06 April 2023 , 22:18
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Sarina Wiegman said England needed a challenge ahead of the Women's World Cup after their dramatic penalty win over Brazil at Wembley.
The Lionesses needed a shootout to win the first ever women's Finalissima, 4-2, after a 1-1 draw in normal time following a last gasp Brazil leveller. But England scored four of their five penalties to win their maiden spot-kick contest under the Dutch coach and claim another trophy under the famous Arch as Chloe Kelly scored the winning penalty.
It was the first time the Lionesses had faced a top 10 opponent in 2023, a year which will see them try and win back-to-back major tournaments when they head to Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup finals in July.
"We were really challenged and we needed that," said Wiegman. "To be aware of those moments and how we can do better.
"If you're not challenged before the World Cup you won't have that practice. We can always take learnings and I think that was really good from tonight.
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"I'm happy. I think the first half was really good but we were challenged a lot in possession in the second half. Brazil also wanted a big challenge before the World Cup and we saw that.
"In the first half we played really well, we had a lot of possession created a lot of chances and scored an incredible goal."
Brazil were much improved after the break and controlled vast periods of the second half. The South American champions switched from a back five to a 4-4-2 and started to press England high up the pitch, which Wiegman admitted caused her team problems.
Sarina Wiegman"When they (Brazil) went to a 4-4-2 in the second half we were struggling," Wiegman added. "Sometimes when we got out of the press we were offside.
"Congratulations to Brazil as well, they played a really good game, particularly in the second half, they really challenged us.
"I've known Pia [Sundhage] for a long time and was a little surprised in the first half (with Brazil playing a back five). I think our team did really well by just showing resilience."
Ella Toone looked to have given England the win with her first-half goal after a wonderful team move finished with her firing home from Lucy Bronze's cutback. But Brazil struck a leveller in injury time through substitute Andressa Alves, after Mary Earps spilled a cross.
That sent the game to the lottery of the shootout and Wiegman admitted after the game that the Lionesses hadn't had much of an opportunity to practice penalty kicks this week.
"This week we didn’t have the opportunity to practice penalties a lot," Wiegman told ITV. "We practiced yesterday and before the Euros we practiced a lot. We just repeated it yesterday in case. We knew what to do and we did good."
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