England internationals, Rachel Daly and Millie Bright have opened up on their unforgettable clash with the Nigeria women’s national football team, Super Falcons at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The encounter, which saw England pushed to the limit before advancing via penalties, has now been labelled by the players as the “hardest game” and one of the toughest matches of their careers.
“I’ve Never Been More Tired” – Daly Confesses
Speaking on the intensity of the contest, Daly did not hold back in describing just how physically demanding the match was:
“Honestly, I’ve never been more tired after a game of football in my life.”
“I was thinking, holy s**t, start the tournament! Honestly, and obviously that was the game that LJ got sent off, weren’t it?”
“So I think it’s historical for me because I’m like, we had to fight tooth and nail to win that game. Obviously it went 120 minutes.”
She further highlighted the sheer physicality and pace of the Nigerian side:
“They are so physical, like as a defender as well, we were sprinting, keeping up with them.”
“They were so fast, so strong. It was just exhausting.”
“I Was Absolutely Toast” – The Aftermath of a War
Daly vividly recalled the emotional and physical toll after the final whistle:
“I just remember finishing that game after the penalties and I just lay there. I was like, I am absolutely toast right now.”
“I feel like we just epitomized England in that game.”
She also pointed to the added challenges England faced, including playing with 10 players:
“100%, 100%. And also, just showing character, being down to 10 men. It was hot as well, weren’t it? I don’t know.”
And ultimately, she summed it up as a defining moment in her career:
“I just feel like going to penalties, extra time. I don’t know, there was something about that I just thought that was a really, really hard match.”
“And I always go back to that, it’s the hardest game I’ve ever played in my life.”
“We’re Not Used to That Level” – Bright
England captain Bright echoed Daly’s sentiments, admitting that the team struggled due to lack of exposure to opponents like Nigeria:
“Yeah, 100%. And we don’t get that exposure. We don’t get to play against those opponents on a regular basis.”
She added:
“So when you’re playing, it hits you in the face a little bit and you’re like, oh, we’re not used to this.”
“We can normally get the better of teams or better of positions, but yeah, they were honestly the hardest game I’ve ever played in in my life.”
“Yeah, same.”
Bright further acknowledged the game as one of her most memorable experiences:
“And I think that’s for me why I thought that stands out for me as one of my favourite games.”
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Nigeria women’s national football team, Super Falcons have now earned major respect on the global stage.
The African champions’ blend of pace, strength, and relentless intensity not only pushed one of Europe’s top teams to the brink but also left a lasting impression on players who experienced it firsthand.
