ENGLAND are gearing up to face Spain in their blockbuster Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses are on the cusp of history, but must first face a Spain side who have been in stunning form despite off-field disarray.
All is now set for what will be an epic final Down Under for the biggest prize.
- Kick-off: 11am BST
- TV channel: BBC 1 and ITV 1
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer and ITV X
- England XI: Team to follow…
- Spain XI: Team to follow…
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Where can I buy an England Women’s shirt?
If you want to show your support for England’s women’s national team at the final of the World Cup, it is possible to buy a shirt.
Lioness shirts can be bought through on the official England website and through the Nike website.
The kits are also available through Foudys, which describes itself as “the first and only official store in the world dedicated to women’s football.”
Shirts are priced at £79.95 each, though the England store has strips that are personalised with the names of the players which cost a little more, at £94.95.
Credit: GETTY PM Bank Holiday pressure
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has since been placed under mounting pressure to give the people what they want.
However, the Government have not announced any plans to grant an additional day off for the public.
A Government spokesperson said: “The current pattern of public and bank holidays is well established and there are no plans to change this.”
Extra bank holidays have been granted by previous governments to mark special occasions, such as the Millennium, special events and royal weddings.
Australia’s Prime Minister had backed calls for a public holiday if the Matildas won the trophy.
Credit: PA Sarina Wiegman on Bank Holiday
England’s women’s coach Sarina Wiegman is also backing calls for a bank holiday should the team secure the win.
Speaking before the semi-final against Australia, Wiegman said: “Yes, I can see all the English here want it! I’m focusing on football and the game tomorrow.
“Let’s do everything to win the game tomorrow.”
Will there be a bank holiday if England win the Women’s World Cup?
Football fans in the UK are excited as the England Lionesses have progressed to the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
After a nail-biting semi-final against hosts Australia, the Lionesses came away the victors with a 3-1 win.
England took on Australia at Sydney’s Stadium Australia which was sold out.
This is the first time that the England Ladies will have played in a World Cup final.
Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo helped to seal the Lioness’s place in the World Cup final.
In a similar reaction, the public is calling for the government to give a bank holiday should the ladies bring home the trophy.
More on Sarina Wiegman
As an international player she gained 104 caps for the Netherlands but her most high-profile job has been her manager role with England.
The Lionesses beat Spain in the quarter-finals at Euro 2022 before dismantling Sweden in the semi-finals.
Wiegman then went on to clinch her second Women’s Euros title with two different nations when England beat Germany 2-1.
Who is England manager Sarina Wiegman?
Wiegman was born on October 26, 1969, in the Hague.
She began playing football when she was a kid and went on to have a long career in the sport.
Her playing career began at KFC 71 in 1987.
Wiegman also played alongside football legends Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly while at the North Carolina Tar Heel’s soccer team at the University of North Carolina.
Who is Spain manager Jorge Vilda Rodriguez?
Jorge Vilda Rodriguez is a Spanish football coach and manager.
He was born on July 7, 1981, in Madrid and has been head coach of Spain’s women’s national football team since 2015.
Vilda was once a football player himself, having been a part of Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona’s youth teams.
But after two major knee injuries at the age of 17, he moved into coaching instead.
Much of Vilda’s coaching career has seen him involved with Spain’s women’s youth squads.
He took on the role of assistant coach at WU17 and WU19 level before becoming the head coach for Spain’s WU17s in 2009, a position he held for five years.
Vilda is married to his wife María, who he reportedly shares two children with.
Can Lauren James play for England in the Women’s World Cup final?
England’s player of the tournament so far, Lauren James was sent off deep into the second half of standard time in the Lionesses’ last-16 clash with Nigeria.
James got into a scuffle on the floor with Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie, electing to stamp on her while she got off the deck herself.
The referee immediately went to look at the VAR screen before brandishing her red card in James’ direction.
James was handed an extended TWO game ban, missing the quarter-finals and the semi-finals.
But this means she is now free to play in the World Cup final against Spain.
“Lauren is really sorry for her actions which led to the red card and is full of remorse,” an England statement read.
“It is wholly out of character for her. We will be supporting Lauren throughout and will be putting forward representation on her behalf. We fully respect FIFA disciplinary process and will not be making any further comment until after any decision.”
Credit: GETTY Spain’s route to final
Spain 3-0 Costa Rica (Group stage)
Spain 5-0 Zambia (Group stage)
Japan 4-0 Spain (Group stage)
Switzerland 1-5 Spain (Last-16)
Spain 2-1 Netherlands (Quarter-final)
Spain 2-1 Sweden (Semi-final)
England’s route to the final
England 1-0 Haiti (Group stage)
England 1-0 Denmark (Group stage)
China 1-6 England (Group stage)
England 0-0 Nigeria (Last-16)
England 2-1 Colombia (Quarter-final)
Australia 1-3 England (Semi-final)
Credit: Alamy Women’s World Cup 2023 top scorers
- Hinata Miyazawa – Japan – 5
- Kadidiatou Diani – France – 4
- Alexander Popp – Germany – 4
- Jill Roord – Netherlands – 4
- Amanda Ilestedt – Sweden – 4
- Lauren James – England – 3
- Aitana Bonmati – Spain – 3
- Alba Redondo – Spain – 3
- Ary Borges – Brazil – 3
- Rebecka Blomqvist – Sweden – 3
- Jenni Hermoso – Spain – 3
- Eugenie Le Sommer – France – 3
- Sophie Haug – Norway – 3
- Hayley Raso – Australia – 3
Credit: Getty SunSport’s prediction
England have already beaten Spain once, and we expect them to do the same again on Sunday.
The Lionesses have continued to prove that they are more than capable of winning when it really matters.
And there is no bigger game than a World Cup final.
Prediction: England 2-1 Spain
Who will be England’s star player?
Lauren Hemp was by far England’s stand-out player in the semi-finals.
The forward has grown in confidence throughout the tournament and is now firmly in the race for the Golden Boot.
Credit: Rex Jorge Vilda’s pre-match thoughts
Vilda insists that Spain have grown in strength throughout the tournament.
He said: “At the end of the day it has been a learning process, and I think it has made all of us stronger.
“Now we can file it (any off-pitch issues) away and put it behind us and think about the future, and think that we deserve to be where we are.”
Credit: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay How could the Lionesses line up?
Sarina Wiegman faces the dilemma of whether to change her semi-final winning team to include World Cup star Lauren James.
James has missed the last two games due to suspension after being shown a red card for stamping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in the Lionesses’ last-16 clash.
Here is how we think England will line-up:
Final team news
Sarina Wiegman will have a full 23-woman squad to pick from on Sunday.
Lauren James is set to return to the fold following her two-game suspension, but it remains to be seen whether or not she will slot straight back into the starting line-up.
The England boss will likely stick with Ella Toone in midfield following her excellent performance against Australia.
Spain manager Jorge Vilda also has a full squad to pick from.
Star players Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati are both expected to start.
Credit: Getty Lionesses chasing history
Good evening and welcome to SunSport’s live blog of the Women’s World Cup final!
England’s Lionesses booked their spot on the bill with a thrilling 3-1 win over Australia this week.
But now Sarina Wiegman has her eyes firmly set on the prize.
This will be England’s first-ever Women’s World Cup final, but the Lionesses are approaching the game with confidence.
They are set to face Spain – one of the teams they beat on their way to Euro 2022 glory last summer.
England earned a 2-1 win over La Roja under the lights at the Amex Stadium, but it was a nail-biting affair.
And with the biggest trophy in women’s football at stake, Sunday’s final is set to be just as tense.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
