England will play Spain in Sunday's World Cup final. Photo: Getty Images/Richard Callis
England have become one of the most formidable and feared international teams in the world thanks to their players and the brilliance of manager Sarina Wigman.
But how did they prepare for this moment and how turned themselves into a ruthless winning machine that passed all the tests set at this World Cup?
Telegraph Sport spoke to various sources behind the scenes and can uncover four hidden reasons behind their success.
Mental preparation
It's not just about bringing things together as players, Wigman mentally prepared them as people to deal with the pressure and expectations of this World Cup.
One of her key messages, reinforced at every team meeting, was to enjoy the moment; enjoy the challenge, don't be afraid of it, and don't worry about the consequences of failure. It sounds simple enough, but very few professional athletes achieve it.
England took the pressure. They don't carry it like a burden. It's become a cliché, but for this group, pressure is truly a privilege. It takes a unique character to do that, and Wigman created 23 of those characters.
Part of that mental strength comes from the success they've already achieved. England are European champions and have lost once in their last 38 games, but there is no fear in the group.
We made sure that Nigeria won most powerfully in the penalty shootout. Again and again, English teams have lost major tournaments on penalties, but preparation was key. The secret was in clarity of thought; mental clarity. Players were taught to empty their heads when they came up to take a penalty and to do everything in their own time. The pause before each shot of the player was noticeable. Nothing was in a hurry. Everything was blocked and all the players looked calm. The psychological battle was won, and this allowed the players to act effectively.
Blocking out external noise is another key theme in their psychological approach. It's hard to get into a group of young women who, like most people their age, are addicted to social media and spend a huge amount of time on their phones. It's extremely difficult to ignore the outside world and the many distractions that come with it.
But Wigman managed this group somehow. They are focused on everything they do.
Assistant Manager Arjan Werink
Like all the best and most successful managers, Wigman's relationship with her number two is absolutely essential to her job. Verink is not a demonstrative character. He is thoughtful, perhaps even a little reserved, but radiates warmth and calm authority. Players enjoy working with him and he takes the lead in most practices, while Wigman often prefers a more reserved and observant approach. /> Arjan Verink's connection to the England players has been a key part of their success. Photo: Getty Images/Naomi Baker
The level of trust she has in Verink allows her to step back and think rather than always be hands-on in sessions, though she still enjoys coaching players.
It would be wrong to call her assistant a tactical genius, this would unfairly belittle her own sharp mind, but the 36-year-old works hard on the team's standards and form. He played a key role in moving to a 3-5-2 formation after Kira Walsh's injury and agreed with Wigman that this was the best way to protect the defense and increase the threat of the net with a two-man strike group.
Wuerink does not attract attention or fame, but he has been with Wigman since she took over as coach of the Netherlands in 2017.
Planning and preparation (and Wigman's stubbornness)
Failed to plan, brace yourself for failure. The FA listened to what Wigman wanted in preparation for this tournament and were sensible enough to give her everything she demanded, even though it brought her into conflict with increasingly powerful local clubs in England and abroad. . The European Club Association couldn't wait to talk about the conflict and anger ahead of the tournament because Wigman wanted the players to be in camp as early as possible. Clubs worried and complained about player welfare issues and issued anonymous warnings about future lack of cooperation. But the most important thing here is that the players also wanted to start as early as possible.
Wigman had in mind how much time she needed on the training ground to prepare the team, and the FA in the dispute stuck to their minds. The bottom line is that England is driving the growth in popularity and participation in women's football. Clubs benefit from the success of the national team and know it.
In the end, they chose an argument that they could not win because the players preferred the country to the club. Wigman won, and on June 19 she took control of the players, as she wanted.
This gave the Liones a whole month to prepare and bond before the first game against Haiti. This allowed them to work on various formations and planning of the situation. They were the best trained and also the best prepared for this World Cup and it showed. By the end of this tournament, the Lionesses will have been training together for two months. They have the cohesion of the club side. A rare luxury in international football.
Lucy Bronze relieved the burden of the captain's armband
It was a masterstroke and a testament to Wigman's skillful management of people. Bronze is England's oldest international, a group veteran and alpha female. She is tough and tough as a nail, but by her own admission has not always been outgoing.
The Barcelona star who is the most decorated English footballer of her generation, male or female, can be quite intimidating, especially for the new generation of players. She is ruthlessly demanding. Think of Roy Keane from Manchester United and you will understand what kind of aura she has in the game.
Bronze could well have expected the captaincy, but instead Wigman gave it to the more affable and carefree Millie Bright. It could have been taken as an insult, but as Bronze said in an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport before the tournament, «I don't need the captain's armband to be the leader.»
Wigman discussed the decision with Bronze before it was made, and characteristically, he talks to her before making almost every major decision in the camp. She is consulted and encouraged to be honest in her feedback. Wigman, like any resident of the Netherlands, likes to speak directly and to the point. This naturally gives her a lot in common with Bronze.
Without being distracted by the captaincy, Bronze has been able to focus on her own performances by taking on a less formal leadership role. She remains one of the loudest voices in the dressing room, but without any outside fuss or attention.
This has given the team's leadership the perfect balance, and Bright, who has known Bronze for many years, fits right in. completely behind the scenes.
World Cup Final: England vs. Spain
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