'That was the most pressure I’ve ever had in my football career'

Beth England described her penalty during England’s shootout win over Nigeria as the most pressurised moment of her career.

The striker has won a host of domestic titles with Chelsea and was part of the England squad which lifted the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO last summer.

But having to take a penalty for your country in the last 16 of the World Cup, having already seen the first two players who stepped up miss, nothing compares to the pressure.

England said: “I think that was a very pressured moment, probably the most pressure I’ve ever had in my football career – [a penalty] in a World Cup!

“I’m so proud I managed to step up and get the job done for the team as we needed the goal. I couldn’t be prouder to have been able to do that.”

England’s penalty put the Lionesses in front in the shootout and with Nigeria also missing their second, it was a lead Sarina Wiegman’s side never relinquished.

Like the EURO final last summer and the Finalissima penalty shootout in April, it was left to Chloe Kelly to fire in the winner for England.

Kelly said: “We’ve been practising a lot actually, and it’s working. For me, it’s that [feeling] I’m going to score, that’s how I look at it. Once I win that mental battle, we’re good.”

Nigeria excelled against the Lionesses, as they had 20 chances to England’s 12 and hit the woodwork several times.

The Lionesses’ attackers were rarely given a moment’s peace, as the Nigerian press and intense marking nullified England’s threat.

England’s challenge became tougher in the 87th minute when Lauren James was sent off for stepping on an opponent but the Lionesses were able to keep the score goalless and secure the win via a penalty shootout.

England, who came on in the extra-time interval, said: “I thought they were very good. It was what we expected - they were always going to give us a tough game, and that’s exactly what they brought. They brought energy, they were tactically brilliant at times, they brought really good opportunities that made us really question ourselves, but ultimately, we managed to keep the ball out of the net. 

“Even down to ten, we managed to hold them off and luckily we did the job in the penalty shootout.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to ride the storm, sometimes you’re not the better team on the day, although I did think we played well. 

“There were a lot of transitions, but they made it extremely tough and I can’t credit them enough for what they did. Ultimately it is down to the penalty shootout and we got the better of them.”

Nerves of absolute steel.pic.twitter.com/vSk2A9KVE0

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) August 7, 2023

It was a sentiment echoed by Kelly, who added: “It’s amazing, anything that is thrown at us, we show what we’re capable of.

“We dig deep. We dig deep as a group and we believe in our ability and, first and foremost, we believe in what we’re told to do.

“This team is special. We did it in EURO, we did it in the Finalissima, and we’re here again tonight doing it. We keep pushing forward and there’s more to come from this special team.”