From the tweets of Impetus‘ Daisy Wildsmith. This week, Daisy turns her attention to the Lionesses’ game against Brazil at Middlesbrough yesterday.
This was an afternoon which started with so much to be proud of – Lucy Bronze being given her World Cup award in front of a packed Riverside Stadium by Baroness Sue Campbell, the inspirational Jill Scott overtaking Alex Scott in the appearances board after earning her 144th cap and Jordan Nobbs back in an England shirt.
The game itself began with the Lionesses playing patient football offensively and smothering Brazil to prevent them gaining any accuracy in their shots. The early stages saw some beautiful play from Alex Greenwood and the England defence working seamlessly with keeper Mary Earps. Defensively there was such an improvement on recent games.
Also showing great composure was Jodie Taylor who took time to see who was open whilst approaching the moving ball to see who would be available. The positivity in the squad was also great to see – even on the sidelines – the grin on Lucy Staniforth’s face whilst warming up was infectious. Plenty to be happy about in that first half performance.
This energy, drive and improved defensive shape was great to see, the players’ hearts and minds were fully in the game, and this is precisely what made it so frustrating that Brazil took the lead after the interval. England stayed strong, Keira Walsh was involved in some nice play. I was absolutely convinced that a goal was coming for the Lionesses. In the end a goal did come. But it was for Brazil. Despite the second for the visitors, the crowd still clearly believed in the Lionesses, and so did I.
That belief was rewarded by Bethany England’s superb skilful header – her first international goal, and the Lionesses were on their way with ten minutes left. But sadly, it was not to be,
The skill on display from Lucy Bronze was incredible. Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood and Jodie Taylor were hugely influential. Its a cliché, but there were so many positives from the Lionesses performance. The defence in the first half was really strong and much improved. You could feel the passion and the motivation from the squad throughout. The World Cup hangover is over. They just couldn’t find a way through a heavily defended Brazil goal in the first half, and appeared to switch off at the start of the second half which allowed the first goal in.
The crowd sounded amazing, cheering until the end. The sound of 29,000 people enjoying what they were seeing was fantastic. I was gutted that the Lionesses didn’t get the win, but I think its definitely coming on Tuesday (away to Portugal). Another cliché, but there is lots to take away from the match in terms of lessons that will be learnt in time for Tokyo 2020. On to the next one!
Daisy Wildsmith is a regular contributor to Impetus. She is a women’s football fan based in the West Midlands.
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