The champions of UEFA Women’s Euro 2021, England Women will take on Copa America Femenina winners from last year, Brazil Women in the inaugural Women’s Finalissima being hosted at Wembley on Thursday 6 April 2023.
England Women vs Brazil Women Match Details
Date: Thursday 6 April 2023 / Friday, 7 April 2023
Time: 19:45 (BST) / 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
England Women vs Brazil Women Match Preview
After the recursion of the Finalissima in men’s football in 2022, the women’s will have theirs with the winners of the UEFA and CONMEBOL meeting for the one-off fixture. The Lionesses will be back in a familiar place in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium where they lifted the Euro title in the same fashion last year to get their hands on another silverware. Sarina Weigman’s side have not lost a single game since the Dutch took charge, winning 25 of the 29 so far and drawing the rest. Triumphing in the Euros by defeating Germany 2-1 in the final also came in this period. The team has shown perfect balance in both attack and defense, scoring a flurry of goals with also being defensively resolute in keeping 20 clean sheets so far. England also retained the Arnold Clark Cup in February defeating the likes of South Korea, Italy and Belgium with a combined score of 12-1. They have excellent momentum in hand from their incredible run and will want to improvise that on Thursday night with Australia also to face next week. These two friendlies are the last set of preparatory games for the Lionesses before they head to Australia and New Zealand to eye the greatest one which is the Women’s World Cup.
While England have got their biggest stars fit and raring to go, Brazil has been stuck with the blow of Marta and Debinha withdrawing the squad due to injuries. Having won the Copa America Femenina for the fourth consecutive edition last year by beating Colombia in the final, the Canarinhas will have a tough time facing one of the best teams at this moment without their key stars to have a shot of winning the Finalissima in the opponent’s den. The atmosphere will also be challenging for the nation not expecting many away support to turn up for various reasons. Nevertheless, Pia Sundhage's side knows their weight and still possesses the quality in the squad to hurt the Euro winners for an ideal preparation for the Women’s World Cup starting this July with Germany to face as well following the clash in Wembley. Brazil were also involved in action in February moving to the States for the SheBelieves Cup. It was not a pleasant occasion for them as after winning against Japan, the Selecao suffered defeats to Canada and the hosts USA to finish third in the round-robin contest.
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England Women vs Brazil Women Team News
England
Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy was not initially called to the national setup but had to step in to replace the injured Millie Bright of Chelsea. Emily Ramsey, Katie Zelem and Ebony Salmon are dropped out from the last squad call-up in February while Bethany England of Tottenham Hotspurs has been ignored again. Hannah Hampton, Esme Morgan and the uncapped Lucy Parker are called up by manager Sarina Wiegman to the pre-World Cup squad. Euro golden boot winner Beth Mead has been virtually ruled out of the World Cup by the manager for her ACL injury but the player is optimistic about her chances of recovering in time for the tournament.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa) Sandy MacIver (Manchester City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lucy Parker (West Ham United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Jessica Park (Everton, loan from Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)
Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Manchester United)
Brazil
Brazil legend Marta had to pull out from the squad due to a thigh injury having made her long-awaited return from an ACL injury in the SheBelieves Cup in February. The 37-year-old was replaced by Duda Santos with Lyon’s Luana also called up in place of the injured Luana Sampaio. Another blow for the Selecao is star player Debinha too will miss out through injury joined by Ludmila, Lorena and Nycole on the sidelines.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Luciana (Ferroviária), Letícia Izidoro (Corinthians), Camila Rodrigues (Santos)
Defenders: Tamires (Corinthians), Rafaelle (Arsenal), Antônia (Levante), Kathellen (Real Madrid), Fe Palermo (São Paulo), Lauren (Madrid CFF), Bruninha (Gotham FC), Yasmim (Corinthians), Tarciane (Corinthians)
Midfielders: Adriana (Orlando Pride), Kerolin (North Carolina Courage), Duda Francelino (Flamengo), Ary Borges (Racing Louisville), Luana (Corinthians), Ana Vitória (Benfica), Gabi Portilho (Corinthians), Ingryd (Ferroviária), Aline Gomes (Ferroviária),
Forwards: Marta (Orlando Pride), Bia Zaneratto (Palmeiras), Geyse (Barcelona), Gabi Nunes (Madrid CFF), Nycole Raysla (Benfica)
England Women vs Brazil Women Head to Head
England won - 2
Drawn - 0
Brazil won - 1
These two last met in a friendly in the SheBelieves Cup in 2019 with Lionesses prevailing 2-1 with goals from record scorer Ellen White and Beth Mead. This fixture was last played in England in October 2018 with the home side again fairing courtesy of a Fran Kirby goal in the second minute of the friendly match for a 1-0 win.
England Women vs Brazil Women Predicted Lineups
England: Mary Earps; Lucy Bronze, Leah Willamson, Alex Greenwood, Jessica Carter; Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway; Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp; Rachel Daly
Brazil: Luciana; Bruninha, Lauren, Rafaelle, Tamires; Ana Vitória, Ary Borges, Kerolin, Adriana; Geyse, Bia Zaneratto
England Women vs Brazil Women Players to watch out for
Rachel Daley (England)
Since switching from the left-back from the Euros to the suitable striker position, Rachel Daley has ignited with her goal-scoring feat for England in addition to her 13 strikes for Aston Villa Women this season. The 31-year-old will lead the line here again hoping to add to her tally with Alessia Russo also giving stiff competition for the number nine spot. The Lionesses need a formidable scorer after the all-time top scorer Ellen White announced her retirement and her replacement might have come in two.
Chloe Kelly (England)
Scored the winner in the Euro final last year, Chloe Kelly filled in the bigger shoes of replacing Beth Mead on the right wing after the Arsenal player’s season-ending injury and was bang on with her task. The tricky and pacey Manchester City winger scored four goals in the last five games for England willing to get on the scoresheet again in the Finalissima. Along with Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and Rachel Daly up-front, England’s frontline looks deadly and wants to build on it for the World Cup.
Rafaelle (Brazil)
Neutralizing that threat from the home side will be an uphill battle for Brazil as the duty of organizing the defense falls on Rafaelle’s shoulders. A composed defender on and off the ball for her club Arsenal and the nation, the 31-year-old is no stranger to facing talented forwards in the WSL. With her center-back partner at Arsenal wearing the captain’s armband for the opposition in the midweek, the Brazilian would love to come out on top. Her responsibility will be higher with star personnel missing in the attack for her nation.
