20 August 2023 , 16:47
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England captain Leah Williamson has paid an impassioned tribute to her Lionesses team-mates after their World Cup final defeat, branding them the "warriors of today".
Williamson was forced to watch the most successful Women’s World Cup campaign in history unfold from the sidelines due to a devastating ACL injury and shared in England's heartbreak as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.
Olga Carmona's goal proved the difference in Sydney as Sarina Wiegman's England side fell agonisingly short of another momentous triumph after their Euro 2022 exploits. Williamson skippered the side during that tournament, and was quick to fire a heartfelt rallying cry to praise the Lionesses' efforts.
“These girls are not the princesses that USED to grace your bedtime stories," she wrote on her Instagram stories. “They are the warriors of today, that had a voice when there was no say or way.
“They rewrite the definition of strength year on year and know they are their own biggest competition. Tomorrow to them sounds like an opportunity. You just need to listen.”
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Her reaction comes at a time of collective anger towards the treatment of female footballers worldwide and could perhaps be deemed as a dig at FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who caused uproar with his patronising call for women to "pick the right battles" and "convince us men".
The Arsenal star was one of several key England players to miss the finals, including top scorer at Euro 2022 Beth Mead. Williamson flew out for their quarter finals win over Columbia giving the team a much-needed boost as England edged their way into the semi-finals courtesy of a 2-1 win, having previously scraped past Nigeria in the last-16 on penalties.
Leah Williamson reacts following England's World Cup Final defeat (Instagram/Leah Williamson)Sarina Wiegman's side sailed past co-hosts Australia in the semi-final with a 3-1 win, but could not seal their dream as Spain reigned victorious at Stadium Australia.
Spain full-back Carmona put La Roja ahead in the first half before England goalkeeper Mary Earps injected some belief into her side when she denied Jenni Hermoso from the penalty spot after a dubious decision following a VAR review. England battled in search of an equaliser but failed to find a way through, with Earps even joining the attack for the last corner of the game in a desperate bid to force extra time, but to no avail.
Speaking after the match, England boss Wiegman told BBC Sport: "I think everyone has seen an incredible game, a very open game between two teams that wanted to play football. I think the first half we struggled but we changed to a 4-4-3 in the second. I thought we got momentum but then the penalty and injury with [Alex] Greenwood [happened].
"Overall I think Spain were a little better than us today. Congratulations to Spain. Of course it feels really bad now, very very disappointing. You go into the final and you want to give everything and then you lose it.
"That happens in sports too but what we have done, how we have shown ourselves, who we are, how we want to play as a team, overcoming so many challenges, I think we can be so proud of ourselves now although it doesn't feel like it at the moment."