Heartbreak as Lionesses left in tears following World Cup final defeat

Lionesses left in tears as Mary Earps is consoled by her team-mates as Sarina Wiegman’s side succumb to World Cup final defeat

• Sarina Wiegman’s side were left in tears after their World Cup final loss to Spain 
• Mary Earps was consoled by her England team-mates at the full-time whistle
•  WATCH: ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ – Episode 1 – Mail Sport’s brand new football show

It was heartbreak for England as the Lionesses succumbed to a 1-0 defeat by Spain in the Women’s World Cup final.

Spain went a goal up in the 29th minute after Olga Carmona Garcia struck a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Mary Earps from a tight angle on the left side of the penalty area. 

It was the only goal of the game and the Lionesses couldn’t find an equalizer, despite having several chances notably hitting the the woodwork on more than one occasion. 

At full-time Sarina Wiegman’s team dropped to the floor heartbroken after the defeat. 

Earps, who was sensational throughout the match, and the tournament, dropped to her haunches and was subsequently consoled by her team-mates as she welled up on the pitch.

England were left heartbroken following their 1-0 defeat by Spain in the final of the Women’s World Cup

Goalkeeper Mary Earps (pictured) was a stand-out during the match but was left in tears at full-time

The shot-stopper (right) was consoled by several team-mates as she sunk to her haunches after the final whistle

The Manchester United goalkeeper was awarded the golden glove award, after her brilliance at the tournament, and it was truly deserved, with the No 1 pulling off several incredible saves and also stopping a penalty during the match.

Wiegman rallied her team in a huddle in the middle of the pitch and delivered a team-talk to her players, with several members of the group appearing to well up. 

The 2022 European Championship winners have been superb throughout the tournament and have made history at the tournament, playing in their first ever World Cup final. 

While Spain wheeled away in celebration, the Lionesses gathered round one and other with Keira Walsh notably consoling a dejected looking Alex Greenwood who had a bandage wrapped around her head after suffering a head injury during the match. 

Captain Millie Bright, who has also been a stand-out during the tournament, was also seen wrapping her arm around a devastated Lucy Bronze before consoling other players in her team. 

The Chelsea defender also showed her class congratulating several Spain players on their victory. 

Ahead of the trophy presentation ceremony, Spain gave their opponents a guard of honour as the Lionesses walked up to collect their runners-up medals. 

‘This is really hard to take. We gave it everything,’ Bright said following the match.

‘We had chances, we hit the bar, but we just didn’t have the final edge and they got theirs in back of the net.

‘We’re absolutely heartbroken. We gave everything. Unfortunately we just weren’t there.’

Sarina Wiegman gathered her team in a huddle in the middle of the pitch at full-time, with several members of the group welling up 

The Spanish side, who clinched their first Women’s World Cup title on Sunday, gave England a guard of honour as the Lionesses walked up to collect their runners-up medals 

The Spanish team applauded the England side as they passed through the guard of honour

After the match, captain Millie Bright (right) was seen putting her arm around a dejected Lucy Bronze (left) 

Alex Greenwood (left) who suffered a head injury during the match, also looked dejected after full-time

It is the first time in history that the England women’s team have reached a World Cup final 

England unfortunately could not find an equalizer after Spain scored early on in the match, with Wiegman’s side hitting the woodwork on several occasions  

England had chances throughout the game, with Alessia Russo driving through into the Spain penalty area early on, but could not get a shot away. 

Soon after Lauren Hemp would strike the bar, crashing a long-range effort into the woodwork. 

Just before half-time Ella Toone missed a golden opportunity to put the Lionesses level, but just couldn’t quite get a touch on a fiery ball across the Spain penalty area from Hemp. 

At half-time, Sarina Wiegman opted to make two changes bringing on Chloe Kelly and Lauren James, who made her first appearance since she was sent off for a stamp during their 1-0 win against Nigeria. 

After the match, the Dutch manager was asked whether she had any regrets, but claimed that she was ‘proud’ of her side’s work in reaching the final.  

‘No,’ she replied. ‘Well, I think we gave our everything, we did everything we could. The players gave everything and we tried different tactics.

‘I have to give it to Spain. That was the team of the tournament. They played the best football. So congratulations to Spain.

‘Absolutely [we can be proud of reaching the final]. It doesn’t feel like that now but you see how we took on every challenge even before the tournament.

‘We have done great and no regrets. You just try to do everything and make the right choices all the time. Sometimes it works and today it didn’t.’

Earps was called upon to make several saves throughout the game, and after a VAR review in the second-half deemed that Keira Walsh had handled the ball inside the penalty area. 

Spain had the chance to go 2-0 up, with the referee subsequently awarding a penalty.  

Rachel Daly (middle-left) was pictured hugging Keira Walsh (middle-right) following the medal ceremony

England players rallied around each-other at full time, with Walsh (left) consoling Greenwood (right)

Lauren James (middle) came on at half-time in her first appearance after she was shown a red card against Nigeria 

After the match Wiegman said that while she was disappointed she was ‘proud’ of her side ‘who gave their everything’

Bright concurred with her manager saying: ‘This is really hard to take. We gave it everything’

After full-time Wiegman said: ‘At the end when were tried to force, we didn’t execute that very well and they took the win’

As the final whistle sounded Spain, meanwhile, wheeled off in celebration with La Roja running jumping on each other in a huge bundle 

Reflecting on the match, Wiegman added that she was disappointed at the loss admitting England struggled to execute their chances.

‘Most of all disappointment. Because when you play in a final you want to win it. That’s mainly how I feel,’ she said speaking on the game.

‘I think we gave everything and the opponent was very strong.

‘We got momentum and I thought we’d get back into the game but of course, we couldn’t score.

‘Then the momentum got out of the game again with the penalty that took forever. Fortunately, Mary then stopped it.

‘And then the injury to Alex, that was at a stage where I thought we were gonna come up and they were struggling with it.

‘At the end when were tried to force, we didn’t execute that very well and they took the win.’

Jennifer Hermoso stepped up to take the spot-kick, but her shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal was saved by the England goalkeeper.  

She was a stand-out throughout the match and while Wiegman’s side had several chances in the second term, they unfortunately could not find a leveler. 

After the match, the Dutch manager lumped praise on their opponents, claiming: ‘I think Spain were a little bit better than us today and they had a great tournament, so they deserved it I think.

‘What we have done, how we’ve played and who we’ve tried to be, overcoming so many challenges, I think we can be very proud of ourselves, even if it doesn’t feel like that at the moment.’

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