2023 Women's Finalissima

Last updated

2023 Women's Finalissima
2023 Women's Finalissima logo.png
Event Women's Finalissima
England won 4–2 on penalties
Date6 April 2023 (2023-04-06)
Venue Wembley Stadium, London
Player of the Match Keira Walsh (England) [1]
Referee Stéphanie Frappart (France) [2]
Attendance83,132 [3]
WeatherCloudy night
9 °C (48 °F)
72% humidity [4]

The 2023 Women's Finalissima was the first edition of the Women's Finalissima, an intercontinental women's football match between the winners of the most recent European and South American championships. The match featured England, winners of UEFA Women's Euro 2022, and Brazil, winners of the 2022 Copa América Femenina. It was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 6 April 2023. [5] [6] The match was organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL as part of a renewed partnership between the two confederations.

Contents

England won the match 4–2 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes to secure the inaugural Women's Finalissima title. [3]

Background

On 12 February 2020, UEFA and CONMEBOL signed a renewed memorandum of understanding meant to enhance cooperation between the two organisations. As part of the agreement, a joint UEFA–CONMEBOL committee examined the possibility of staging European–South American intercontinental matches, for both men's and women's football and across various age groups. [7] In September 2021, UEFA and CONMEBOL announced the revival of the Artemio Franchi Cup between the winners of the men's UEFA European Championship and Copa América. [8] On 15 December 2021, UEFA and CONMEBOL again signed a renewed memorandum of understanding lasting until 2028, which included specific provisions on opening a joint office in London, England and the potential organisation of various football events. [9] On 2 June 2022, the day after staging the 2022 Finalissima, CONMEBOL and UEFA announced a series of new events between teams from the two confederations. This included the Women's Finalissima, to be played by the winners of South America's Copa América Femenina and Europe's UEFA Women's Championship. As part of the announcement, the first edition was confirmed to take place in Europe, with the exact date and venue to be announced at a later date. [10] The match was provisionally scheduled to be held during the FIFA International Match Calendar window of 13 to 25 February 2023, [11] but was later confirmed to take place on 6 April 2023 in London. [6] On 26 October 2022, it was confirmed the match would take place at Wembley Stadium. [12]

In the UK, the match was broadcast live on TV by ITV1 and STV, with radio coverage being provided by BBC Radio 5 Live.

Teams

TeamConfederationQualification FIFA Rankings
March 2023 [13]
Flag of England.svg  England UEFA Winners of UEFA Women's Euro 2022 4
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil CONMEBOL Winners of the 2022 Copa América Femenina 9

England qualified for the match by virtue of winning UEFA Women's Euro 2022 as hosts, having defeated Germany 2–1 after extra time in the final. [14] The win secured England's first major women's football title. Brazil qualified for the match by virtue of winning the 2022 Copa América Femenina, having defeated hosts Colombia 1–0 in the final. The win was Brazil's eighth Copa América title. [15]

Match

Details

England  Flag of England.svg1–1Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
  • Toone Soccerball shade.svg23'
Report
Penalties
4–2
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 83,132 [3]
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
Kit left arm eng23wh.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body eng23wH.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm eng23wh.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
England [16]
Kit left arm bra23wh.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body bra23wH.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm bra23wh.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts bra23wh.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Brazil [16]
GK1 Mary Earps Yellow card.svg 76'
RB2 Lucy Bronze
CB5 Leah Williamson (c)
CB6 Alex Greenwood
LB3 Jess Carter
DM4 Keira Walsh
CM8 Georgia Stanway
CM10 Ella Toone
RW7 Lauren James Sub off.svg 74'
LW11 Lauren Hemp Yellow card.svg 82'Sub off.svg 88'
CF9 Alessia Russo Sub off.svg 74'
Substitutes:
GK13 Ellie Roebuck
GK21 Hannah Hampton
DF12 Maya Le Tissier
DF14 Esme Morgan
DF15 Niamh Charles
DF23 Lotte Wubben-Moy
MF16 Jordan Nobbs
MF18 Laura Coombs
FW17 Chloe Kelly Sub on.svg 74'
FW19 Rachel Daly Sub on.svg 74'
FW20 Jess Park
FW22 Katie Robinson Sub on.svg 88'
Manager:
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Sarina Wiegman
ENG-BRA (women) 2023-04-06.svg
GK12 Letícia Izidoro
RB14 Lauren Sub off.svg 46'
CB3 Kathellen
CB4 Rafaelle (c)Yellow card.svg 39'
LB6 Tamires
RM2 Antônia Sub off.svg 87'
CM17 Ary Borges Sub off.svg 87'
CM15 Luana Sub off.svg 69'
LM21 Kerolin
CF16 Beatriz Sub off.svg 46'
CF18 Geyse
Substitutes:
GK1 Camila
GK22 Luciana
DF13 Tarciane
DF19 Yasmim
DF20 Fe Palermo Sub on.svg 87'
MF7 Duda Francelino Sub on.svg 69'
MF8 Ana Vitória
MF9 Andressa Sub on.svg 46'
MF10 Duda Santos
MF25 Gabi Portilho
FW11 Adriana Sub on.svg 46'
FW23 Gabi Nunes Sub on.svg 87'
Manager:
Flag of Sweden.svg Pia Sundhage

Player of the Match:
Keira Walsh (England) [1]

Assistant referees:
Élodie Coppola (France)
Manuela Nicolosi (France)
Fourth official:
Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
Video assistant referee:
Jérôme Brisard (France)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Maïka Vanderstichel (France)

Match rules

Statistics

Aftermath

England midfielder Keira Walsh was named official player of the match, [18] with teammate Lucy Bronze voted by fans as England's player of the match. [19] Brazil's Geyse was highlighted for her constant attacking threat throughout the match; [20] coach Pia Sundhage praised Geyse's contribution and credited her move to Barcelona the previous summer for her form. [21] After the match, pundits on British show Football Focus suggested that Walsh and Bronze also joining Barcelona at the same time had similarly improved their form, while giving the same assessment to Georgia Stanway and her move to Bayern Munich. [22]

England's unbeaten run before the match included several encounters that were deemed not challenging enough for the team to prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup set to take place in July and August 2023; sports media agreed that while England had looked equally dominant in the first half of the Finalissima, the threat of Brazil in the second half was "the test England needed". The experience of the penalty shoot-out in front of such a large crowd was also considered beneficial for the teams. [23] [24]

Both teams played international fixtures again five days later on 11 April 2023. England would go on to lose 2-0 to Australia in Brentford, their first defeat under manager Sarina Wiegman and ending a 30-match unbeaten run that started in September 2021. [25] Meanwhile, Brazil would beat Germany 2-1 in Nuremberg. [26]

Notes

  1. Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, excluding substitutions made at half-time.

Related Research Articles

A super cup is a competition, usually but not exclusively in association football, which often forms the 'curtain raiser' to a season, and typically involves only two teams who have qualified through success in other competitions during the previous season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">England women's national football team</span> Womens national football team representing England

The England women's national football team, nicknamed the Lionesses, has been governed by the Football Association (FA) since 1993, having been previously administered by the Women's Football Association (WFA). England played its first international match in November 1972 against Scotland. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, England is permitted by FIFA statutes, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, to maintain a national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finalissima</span> Football match between Copa América and UEFA European Championship winners

The Finalissima, officially the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, is an intercontinental football match organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA and contested by the winners of the Copa América and UEFA European Championship. Organised as an occasional one-off match, it is a national team equivalent to the defunct Intercontinental Cup between the club champions of Europe and South America. The competition was held twice, in 1985 and 1993, before being discontinued. It was relaunched in 2022, after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between CONMEBOL and UEFA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah Williamson</span> English footballer (born 1997)

Leah Cathrine Williamson is an English professional footballer who plays for Women's Super League club Arsenal and captains the England women's national team. A versatile player, she plays in central defence or the midfield. She has spent her entire senior domestic career at Arsenal. She also represented Great Britain at the Olympics in 2021. Williamson captained England to their first UEFA European Championship victory, and the women's team's first international title, in 2022, for which she was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Twelve teams competed in the women's football tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In addition to host nation Brazil, 11 women's national teams qualified from six separate continental confederations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keira Walsh</span> English footballer (born 1997)

Keira Fae Walsh is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga F club Barcelona and the England women's national team. She is considered both a playmaker and a defensive midfielder. She has previously played for Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City, and Great Britain at the Olympics. With Manchester City, she topped the Women's Super League in 2016; won the FA Cup three times; and won the League Cup four times, taking one domestic treble. At Barcelona, she has won the league, Supercopa, and Champions League twice, and the Copa de la Reina once, including a continental quadruple. She was part of the England team that won the Euro 2022, and was named player of the match in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarina Wiegman</span> Dutch footballer and manager (born 1969)

Sarina Petronella Wiegman OON CBE, also known as Sarina Wiegman-Glotzbach, is a Dutch football manager and former player who has been the manager of the England women's national team since September 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UEFA Women's Euro 2022</span> 13th edition of the UEFA Womens Championship

The 2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Women's Euro 2022 or simply Euro 2022, was the 13th edition of the UEFA Women's Championship, the quadrennial international football championship organised by UEFA for the women's national teams of Europe. It was the second edition since it was expanded to 16 teams. The tournament was hosted by England, and was originally scheduled to take place from 7 July to 1 August 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in early 2020 resulted in subsequent postponements of the 2020 Summer Olympics and UEFA Euro 2020 to summer 2021, so the tournament was rescheduled for 6 to 31 July 2022 – unlike some other major tournaments which were similarly delayed, it was also re-titled. England last hosted the tournament in 2005, which had been the final tournament to feature just eight teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Copa América Femenina</span> 9th edition of the CONMEBOL Copa América womens tournament

The 2022 Copa América Femenina was the 9th edition of the main international women's football championship in South America, the Copa América Femenina, for national teams affiliated with CONMEBOL. The competition was held in Colombia from 8 to 30 July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Finalissima</span> Football match

The 2022 Finalissima was the third edition of the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, an intercontinental football match between the winners of the previous South American and European championships. The match featured Italy, winners of UEFA Euro 2020, and Argentina, winners of the 2021 Copa América. It was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 June 2022. The match, a revival of the Artemio Franchi Cup last played 29 years prior, was organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL as part of a renewed partnership between the two confederations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under-20 Intercontinental Cup</span> Football tournament

The Under-20 Intercontinental Cup is a football match organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA. The match is contested by the winners of the South American and European youth club competitions, the U-20 Copa Libertadores and UEFA Youth League, respectively. Organised as an annual one-off match, it is a youth competition equivalent to the former Intercontinental Cup, which featured the senior club champions of Europe and South America. The competition was launched in 2022 as part of a renewed partnership between CONMEBOL and UEFA. Portuguese side Benfica won the first edition in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Futsal Finalissima</span> Football tournament

The Futsal Finalissima is a quadrennial futsal competition organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA. The tournament is contested by the top two teams of the South American and European futsal championships for men's national teams, the Copa América de Futsal and UEFA Futsal Championship, respectively. The competition was launched in 2022 as part of a renewed partnership between CONMEBOL and UEFA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Futsal Finalissima</span> International football competition

The 2022 Futsal Finalissima was the first edition of the Futsal Finalissima, an international futsal championship organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL. It took place at the Estadio Mary Terán de Weiss in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 15 and 18 September 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Finalissima</span> Football match between Copa América Femenina and UEFA Womens Championship winners

The Women's Finalissima is an intercontinental women's football super cup organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA and contested by the winners of the Copa América Femenina and UEFA Women's Championship. Played as a quadrennial one-off match, the first match was played a year after the revival of the men's competition in 2022 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between CONMEBOL and UEFA.

Twelve teams are scheduled to compete in the women's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics. In addition to France, the host nation, 11 women's national teams qualified from six separate continental confederations.

The UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding is an agreement between UEFA and CONMEBOL, the association football confederations of Europe and South America, respectively, signed between both parties with the aim of achieving close collaboration for the development of this sport in the regions. It was signed on 12 February 2020 and extended on 15 December 2021 in a first stage, and on 2 June 2022 in a second stage. This will permit creation of official championships in the branches of men's, women's, youth and indoor football and the possibility of exchanging referees in the tournaments organised by both entities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 FC Barcelona Femení season</span> Barcelona Femení 2022–23 football season

The 2022–23 season was the 35th season in the history of FC Barcelona Femení. In addition to the domestic league, Barcelona also played in the season's editions of the Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España Femenina and UEFA Women's Champions League. They ended the season with a continental treble, scoring 173 goals in all competitions and conceding 21 goals; they won 91% of all their matches in all competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final</span> Final of the 13th edition of the UEFA Womens Championship

The UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final was a football match on 31 July 2022 that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, to determine the winner of UEFA Women's Euro 2022. The match was contested between hosts England, who won, and Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Copa América Femenina Final</span> Football match

The 2022 Copa América Femenina Final was a football match on 30 July 2022 that took place at Estadio Alfonso López in Bucaramanga, Colombia, to determine the winners of 2022 Copa América Femenina. The match took place between hosts Colombia and Brazil.

The UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge is a football match organised by CONMEBOL and UEFA. The match is contested by the winners of the South American and European second-tier competitions UEFA Europa League and CONMEBOL Sudamericana, respectively. Organised as an annual one-off match, it is a equivalent to the former Supercopa Euroamericana, which featured the winners of the South American and European second-tier competitions. The competition was launched in 2023 as part of a renewed partnership between CONMEBOL and UEFA.

References

  1. 1 2 "Women's Finalissima: England's Keira Walsh named official Player of the Match". UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. "Referee Frappart set for Finalissima first". UEFA. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "England 1–1 Brazil (4–2 on pens): Euro winners edge Finalissima thriller". UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. "Tactical Line-ups – Final – Thursday 6 April 2023" (PDF). UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. "England v Brazil: First-ever women's Finalissima to be played at Wembley in April 2023". BBC Sport. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Fechas y Sedes de los Torneos CONMEBOL 2023" [Dates and venues of the 2023 CONMEBOL tournaments] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  7. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  8. "UEFA and CONMEBOL broaden cooperation". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  9. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew and extend Memorandum of Understanding". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  10. "UEFA and CONMEBOL launch new intercontinental events". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  11. "Calendario de torneos de la CONMEBOL 2023" [CONMEBOL tournament schedule 2023] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  12. "Women's EURO winners England to face South American Champions Brazil in first-ever Women's Finalissima". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  13. "Women's Ranking". FIFA. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  14. Sanders, Emma (31 July 2022). "Euro 2022: England beat Germany to win first major women's trophy in dramatic style". BBC Sport . Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  15. "Copa America Femenina: Brazil beat Colombia to win tournament for eighth time". BBC Sport . 31 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Line-ups – Women's Finalissima 2023" (PDF). UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 "Full Time Report Final – England v Brazil" (PDF). UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  18. "Women's Finalissima: England's Keira Walsh named official Player of the Match". UEFA. 6 April 2023.
  19. The FA. "Your England Player of the Match connected by @EE. Congrats, @LucyBronze!". Twitter. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  20. Sport (7 April 2023). "El Barça brilló en la primera Finalissima". Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  21. "Pia Sundhage da las gracias al Barça por Geyse Ferreira". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 7 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  22. "Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh. Some big names have left the WSL. But could that benefit the Lionesses?". Twitter. BBC. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  23. Harpur, Charlotte. "England needed a test before World Cup - and got one in Finalissima". The Athletic. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  24. "'This was the test England needed and they passed it'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  25. Emma Saunders (11 April 2023). "England 0–2 Australia: Lionesses' unbeaten run ends". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  26. AFP (11 April 2023). "Brazil beat Germany to continue World Cup preparation". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2 May 2023.