Wiegman couldn't be prouder of her England players

Sarina Wiegman stated she couldn’t be prouder of her England team after they secured a penalty shootout victory over Nigeria to reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Lionesses were given the toughest test of their World Cup campaign so far by an extremely impressive Nigeria.

England enjoyed more possession but it was the Super Falcons who created the better opportunities, striking the woodwork either side of half-time and in the first period of extra-time.

The Lionesses' hopes of victory had suffered a blow in the 87th minute as Lauren James received a red card for standing on an opponent, following a VAR review.

The match ended up going to penalties and when Georgia Stanway sent the opening spot-kick wide, England fans may have feared the worst.

However, Nigeria missed their first two penalties and England’s players went on to score their remaining four, meaning it was the Lionesses who would progress to Saturday’s quarter-final against either Colombia or Jamaica.

Wiegman told BBC 5Live: “I don’t think I can be any more proud than I am right now. 

“It was a very tough game, with totally different phases, with having a setback and changed mindsets straight away, playing with ten. Then, going into the penalty shootout which we prepared for of course, and then the execution. G [Georgia] misses one and then the other four go in. 

“It’s just unbelievable, we never give up and we found a way. I’m so proud of the team.”

The Nigerian intensity out of possession made life extremely hard for England in attack and posed the defence problems throughout.

England edged possession, with 56 per cent possession to 44 per cent, but it was Nigeria who created more dangerous opportunities, having 20 shots at goal compared to the Lionesses’ 12 and striking the woodwork several times.

Wiegman said: “I think the game was equal. As we expected Nigeria had good organisation, were very physical, very transitional and quick, and that’s what they showed. 

“They were also very good with their press, they pressed very high and we tried to get out of their press. When we did, they were really quick and very tough in the duels, it was hard for us to switch the play too. 

“After Lauren James was sent off then we went with ten and we dropped deeper, they had to make the game and that was hard for them you could tell. Those are phases in the game we went to.”

James’ red card came in the 87th minute when after falling to the ground with a Nigerian defender, she pressed her foot into her opponent’s back while walking away.

Wiegman was asked about the red card in her post-match interview with BBC 5Live, saying: “Well I haven’t seen it and it doesn’t matter if I think it’s the right decision or not, the decision has been made and I respect the referee. 

“It was just a split second at the end of the game, people getting tired. She’s a young player and when people are getting tired, you can lose your control for a split second and things can happen like this. 

“It’s a very hard lesson to learn but that happens unfortunately, and of course, she doesn’t want to harm anyone.”

When it came to the pressure of penalties, England went into today’s knowing they had been victorious via spot-kicks back in April’s Finalissima against Brazil.

Chloe Kelly struck the deciding penalty that day and so it proved to be the same once again, as she rifled a penalty into the top corner.

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

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) August 7, 2023

Wiegman said: “It starts with having confidence, and it starts with having a plan, having trained on it and knowing what we were going to do - that’s what we had. 

“We didn’t just do that yesterday, it was overtime, we already started that in April and last year at the EUROs. 

“Everyone knew what her task was, but this was the highest possible pressure, to take a penalty, and how we did that was really good. 

“We showed ourselves in the Finalissima already so that gave confidence, and beside that, every player had her own plan and as a team we had a plan.”