16 August 2023 , 15:55
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The Lionesses set out to make a statement, and they did – they’re in the Women’s World Cup final.
Following a glorious night on the biggest stage Down Under they delivered a performance worthy of contesting the greatest prize in the game. Ever since this tournament started, the country has been crying out for an unequivocal sign that this could be England’s time.
And on Wednesday night, in front of over 75,000 partisan and hyped-up Aussies, it was writ large in red and white letters.
Throughout this competition, Sarina Wiegman’s team has delivered on character. They’ve faced losing Keira Walsh – arguably their most influential player – through injury. Then battled through against the odds after a sending-off in the last 16 – and fought back from falling a goal behind in the quarter-finals.
And in a display that was every bit as good, if not better, than anything they produced at the European Championships, they now stand 90 minutes away from footballing immortality.
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No one present in Stadium Australia – bedecked throughout in gold and green – could begrudge them this outcome. In terms of tactics, discipline, drive and ruthlessness, England absolutely left their mark, searing Aussie flesh with a red-hot branding iron.
And this really will hurt. On the eve of the game, guess what, it turned out our old sporting foes had been at it again.
Sarina Wiegman has led England to the final (Joe Prior/Getty Images)Not content with stirring controversy over Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal in the Ashes, a national newspaper paid for a helicopter to spy on England’s final training session.
There was no apology, either, on the day of publication. It played beautifully into the narrative that has been building with the Matildas ever since they defeated France in that epic quarter-final last Saturday.
But it takes more than that these days to distract a group of battle-hardened and focused warriors that the Dutch coach has marshalled so superbly. Wiegman’s message heading into this was that Australia ‘were about more than just Kerr.’
It didn’t look like that. Within the opening minute, Walsh trod on her foot. Alex Greenwood earned a deserved booking for upending her. And then Jess Carter managed to boot the ball in her face.
Welcome back to the World Cup, Sam.
Late in the first-half, a throw-in found Lauren Hemp near the byline. She flicked the ball over a defender and Alessia Russo collected, trying to set up her colleague. The Manchester City striker just failed to collect. Ella Toone did instead.
“It fell straight to me and I thought: ‘Why not just smack it?’,” she said. “It was the best shot I’ve hit in my life.”
Ella Toone opened the scoring for England (Damian Briggs/Getty Images)Within five minutes, the game was level. Australia turned over possession deep inside their own half. Kerr was still over 50 yards from goal when she collected.
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Millie Bright retreated, and then retreated some more. The Chelsea striker let fly and her deflected shot flew past Mary Earps from 25 yards. The stadium erupted.
There was no wobble from England. Hemp, enjoying her best game for England, made a nuisance of herself, pressuring Ellie Carpenter into a mistake after a long ball from Bright. She prodded past keeper Mackenzie Arnold and the finishing line was in sight.
Sam Kerr's goal didn't stop England (Daniela Porcelli)Kerr should have equalised. She slashed wildly at the ball, sending it wide during a goalmouth scramble following a corner five minutes from time. The Lionesses went up the other end, Hemp feeding Russo with a delicious no-look pass. Game over.
Bright will now become the first England captain since the late Bobby Moore to lead out a senior side in a World Cup final – and if they can serve up a repeat, there’s every reason to believe the dreams of a nation can be made a reality.