SYDNEY — Mary Earps stopped a penalty kick within the Women’s World Cup, and screamed an expletive at rival Spain.
In that second, England coach Sarina Wiegman believed her star goalkeeper had simply pulled the Lionesses again into the sport. Earps’ save on Jenni Hermoso’s penalty within the 68th minute was the primary in a Women’s World Cup ultimate since Marta of Brazil missed in opposition to Germany in 2007.
Earps’ cease prevented Spain from taking a commanding 2-0 lead, however it wasn’t the turning level Wiegman had hoped would get England again within the match. Spain gained 1-0 behind an Olga Carmona first-half aim.
“I think Mary’s performance has been really good. She has had crucial saves a lot of games in this World Cup, and before that, too,” Wiegman mentioned. “I think, of course, that was a crucial moment that she stopped that penalty and I actually thought we have the momentum now, and now we’re going to get back and score a goal. I was really convinced about that.”
Earps, the Manchester United keeper, pounded her chest after the save. She wagged her tongue. And she clearly shouted an expletive within the course of Spain’s gamers. She’d been examined again and again within the ultimate – Spain had seven photographs on aim, together with three on the right track – and her temerity led the Lionesses.
“I can’t swear, but I am sure you can fill in the blanks,” Earps mentioned after the sport.
England couldn’t rating and the European champions have been defeated of their debut within the World Cup ultimate. Earps was awarded the Golden Glove award: she allowed solely 4 targets over seven video games and saved three clear sheets as England’s dependable final line of protection.
“Maybe in a couple of weeks I will look back,” Earps mentioned of her particular person award. “Of course I am proud of that achievement, it’s very hard to achieve, but I would trade it for a gold medal any day. Disgusted that we fell short.”
Although her save will go down as one of many greatest moments of the match, Earps didn’t keep away from controversy that FIFA was compelled to handle after the match. Hermoso was awarded the penalty kick after a VAR evaluate of a hand ball, and a few angles of the kick appeared to point out Earps was off her line when Hermoso took the shot.
If she had been off her line, Hermoso would have been given a second try. FIFA mentioned Earps’ positioning was checked by VAR and the goalkeeper’s foot was on the road when the penalty was taken.
“As with all penalties, the Video Assistant Referee checked Spain’s penalty for encroachment by the goalkeeper and determined that Mary Earps’ back foot was in line with the goal line,” FIFA mentioned in an announcement issued after the sport.
Wiegman, in the meantime, was pleased with the England effort regardless of the loss – her second consecutive in a World Cup ultimate. Wiegman was coach of the Netherlands when the Dutch misplaced to the United States within the 2019 championship match.
“When you play a final you want to win it, so yes, disappointment is mainly how I feel,” she mentioned. “But I think maybe in the end Spain played a little better than we did. I think we gave our everything. The players gave everything. I have to give congratulations to Spain, they played the best football across the tournament.”
Royals, politicians and folks on the street in England expressed their satisfaction within the Lionesses regardless of the defeat.
Earps mentioned it should take time to recover from the frustration.
“I don’t think that really hits right now. I think it will in a couple of weeks, when we can look back and reflect,” she mentioned. “I know, in football, to get to a World Cup final is an incredible achievement. But right now we are just disappointed. We came here for the gold medal and we were so close and came just short.”
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