What next for England following World Cup final heartbreak?

 

In the end, it was one step too far for England. 

 

After just a single defeat under Sarina Wiegman in two years, the second came at the most devastating of times for the Lionesses, their first World Cup final. 

 

There were mixed emotions for many at the end, whether it be players, staff, media or fans. On the one hand, to come so close, yet so far, at the end of what is a four-year journey is heart-breaking, but in the grand scheme of things, this tournament should and will be looked upon favourably. 

 

Reaching a final can rarely, if ever, be considered a failure, and certainly not under the guise of the circumstances Wiegman, her staff and players had to deal with. 

 

Because this was a very different journey to a year ago. A team that hadn't yet won, which didn't have a target on their backs and didn't pick up a single key injury either pre or during Euro 2022, sliced their way through the opposition in devastating fashion on their way to glory. 

 

The top scorers in the tournament, with the Golden Boot winner in her prime, England at times made the Euros look easy, yet twice looked on the verge of disaster, but Wiegman's confidence and belief that had been injected into her players saw them through. 

 

That was the crucial element this summer too. Wiegman is no doubt a great coach, at the elite level of the game, but what she has brought to this England side is nothing radical when it comes to tactics, it has been the mental side she has had the biggest impact. 

 

Four years ago, England would not have made this final, they would not have overcome the adversity they faced. Whereas 12 months ago Wiegman was able to name an unchanged side across all six games, this summer she had no show new levels of resolve and adapability. 

 

Wiegman knew well in advance she'd be without Beth Mead and Fran Kirby, whereas the absence of captain Leah Williamson was much closer to the tournament. Then, in the second game, it looked as though Keira Walsh had joined them, before Lauren James ruled herself out of the quarter and semi-finals, respectively. 

 

Wiegman didn't just change players, she changed systems, going for a 3-5-2 from China onwards, before reverting back at half time in Sunday's final, with Spain the first to really punish the lack of width that comes with the formation. 

 

For the first time, it was a twist from Wiegman that didn't pay off. England did gain more control and the introductions of James and Chloe Kelly brought width back into the team, but with it they'd lost the two outlets most likely to pounce on the subsequent crosses, with Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly withdrawn. 

 

When push came to shove, the traits of England's game that had concerned fans over the past months came back to bite them. After going three games without a goal leading up to the tournament and relying on a singular penalty to beat Haiti, there was a feeling there was only so long they could get away with it. 

 

Defeat in a way offered the beauty of the new wave of emotion defeat under Wiegman brings out. Deflation. Because where in past years they may have an expectation England would never get back in a game once Olga Carmona had perfectly fired Spain ahead, there was an expectation on this occasion they absolutely would. 

 

 

Because so far, under Wiegman they always have. They've gone close to the brink, but her unwavering belief and support in the team has seen them through. Whether it be the quarter-final last year, the final against Germany, the penalty shootout against Nigeria or trailing against Colombia, under Wiegman where there is a will, there's very much a way. 

 

But not this time. Take the emotion out of it and in reality England never looked like scoring. Cata Coll was tested all too rarely, and a backline that had conceded in every knockout game leading up to the final looked unflustered by what England threw at them. 

 

In truth, it should, and would, have been more were it not for the heroics of Golden Glove winner Mary Earps. 

 

But a World Cup final, especially with the hand Wiegman was dealt, is nothing to be sniffed at, and if you'd offered these players a gold and silver medal, respectivelt when Wiegman took over a group of players who could do little but lose, they'd have snapped their own arms off. 

 

The positive is this is a young England. Even those such as Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp, who have been around for what feels like forever, are just 24 and 23 years old, respectively. Superstar James is just 21, while the likes of Russo, Toone and co. are also nowhere near their peaks. 

 

There's also the talent waiting in the wings. The Katie Robinson's, the Jess Park's, the Maya Le Tissier's. Wiegman has some things to work out, for sure. England have become a little too predictable and in a 3-5-2 less so, but lacked the balance to quite go all the way. 

 

She will also look at how she can reintregrate the likes of Mead, Kirby and Williamson at various points in the next 12 months, aware the UEFA Nations League provides both stern tests but also has to be taken seriously with Olympic qualification on the line, as long as the politics don't get in the way. 

 

It's two years now until the next football-specific major tournament, and Wiegman hasn't yet had the luxury of time to build towards one, given the compacted COVID-19 influenced schedule.  

 

While for now there is just disappointment, there are so many positives for England to take into the next cycle of tournaments, with Wiegman still firmly at the wheel.

What next for England following World Cup final heartbreak?