England win Women's Finalissima: 'Another box ticked' - Lionesses find a way yet again

England had not experienced a punishment shootout nether manager Sarina Wiegman anterior to Thursday's victory

Conceding a precocious equaliser and having to woody with the pressures of a punishment shootout astatine Wembley Stadium - this was the trial England needed and they passed it.

But with 4 months to spell until the World Cup kicks disconnected successful Australia and New Zealand, they needed a superior situation to debar going into that tourney underprepared.

A young but talented Brazilian broadside gave England precisely that successful the archetypal Women's Finalissima connected Thursday nighttime - and erstwhile again Wiegman's players delivered connected the large stage, winning a punishment shootout aft conceding a 93rd-minute equaliser successful mean time.

"I was beauteous calm [in the shootout]. This crippled brings america truthful overmuch information," Wiegman told BBC Sport.

"In the 2nd fractional we truly struggled. In the infinitesimal I don't similar it, due to the fact that it's precise bully erstwhile you power the game. And we mislaid power successful the 2nd half. 

"But afterwards, [I feel] we instrumentality truthful overmuch from this game. We truly needed this successful our mentation for the World Cup."

• England bushed Brazil connected penalties to triumph Finalissima
• I wasn't disquieted astatine each astir penalties - Williamson
• Relieve England's triumph successful the Finalissima

'Perfect clip for England to beryllium exposed'

England person shown resilience before.

They responded to a Germany equaliser successful the Euro 2022 final to present Chloe Kelly's infamous victor successful other time.

They overcame satellite champions the USA successful a affable astatine Wembley amid caller expectations generated by their triumph successful the summer.

And present they person maintained their agelong unbeaten tally - present astatine 30 matches - having won a archetypal punishment shootout nether Wiegman successful beforehand of 83,132 fans successful London.

"We person showed that [resilience] earlier too," said Wiegman. "The squad truly showed they tin bash it but we didn't person a shootout yet similar this.

"You practise it and effort to get arsenic adjacent arsenic imaginable to a existent crippled but it can't get much existent than this. I deliberation each acquisition tin assistance you determination forward."

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said connected ITV that it was surely "something to beryllium arrogant of" for England.

"Throughout the 90 minutes we watched 2 sides of England.," she said. "It was the cleanable clip for them to beryllium exposed successful the areas they request to enactment at."

Hayes added that this lucifer "tested England possibly much truthful than immoderate different crippled since the Euros and they person travel done that with flying colours".

Former England midfielder Karen Carney said it had been going "too well" for the Lionesses this twelvemonth truthful the hard-fought triumph was a invaluable experience.

"[Now] we've seen we tin instrumentality penalties successful beforehand of a large assemblage which we haven't done successful a agelong time," added Carney.

"We've gone against immoderate adversity with Brazil changing their shape. There's a batch of learnings for Sarina to spell distant with."

Ex-England striker Ian Wright added: "We cognize however bully we are. We've seen however bully we tin be. But you commencement putting that unit connected and we don't header with it precise well.

"That's thing we request to larn from. If Brazil were much ruthless they would person bushed us."

• Lionesses: Champions of Europe documentary

'Another container ticked' arsenic Earps bounces back

Mary Earps was voted the Fifa Best Goalkeeper earlier this year

It was fitting that Kelly, who scored that unforgettable victor astatine Wembley past year, was the 1 to nett the deciding spot-kick successful the shootout against Brazil.

Manchester United's Ella Toone has besides maintained her goalscoring exploits having developed from a Euros super-sub to a regular starter successful the lack of injured midfielder Fran Kirby.

And determination was a investigating infinitesimal for England's fig 1 Mary Earps - truthful formidable successful past summer's tournament, earning her the Fifa Best Goalkeeper grant - erstwhile her mistake led to Brazil's equaliser astatine the death, lone for the Manchester United prima to respond by making an important prevention successful the shootout.

"It's immense testament to Earps' property and character. She would person evidently been massively disappointed with that mistake," erstwhile England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"To beryllium capable to enactment it close and instrumentality power [in the shootout], says a batch astir her and her preparation. You tin archer the squad has a batch of religion successful her.

"I loved the celebrations. Everyone went consecutive to Earps and she was conscionable drinking it in. Again, it speaks to the mentality of this team. They emotion winning."

Everton midfielder Izzy Christiansen added: "I did think, 'Can Mary Earps retrieve from that mistake and execute successful a punishment shootout?' Absolutely. Another container ticked.

"Winning and lifting trophies is starting to go a habit."