Women’s World Cup 2023

ENGLAND’S heroic Lionesses have sent the country into pandemonium after making history in Australia. Sarina Wiegman’s side struck gold Down Under as they progressed into England’s first World Cup final since 1966.
England’s heroic Lionesses made history in AustraliaCredit: AFP
England fans were in pandemonium as the Lionesses reached the World Cup finalCredit: AP
It is England’s first World Cup final since 1966Credit: PA
Fans were in raptures across the countryCredit: Reuters
While the Aussies were left heartbroken

Ella Toone’s stunning strike was followed up by cool finishes from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo for England to see off co-hosts Australia with a hard-fought 3-1 win.
And the countdown has now begun before Sunday’s final against Spain, who like England, are in the Women’s World Cup final for the first time in their history.

While it was joy for England, Australia were left heartbroken.
Many supporters of the co-hosts at the match in Sydney were in tears as the Matildas crashed out.
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Back at home, England fans were toasting success in pubs up and down the country.
There was chaos at BOXPARK Wembley as supporters, many in face paint, erupted over early morning pints.
Many were draped in St George’s flags as they went wild as the Lionesses did them proud – and even better, got one over the Aussies.
England hero Gary Lineker took to Twitter to praise the Lionesses, tweeting: “Well played @Lionesses. Absolutely superb performance. A World Cup final.
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Ella Toone opened the scoring with a stunning goalCredit: Getty
Lauren Hemp put England back aheadCredit: Getty
Alessia Russo sealed the deal for the LionessesCredit: Getty
England boss Sarina Wiegman celebrated with captain Millie BrightCredit: PA
“A World Cup final at football. It’s been a while. What a wonderful achievement. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.”
SunSport columnist Piers Morgan joked it was revenge for the summer’s controversial Ashes series, writing: “England’s fabulous@Lionesses crush Australia’s wilting Matildas 3-1 in their own back yard to reach the Women’s World Cup Final…
“Sweet revenge for the Jonny Bairstow Ashes runout debacle.
“Congrats ladies- you’ve made your country proud! 👏👏👏.”
England reaction
England defender Lucy Bronze declared it was a dream come true for her and her team-mates.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “The one thing I’ve always wanted to do is get to a World Cup final.
“After two times of such disappointment, I can’t believe it.
“We played how we wanted to, we were determined, resilient. We knew the crowd would be crazy and we talked about silencing them and at the end we did that.
“We all dreamed of being in the final, all our family and friends have boked to stay here until then because they all believed in us.
“It’s been amazing to play against Australia, in Australia, what a fantastic tournament they had but we’re in the final.”
Sarina Wiegman hailed her England team in an emotional interview with the BBC, saying: “The way we played… of course it was a hard game but we found a way to win. You’ve been talking about ruthlessness all the time, in this team there is ruthlessness. Whether it’s in attack or defence, we really want to keep the ball out of the net.
“We stuck to the plan. I think [Australia have] done an incredible job. They really grew into the tournament. They’ve had some setbacks too… they had to win the last game in the group stage. As a team they are really tough to play against. Yeah, what a performance.
“[On reaching a second World Cup final]. I don’t know. I just said… am I in a little fairytale or something?”
Injury-stricken Lioness Beth Mead praised her team-mates as she said: “WORLD CUP FINAL BABBYY, GET IN @Lionesses 🥳🥳🥳.”
Amazing journey
Despite huge injuries to Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby impacting the squad before the tournament, the brave Lionesses have overcome each obstacle they have faced so far.
England kicked off their tournament with a stuttering 1-0 win over Haiti, before felling Denmark with the same score six days later.
BOXPARK Wembley saw some of the wildest celebrationsCredit: Getty
Fans were draped in St George’s flagsCredit: Getty
It was tears of joy for England fansCredit: Getty
A screening at Canary Wharf also saw supporters celebrating the Lionesses successCredit: PA
While the Aussie crowd appeared glum after falling to defeatCredit: Getty
A Lauren James-inspired England then roared into life as they thrashed China 6-1 in their final group stage match.
However, it was James who soon became the pantomime villain after her needless red card against Nigeria in the Last 16.
Penalties followed after a goalless affair.
But the Lionesses held their nerve, with Chloe Kelly’s rocket of a penalty seeing us through to the quarter-finals, where our the side – captained by Millie Bright – faced off with Colombia.
Once again the opponent proved to be tough, with the South Americans taking the lead shortly before half-time.
But a last-gasp first-half equaliser from Hemp sent England into the interval level before Russo netted the decisive winner as England marched into the semi-final.
The Matildas, bolstered by a returning Sam Kerr, would prove to be the biggest hurdle of all.
Toone’s first half strike was cancelled out by a Kerr stunner in the 63rd minute.
However, Hemp fired the Lionesses back in front eight minutes later, shoving off her marker before slotting her shot into the bottom corner.
The Women’s Super Leagues first million pound star Russo then sealed the deal with her tidy finish into the bottom corner in the 86th minute.
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With the win England’s Lionesses have made history by reaching their first World Cup final.
And we’re all desperate for them to repeat their trick of winning the Euros last year.
A Sky reporter was caught up in the celebrations in Australia More

ENGLAND reached their first World Cup final since 1966 with a stunning 3-1 win over hosts Australia.Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo sealed the Lionesses first ever Women’s World Cup final appearance as they celebrated a huge victory in Sydney.
England reached a first World Cup final since 1966Credit: PA
Ella Toone opened the scoring for England nine minutes before half-timeCredit: Reuters
The sensational strike gave the Lionesses the lead at the breakCredit: AFP
England’s players stormed off the bench to celebrate with RussoCredit: Reuters
Toone fired Sarina Wiegman’s side in front in the first half, running onto Russo’s cutback and rifling a venomous effort across goal and high into the net.
Kerr then levelled shortly after the hour mark when she collected the ball inside her own half, drove at the England defence and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard screamer into the top corner.
But the Euros champions responded in superb fashion as Hemp curled home to regain the Lionesses lead.
And Russo capped a wonderful display with a late third as England now prepare to face Spain in Sunday’s final.
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England fans packed out pubs and bars across the country to support the triumphant Lionesses.
The historic result comes after the Lionesses had previously been eliminated at the semi-final stage in each of the last two World Cups.

They were beaten by Japan in 2015 and the USA four years ago – but now they are finally into the final.
And they will be looking to add to last year’s Euros glory when they return to Stadium Australia at the weekend.
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Sam Kerr equalised with a second-half stunnerCredit: Reuters
The Australian striker brought her country roaring back into the semi-finalCredit: Reuters
Lauren Hemp put England back in front with 19 minutes remainingCredit: PA
Hemp netted just eight minutes after Kerr’s levellerCredit: Reuters
Alessia Russo added a third for England in the closing stagesCredit: Reuters
Kerr and her Australian team-mates were left devastatedCredit: Getty
After media chat Down Under of Kerr being Earps’ kryptonite and attempts to talk up a rivalry, Wiegman’s aces would have been keen to show why their opponents were no match for the Euros champs in a major tournament.
Welcome to the Jungle was the line used by the Daily Telegraph Down Under after they revealed they had flown an aircraft over England’s training to film the session in action. 
However, Wednesday’s game showed why the Lionesses are ready to become the new queens of world football as they overcame the team that ended their 30-game unbeaten run in April. 
The tournament co-hosts were boosted by star striker Kerr making her first contest start despite being seen with an icepack on her leg yesterday. 
But while Hayley Raso blazed a shot over the bar near the half-hour mark, the best chances of the game fell to the visitors.
England took a 36th-minute lead with Toone’s stunning angled finish partly silencing the home fans. 
Australian fans were seen crying in the stands as the hosts exited the tournament
And Hemp, who put in a player of the match display, went close to making it 2-0 in the 43rd minute with a header, before the referee blew her whistle for a foul in the box.
The second half saw the hosts up the ante with England defenders Millie Bright and Jess Carter doing a good job of marshalling Kerr. 
But their Chelsea pal later showed exactly why she is one of the world’s best strikers when she smashed in a corking leveller from distance after being given too much space on the ball. 
But England refused to be overawed by the roar that followed that goal. 
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And they retook the lead through Hemp after she latched on to an old-fashioned long ball forward from Bright.
And Wiegman’s warriors weathered a late barrage before Hemp teed up Russo to seal the win. More