Will the Lionesses Roar Down Under?
England was faced with their biggest test yet and passed with flying colours as they defeated world champions United States 2-1 at Wembley – will Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses claim another tournament win in 2023?
It was billed as the European champions versus the world champions, following England historic Euro 2022 win in the summer, as the number one ranked team in the world, the United States, provided the opposition on Friday 7 October. Officially, it was only a friendly but it meant so much more to everyone on the pitch and in the stands.
Lauren Hemp put the Lionesses 1-0 up after 10 minutes before Sophia Smith levelled the contest just before the half-hour mark. Georgia Stanway netted what turned out to be the winner from the penalty spot after 33 minutes, though it did look as though the United States had equalised for a second time through Trinity Rodman only for a VAR review to deem the goal offside.
With the World Cup taking place next summer in Australia and New Zealand, the result naturally only serves to heighten expectations.
European and World Champions?
It must be noted that the Lionesses were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw against Czech Republic at Brighton’s Amex Stadium following the Wembley win. Notwithstanding that, the national team must take huge confidence in defeating the reigning world champions.
Women’s football has never been better placed than it is right now in England. Any England team winning a football trophy is always going to be met with great reception and, should Wiegman’s side add the World Cup to the Euros win, then the sport will grow beyond all comprehension.
Must time and money have been dedicated to building the standard of the Women’s Super League (WSL), the country’s domestic league, and that has reaped rewards with the Lionesses. The WSL is not only seeing some of the biggest names in women’s football play in England, such as Sam Kerr and Alex Morgan (through a short loan at Tottenham Hotspur) but helping to develop homegrown talent with clubs able to offer full-time contracts.
England are second-favourite with the bookmakers behind the United States to lift the World Cup in spite of the result at Wembley. The USA have the experience of winning the tournament, while the Lionesses have yet to win a World Cup but now know that they can get the job done when it matters.
Will the Lionesses Win the World Cup?
There is every reason to feel confident that football will be coming home again, though you suspect that the likes of the United States, Spain (who have also recently defeated the world champions) and Germany will also be coming into the tournament strong.
If the Lionesses win the World Cup, then Wiegman will officially be the most successful England manager of all-time – man or woman. The squad, if they aren’t already, will go down as England footballing legends and rightfully so.