Leah Williamson hungry for more success after England’s Finalissima win – ‘Makes you want even more’

Leah Williamson says that England’s success in the first-ever Women’s Finalissima has made the team even hungrier for victory in the World Cup.

She told ITV: “I think it might be time to get a trophy cabinet!

“Everybody has got their eyes on it (the World Cup). This was a little stop in terms of what the focus is on, but every time you win it makes you want to win even more.

“We looked at the list and I thought those penalty takers are incredible for us. Mary Earps, we know how good she is in goal, so I wasn’t worried at all to be honest.

“We had a conversation beforehand to make sure everybody was good, but nobody in this team would shy away. Everybody is ready to step up and take responsibility.

“We’re a lot better than what we showed in the second half. Maybe we got what we deserved and we had to finish the game off in a different way. It’s good to expose ourselves to these challenges.”

Sarina Wiegman believes the squad will take plenty of lessons from the win and shared Williamson’s belief in the side once the game went to penalties.

“I was pretty calm [in the shootout]. This game brings us so much information,” Wiegman told BBC Sport.

“In the second half we really struggled. In the moment I don’t like it, because it’s very nice when you control the game. And we lost control in the second half.

“But we take so much from this game. We really needed this in our preparation for the World Cup.”

Speaking about the penalty shootout in particular, she added: “We have showed that [resilience] before too. The team really showed they can do it but we didn’t have a shootout yet like this.

“You practise it and try to get as close as possible to a real game but it can’t get more real than this. I think every experience can help you move forward.”

Meanwhile, it was redemption for Earps after her mistake led to Andressa Alves firing in a stoppage-time equaliser to erase England’s lead following Ella Toone’s first-half strike.

“I’m just relieved. That just sums up goalkeeping in five minutes,” Earps told ITV.

“I was disappointed with the goal, I would have preferred the clean sheet, but I really wanted to make it up to the girls.

“I feel so lucky to do what I love. I wouldn’t change it for the world, even when you have wobbles like tonight.”