England's Millie Bright says Lionesses devastated after World Cup final defeat - 'we're absolutely heartbroken'
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Published 20/08/2023 at 13:03 GMT
The Lionesses made history on Sunday, becoming the first senior England team to contest a final since 1966, but they fell short of matching that team by lifting the trophy. An excellent Spain team outplayed England for much of the match and, despite a heroic penalty save by Mary Earps, the Lionesses were decidedly second best. As Bright explained, "we weren't at our best".
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England's World Cup campaign fell just short of the ultimate glory on Sunday in Sydney, as Spain beat the Lionesses 1-0 in the final.
In what was England's first World Cup final appearance since 1966, and the first ever for the women's team, they could hardly have drawn a tougher opponent. The savvy Spain team dominated the possession and constantly threatened to break through the England back line.
Olga Carmona's opening goal was the result of a sumptuous piece of counter-pressing. Spain won back the ball in midfield as England attempted to drive forward. A quick switch of play found space down the England right before a lovely Caldentey Oliver lay-off gave Carmona time and space to fire her shot across England keeper Mary Earps and into the bottom corner.
Earps had a heroic moment of her own when she saved Oliver's penalty midway through the second half, keeping England's hopes alive.
England captain Millie Bright, speaking to the BBC moments after the final whistle, admitted that the defeat was going to leave a mark.
She said: “This is really hard to take. We gave it everything. In the first half we weren't at our best, we bounced back in the second half. We had chances, hit the bar, but we just didn’t have the final edge and they got theirs in back of the net."
Bright continued, explaining that Carmona's goal did not puncture their belief that it would be their day.
She explained: "There was a lot of belief, we have been 1-0 down and we never give in. It's hard to take but it's football. We're absolutely heartbroken. We gave everything. Unfortunately, we just weren’t there today."
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Despite the defeat, the skipper had nothing but pride in her team-mates.
She said: “The girls were unbelievable. We had a lot of critics, a few lost belief in us but we never stopped believing. Sometimes football goes for you, sometimes against you. We played in a World Cup final. In a few weeks we will appreciate this day, but we want to be winners."
Former Lioness Alex Scott spoke on the BBC in praise of Bright: "To step up in a place where we lost Leah Williamson and with the added pressure to come into a World Cup when she had been out injured for so long, but she has led the team in every way."
Former England keeper Karen Bardsley shared Bright's sentiment in commentary on BBC 5 Live: "I'm absolutely devastated for the Lionesses. They've built so much momentum throughout this tournament, in the quarter-final, semi-final. But we have to be honest today, Spain have outplayed England. It's a fantastic achievement for them. All the credit to them tonight."
Bardsley continued: "Mary Earps should be very proud, she has had an excellent tournament. Let's not forget the penalty save she made in this game to keep England in it to the end. She has been absolutely outstanding."
Ex-England skipper Faye White argued that the final had been closer than it looked.
Also speaking on BBC 5 Live, White said: "It got quite bitty towards the end of the game. Scrappy and stop start, and I think purely it was the team that scored first that held out to win it. It just shows fine margins doesn't it?
"Lauren Hemp hit the bar just before Carmona's goal, then England couldn't really amount enough chances to get back into the game. When Mary Earps saved the penalty you thought, 'right, this is it', the momentum really shifted. But Spain did so well to disrupt that and stop England."
Pundit and former England striker Ellen White agreed on BBC One: "Spain defended so well, resolutely. This England side can be so proud of what they have done for this tournament, what they've done for women's football, what they've done for our sport back home as well, inspiring a generation and inspiring and empowering women as well. England will be in finals again for sure."
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