Cup final. Yes there were some hiccups along the way but they battled through them. The penalty shoot-out victory over Nigeria was fortunate but that’s what elite teams do, they win and get through even when they are not playing at their best.
Against Spain they didn’t have the same intensity as their opponents and were second best for 90 minutes, but that doesn’t stop them from being national heroes. For a second summer in a row they’ve given us something to believe in. It would’ve been outstanding if they could’ve brought ‘it’ home but they still did something that hadn’t been done before, they got to the final.
The Euros saw interest peak in the women’s game and that will only continue after the Lionesses latest campaign. There are still some hurdles to climb, like with Nike deciding not to stock the goalkeeper replica shirts this summer, which rightly upset and angered England number one Mary Earps. And the shot-stopper scooped up the tournament’s Golden Glove award, as she delivered an incredible individual performance in the final. There will be many young girls inspired by Earps’ heroics for her country and yet won’t be able to get their idols’ jersey.
Hopefully moving forward Nike realises the colossal mistake they made and learn from it, but it doesn’t stop the power Earps and her teammates have had in inspiring the next generation, just like they did 12 months ago.
And this will continue into the next tournament and so on. There is plenty of young talent in this current crop including the likes of Lauren James and Alessia Russo and there will be more talent breaking through in the coming years too. The future is definitely still bright for the Lionesses, but the key factor is unquestionably Wiegman.
The effect she has had on the English game is immeasurable and it was pleasing to see that there are already plans for her to be honoured with a statue outside Wembley Stadium for delivering the Lionesses their first major title. It’s also telling how much she is valued by her players in that the injured Williamson feared that her injury meant she may have played her last game under the England boss, thinking there was a chance she may move on to pastures new after the World Cup.
It doesn’t seem like her chapter with the Lionesses is coming to an end, there is still much more to come, from both herself and her players. She and England go hand in hand and this partnership can still deliver more history. They will want to avenge Sunday’s heartbreak and win a World Cup, who wouldn’t?
Wiegman is still contracted until 2025 and will at least lead the Lionesses for another Euros campaign that same year. But the FA need to start drafting up a new long-term contract for her because she is the best thing to have ever happened for the Lionesses and with her at the helm, England will always be competing for silverware.
The way she has turned England into a team of winners, combined with some exciting football, has played a huge role in inspiring young girls to get into football and show them that they can follow their dreams. That is invaluable and England under her watch will only continue their meteoric rise.
