Match in Focus: England 1-1 Brazil

England kept their unbeaten run going and won the first Women's Finalissima by the skin of their teeth in an engrossing clash that went all the way to penalties...

Chloe Kelly was England’s match-winner at Wembley again. Image: Paul Terry / Sportimage

England needed second half adversity

When Pia Sundhage ditched the 3-5-2 she started with to try and nullify England's threats out wide, she reverted to a more common tried and tested 4-4-2 in the second half, and it caused England as many problems as they've endured during Wiegman's tenure.

With Andressa Alves on to sit around the space Keira Walsh wanted and two strikers up top to harry the Lionesses defence, England were sloppy at the back, with all four defenders guilty of giving the ball away under the pressure, losing out in the press, while even the usual solid midfield at times buckled under the pressure of a Brazil team much more at home in their 4-4-2 system.

Wiegman was quick to point out after the game it was a test England struggled to deal with, but also one they needed. Many games have become too comfortable for the Lionesses of late, but this was far from it, as shown by Andressa's late equaliser to send the game, deservedly, to penalties.

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Lionesses will need to make more of dominance

At one point in the first half, England's possession stat stood at 82%, not something that has often been associated with England teams of the past, certainly not against an affluent ball-playing side such as Brazil.

At one stage in the first half, it looked like becoming the kind of monotonous, yet effective, performance we have come to expect from the Lionesses under Wiegman, almost robotic in its execution. Rarely giving the ball away, constantly getting the ball into dangerous areas but not always creating the chances we have become used to, largely due to the presence of Brazil's three defenders deep inside their own box.

For once, England struggled to penetrate and Leticia remained largely unbothered bar Toone's goal, and England will have to make more of their possession in the big games this summer if they are going to back up their Euro 2022 title.