Yahoo News Women's World Cup Final: Devastation in pubs and bars as 12,000 fill London fan park
Supporters across the nation were stunned into silence as The Lionesses fell agonisingly short of World Cup glory after a spirited 1-0 defeat against Spain.
England's Lionesses fell agonisingly short of World Cup Final glory after a spirited 1-0 defeat against Spain - leaving thousands who'd packed into fan parks nationwide devastated.
Supporters across the nation were stunned into silence and groaned as Spain’s Olga Carmona slotted past Mary Earps midway through the first half in Sydney on Sunday.
Spain's victory — which also saw Earps save a penalty — denied England of a memorable double in 13 months following European Championship success at Wembley last summer.
Supporters flocked to pubs and bars for the 11am kick-off, with the game tipped to give a £185 million boost to the UK economy.
More than 12,000 people packed into London's official fan park in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets - but England fans were left tearful and disappointed on full time.
At the Victoria Park fan park, Rakhi Pandya, 45, brought her three west Highland terriers to the public screening, and told the PA news agency: “I don’t think I would have come down if it was the men’s, to be honest with you.”
A superb penalty save from Mary Earps gave England fans something to cheer about midway through the second half, but the Lionesses were unable to capitalise.
Scott and Tracy Row travelled for 45 minutes to a fan zone in east London to watch the Women’s World Cup final.
Mr Row, 64, from Billericay in Essex, told the PA news agency at Victoria Park: “The atmosphere has been really good but unfortunately the team didn’t turn up today. Apart from the goalkeeper, who played really well.
“It’s one of those things. Spain were the better team to be perfectly honest.
“What is good is seeing all the kids here. They look up to them.”
Also in the crowd was Rachael Phipps, 29, who brought her three-month-old daughter Ava and three-year-old son Ellis with her.
Ms Phipps, from Surrey, said: “We went to the Euros at Trafalgar Square last year and watched them bring it home. We did well I think. We lost with pride and we fought to the very end.”
A Cabinet minister had ruled out adding an extra bank holiday to the calendar to allow the public to celebrate should England have won Sunday’s World Cup final.
There had been calls from Opposition politicians, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, for a national day off in the Lionesses’ honour if the England women’s side beat Spain in Sydney, Australia.
The final whistle was met by muted applause, with Rio Ferdinand, Maya Jama and Idris Elba among the crestfallen fans clapping the Lionesses after they lost the final.
Supporters quickly got to their feet and started quietly leaving the McDonald’s screening at the Olympic Park in east London following the disappointing result.
