2023_Women's_Finalissima

2023 Women's Finalissima

2023 Women's Finalissima

Football match


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, England, on 6 April 2023.[5][6] The match was organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL as part of a renewed partnership between the two confederations.

Quick Facts Event, England ...

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 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

More information Team, Confederation ...

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

More information England, 1–1 ...
England[16]
Brazil[16]
GK1Mary EarpsYellow card 76'
RB2Lucy Bronze
CB5Leah Williamson (c)
CB6Alex Greenwood
LB3Jess Carter
DM4Keira Walsh
CM8Georgia Stanway
CM10Ella Toone
RW7Lauren Jamesdownward-facing red arrow 74'
LW11Lauren HempYellow card 82'downward-facing red arrow 88'
CF9Alessia Russodownward-facing red arrow 74'
Substitutes:
GK13Ellie Roebuck
GK21Hannah Hampton
DF12Maya Le Tissier
DF14Esme Morgan
DF15Niamh Charles
DF23Lotte Wubben-Moy
MF16Jordan Nobbs
MF18Laura Coombs
FW17Chloe Kellyupward-facing green arrow 74'
FW19Rachel Dalyupward-facing green arrow 74'
FW20Jess Park
FW22Katie Robinsonupward-facing green arrow 88'
Manager:
Netherlands Sarina Wiegman
GK12Letícia Izidoro
RB14Laurendownward-facing red arrow 46'
CB3Kathellen
CB4Rafaelle (c)Yellow card 39'
LB6Tamires
RM2Antôniadownward-facing red arrow 87'
CM17Ary Borgesdownward-facing red arrow 87'
CM15Luanadownward-facing red arrow 69'
LM21Kerolin
CF16Beatrizdownward-facing red arrow 46'
CF18Geyse
Substitutes:
GK1Camila
GK22Luciana
DF13Tarciane
DF19Yasmim
DF20Fe Palermoupward-facing green arrow 87'
MF7Duda Francelinoupward-facing green arrow 69'
MF8Ana Vitória
MF9Andressaupward-facing green arrow 46'
MF10Duda Santos
MF25Gabi Portilho
FW11Adrianaupward-facing green arrow 46'
FW23Gabi Nunesupward-facing green arrow 87'
Manager:
Sweden 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

More information Statistic, England ...

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.

References

  1. "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. "Tactical Line-ups – Final – Thursday 6 April 2023" (PDF). UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. "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.
  5. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  6. "UEFA and CONMEBOL broaden cooperation". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. "UEFA and CONMEBOL renew and extend Memorandum of Understanding". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  8. "UEFA and CONMEBOL launch new intercontinental events". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  9. "Calendario de torneos de la CONMEBOL 2023" [CONMEBOL tournament schedule 2023] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  10. "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.
  11. "Women's Ranking". FIFA. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  12. "Line-ups – Women's Finalissima 2023" (PDF). UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  13. "Full Time Report Final – England v Brazil" (PDF). UEFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  14. Sport (7 April 2023). "El Barça brilló en la primera Finalissima". Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  15. "Pia Sundhage da las gracias al Barça por Geyse Ferreira". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 7 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  16. Harpur, Charlotte. "England needed a test before World Cup - and got one in Finalissima". The Athletic. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  17. Emma Saunders (11 April 2023). "England 0–2 Australia: Lionesses' unbeaten run ends". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  18. AFP (11 April 2023). "Brazil beat Germany to continue World Cup preparation". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

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