Topics: FIFA Women's World Cup, France, USA, England, Ellen White
The English striker has reacted to her side's failure to the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup for the second time running.

What could have been a double celebration for Ellen White in her historic night was not met with the ending the forward so badly craved with England's hopes of qualifying to another Women's World Cup finals hitting a snag once more. Just as it was the fate of their male counterparts in Russia over a year ago, the Lionesses were second-best in their penultimate clash at France 2019, falling to a 2-1 defeat against the USWNT.

While the heartbreak will last beyond the night, Ellen White takes with her a few positives ahead her side's third and fourth place playoff date with either Sweden or Netherlands on July 6th. With her sixth goal at the tournament coming against the Americans, the 30-year-old striker reached a few milestones which could be topped in the upcoming encounter.

At a point in the clash with the USWNT, White almost bumped up her goal tally at this year's World Cup to seven but saw her strike ruled out by VAR having been marginally offside in the buildup. Addressing the turn of events after the match, the striker admitted being upset about the game's outcome.

"Yeah, I am devastated," White told Live Soccer TV.

"We wanted to give everything on the pitch and I think we did. For me, I am proud to be English and I am proud to be part of this England team.

"We've got some very talented players, players who will go into other tournaments and do amazingly well. We had such belief that we will make it to the final and we are devastated that we could not leave here with that mark.

"We are devastated but we've a game on Saturday so we have to pick ourselves up."

Regarding her disallowed equaliser, White wittingly declared that she hated VAR but subsequently applauded the referee for making the right call.

"I hate VAR," she joked.

"We've experienced VAR, obviously in a positive way and tonight, for my goal I'm devastated but VAR is there to make the right decision and that's what happened; I was offside.

"VAR was also there to give us our penalty so it's there to make the right decisions.

"We've had some ups and downs in this game but that's what it's there for - to make the right calls."

With regards to making the right decisions, skipper of the side Steph Houghton evidently made the wrong one by squandering a glorious chance to restore parity for the Lioness from a spot-kick. Nonetheless, Ellen White, who earned the opportunity for her team insists that her captain deserves a pat on her back for having the courage to step up and make the attempt although she did fancy taking it.

"I was about to kick the ball into the goal and the girl just swiped my legs so it was 100 percent a penalty.

"I was so excited it was coming to me [the opportunity to take the penalty] and I could have gone at the end of it but let's not blame Steph [Houghton]. She was courageous to step up and take the penalty and we had our chances as well.

"Steph is the penalty-taker in the team and the keeper made a decent save and it is what it is. I am not on penalties so I am not going to take the ball off anyone."

White and her compatriots will have the opportunity to battle for bronze medal against either Sweden or Netherlands, come July 6th.