Women’s World Cup LIVE: England prepare for final against Spain and latest reaction to win over Australia

England are through to the Women’s World Cup final for the first time after a stunning 3-1 win over Australia in Sydney set up an all-European title decider against Spain on Sunday.

The Lionessesbroke the hearts of the home nation as goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo sealed a historic victory, after Sam Kerr sent the got the Matildas and capacity crowd of 75,784 rocking with a stunning individual goal.

England manager Sarina Wiegman said she was “in a fairytale” after guiding England to the final for the first time, while defender Lucy Bronze was overcome with emotion after playing in two previous semi-final defeats in 2015 and 2019.

The Lionesses will play Spain on Sunday in England’s first World Cup final since 1966 and the nation is set to come to a halt as England look to bring the game’s biggest prize back home.

Follow all the reaction to England’s win against Australia in the semi-finals, get all the latest Women’s World Cup odds, including the latest third place play-off odds here:

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest England news ahead of Sunday’s final

• England will face Spain on Sunday with the World Cup on the line

• England beat hosts Australia 3-1 in Women’s World Cup semi-final as Toone, Hemp and Russo score

• REPORT: Sensational England capitalise on Sam Kerr’s missed moment to make World Cup history

• ANALYSIS: How England deployed dark arts and cool heads to silence Australian noise

• REACTION: ‘We all dreamed of being in the final’ - Lionesses discuss beating Australia

• Will Lauren James play in the Women’s World Cup final?

• LATEST: Vlatko Andonovski reportedly steps down as USA Women’s manager

Rachel Daly’s former teacher says she was a ‘one-off’ who focused on winning

17:12 , Mike Jones

Rachel Daly’s former school teacher has hailed the Lioness as a “one-off” player as England aim for World Cup glory on Sunday.

Sarina Wiegman’s side reached their first ever World Cup final with a 3-1 win against co-hosts Australia on Wednesday in front of 75,784 in Sydney.

Aston Villa forward Daly, the WSL’s top scorer last season, has played a key part in their campaign – often featuring at wing-back for the side and scored in England’s 6-1 victory against China in the group stages.

Rachel Daly’s former teacher says she was a ‘one-off’ who focused on winning

FA chief Mark Bullingham says Sarina Wiegman could be an England men’s candidate

16:57 , Mike Jones

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham would not rule out the possibility that Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman could one day lead the England men’s team.

The 53-year-old’s stock as a serial winner has risen steadily since securing the European championship trophy with her native Netherlands in 2017, then doing the same with England last summer.

She has now guided England to a first-ever World Cup final, in the process becoming the only manager to do so with two different nations in the women’s showpiece after steering her home country to the same stage four years ago.

FA chief Mark Bullingham says Sarina Wiegman could be an England men’s candidate

FA to build Wembley statue of England’s Lionesses after World Cup and Euros heroics

16:39 , Mike Jones

The Football Association has revealed that a plan is already in place post-Euro 2022 for a statue of the England team around Wembley Stadium.

If England beat a fine Spanish side at Stadium Australia in Sunday’s World Cup final, any statue might have to feature two trophies, following their European triumph last summer. FA CEO Mark Bullingham revealed the governing body were already in discussions about design, as it would sit in the footprint of Wembley Stadium.

“In terms of statues, it’s something we are looking at post-Euros. We’ve made progress on that, and it would be right to have something to commemorate that success outside Wembley. It would be the whole team.

FA to build Wembley statue of England’s Lionesses after World Cup

US will not poach ‘special’ World Cup coach Sarina Wiegman, insists FA

16:22 , Mike Jones

The Football Association will resist any USA approach for Sarina Wiegman, chief executive Mark Bullingham has said. He also insisted that the ongoing players’ bonuses dispute is now merely a “matter of time” rather than detail, and revealed the FA will also seek to host the Women’s World Cup themselves.

Wiegman is now one game away from a history double, as she took a senior English national team to a World Cup final for the first time. That has naturally attracted interest from the USA, whose coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned after a huge underperformance that saw the deposed world champions eliminated in the last 16.

Bullingham said he FA would “100 per cent” reject any approach.

US will not poach ‘special’ World Cup manager Sarina Wiegman, FA insists

A robot? Inside the ‘genius’ mind of Sarina Wiegman

16:08 , Mike Jones

English football has long found one specific hurdle to be insurmountable. Whether it’s the men’s or women’s game, reaching a final has been a step too far for even the most talented of teams; so-called ‘golden generations’ tried their luck yet no matter how hard England tried or how much they reinvented their game, it couldn’t be done.

That was the case until Sarina Wiegman came along, that is. A manager who is regarded as “phenomenal”, a “genius”, and undoubtedly one of the all-time greats.

The Lionesses had a precise problem, so they looked to someone with the exact talents they needed and the tournament record to back it up. She won a European Championship on home soil and then guided the Netherlands to a World Cup final: that’s the perfect CV when you’re looking to recruit someone to replicate those exact jobs.

England’s moment of jubilation was yet another milestone to add to her career record. A semi-final of the tallest order lay in her wake – a 75,000-strong home crowd up against an injury-hit team who were yet to find their World Cup sparkle and now had to face the ruthlessness of Sam Kerr – but the challenge tumbled in front of her.

Adam Millington from Sydney on the Lionesses’coach extraordinaire:

A robot? Inside the ‘genius’ mind of Sarina Wiegman

Women’s World Cup: ‘Am I in a fairytale?’

15:53 , Mike Jones

Sarina Wiegman has become a maestro of tournament football, now leading teams into the final of three consecutive major events (Netherlands at World Cup 2019, Lionesses at Euro 2021 and World Cup 2023).

She admits it feels like a fairytale leading the Lionesses into the Sydney showpiece.

‘It’s the one thing I’ve always wanted’: Emotional Lucy Bronze tears up after World Cup semi-final win

15:37 , Mike Jones

Lucy Bronze was visibly emotional after the Lionesses’ emphatic World Cup semi-final win over Australia. Interviewed by the BBC on the pitch and asked how she felt, Bronze was struggling for words.

She said: “I don’t know. This is the one thing I have always wanted, to make the final of the World Cup. After getting two times of such disappointment, I can’t believe it.”

Asked what coach Sarina Wiegman said in the huddle after the win, Bronze said: “Just that we played the game how we wanted to. We were resilient and we were determined.”

‘All I’ve wanted’: Emotional Lucy Bronze tears up after World Cup semi-final win

Lucy Bronze achieves life ambition in reaching World Cup final

15:18 , Mike Jones

England right-back Lucy Bronze was quite emotional in her post match interview after the Lionesses secured a spot in the World Cup final.

“The one thing I’ve always wanted is to be in the final of a World Cup.” she told the BBC, “We knew the crowd was going to be crazy tonight and we wanted to silence them and I feel like we did after the third goal.

“All my family and friends have booked to stay here until after the final because they believed in us.”

Alessia Russo says England can win the World Cup

15:01 , Mike Jones

Fresh off the back of scoring England’s third goal in their decisive win over Australia in the World Cup semi-final, Lionesses’ forward Alessia Russo gave her reaction to the game and spoke about how she thinks her team can go all the way and win the World Cup.

FA to build Wembley statue of England’s Lionesses after World Cup and Euros heroics

14:52 , Mike Jones

The Football Association has revealed that a plan is already in place following Euro 2022 for a statue of the England team close to Wembley Stadium.

If England beat a fine Spanish side at Stadium Australia in Sunday’s World Cup final, any statue might have to feature two trophies, given their European triumph last summer. FA CEO Mark Bullingham revealed that the governing body was already in discussions about the design, as it would sit in the footprint of Wembley Stadium.

“In terms of statues, it’s something we are looking at post-Euros. We’ve made progress on that, and it would be right to have something to commemorate that success outside Wembley. It would be the whole team.”

England finally reach the world’s greatest stage and their achievement is worth celebrating

14:46 , Mike Jones

Alex Greenwood claimed she “cannot put it into the words”, so she just kept repeating the words that made her feel like that. “We’re in a World Cup final.”

“I just keep having to say it,” she laughed.

It is a glorious fact worth actually reflecting on, even as thoughts quickly turned to Sunday, what next, who starts, whether Lauren James comes in.

If actually winning the World Cup is the great ambition of any career, the final itself is the great stage. Those who step onto the pitch will leave their own mark on history, the very line-ups part of the record that makes football so rich.

England finally reach the world’s greatest stage — and that is worth celebrating

US will not poach ‘special’ World Cup coach Sarina Wiegman, insists FA

14:35 , Mike Jones

The Football Association will resist any USA approach for Sarina Wiegman, chief executive Mark Bullingham has said. He also insisted that the ongoing players’ bonuses dispute is now merely a “matter of time” rather than detail, and revealed the FA will also seek to host the Women’s World Cup themselves.

Wiegman is now one game away from a history double, as she took a senior English national team to a World Cup final for the first time. That has naturally attracted interest from the USA, whose coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned after a huge underperformance that saw the deposed world champions eliminated in the last 16.

Bullingham said the FA would “100 per cent” reject any approach.

“It is not about money. We are very, very happy with her and we feel she is happy. I think that is the answer.

“We’ve seen lots of rumours and, look, she is a special talent. We’ve got a bit of time because obviously she’s contracted to 2025, and she’ll obviously want to have a decent holiday after this. But all I’ll say is we’re massive fans of her. We believe she’s happy, and we’d love to continue working with her for a long time.”

Lionesses paving way for young girls to pursue football career, says club player

14:28 , Mike Jones

The club president of a university football club said the “Lionesses are paving the way” for young girls to have a career in women’s football.

Layana Sasieddine, a student at Imperial College London and club president of the women’s university football team in their upcoming season, said it is “inspiring” for any female footballer to see “there actually is a future” in the sport.

The bio-engineering student said the university society has grown from 60 to 100 members in the last year following the success of the Lionesses, saying there is a “spotlight” on the sport that was not there before.

Lionesses paving way for young girls to pursue football career, says club player

This World Cup means so much more for women than who wins and who loses

14:09 , Mike Jones

“Record attendances, standout goalkeeping performances, and penalty-taking fire-power to eclipse any strike by a man in last season’s Premier League.

Not bad for a bunch of girls, is it?

The 2023 Women’s World Cup has certainly been pulling in the fans. One of the home teams, Australia, has twice played in front of crowds exceeding 75,000 in Sydney, and that was only limited by the capacity of the stadium.

Well over 500,000 have attended fan zones in host cities to watch the games on big screens, and, after only two rounds of the tournament, attendance numbers had already exceeded the total attendance of the 2015 World Cup in Canada...”

This World Cup means so much more than who wins and who loses

Women’s World Cup: England reach final after beating Australia

13:51 , Mike Jones

Some Opta stats from the England–Australia semi-final:

England are unbeaten in all 19 games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in which they’ve opened the scoring (W17 D2), including winning each of the last 13 when scoring first.

With her goal in this game, Ella Toone became the first England player (men’s and women’s) to score in a quarter-final, semi-final and final of major international tournaments (FIFA Women’s World Cup & UEFA European Championships).

Where to buy the Women’s World Cup England 2023 kit as the lionesses roar into the final

13:33 , Mike Jones

The England team have roared into the final of the Women’s World Cup for the first time ever as the Lionesses beat host nation and old enemy Australia 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo saw the European champions brush off the Matildas in Sydney, securing their place against Spain in the final on Sunday.

If you’re keen to show your support and roar on the Lionesses in the Women’s World Cup final, whether that be from your local pub or the comfort of your own sofa, it’s only right you do so while wearing a history-making England football shirt.

The England team made it to the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019, but this is the first time the Lionesses have made it to the World Cup final, despite eight more nations competing compared to the 2019 World Cup.

The Lionesses have been competing in the Women’s World Cup wearing a brand new kit from Nike and we’ve found where to shop the official shirts. With options for women, men and kids, the whole family can get behind the team and show their support.

Support the Lionesses with this official England kit

Guards play ‘Sweet Caroline’ outside Buckingham Palace as Lionesses reach World Cup final

13:18 , Mike Jones

Guards played a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” outside Buckingham Palace as the Lionesses beat Australia to reach the Women’s World Cup final.

The band of the Welsh Guards played the song - which has become an unofficial anthem for England’s national football teams - at the changing of the guard ceremony outside the palace.

USA face ‘critical’ decision amid Vlatko Andonovski’s impending exit after disastrous Women’s World Cup

13:04 , Mike Jones

Former United States women’s national team coach Jill Ellis said on Thursday that the recruitment process for Vlatko Andonovski‘s replacement should be diverse but that the sex of the candidates should not be a decisive factor.

Andonovski resigned as coach on Wednesday, multiple US media outlets reported, following the four-times champions’ early exit from the Women’s World Cup this month. US Soccer have neither responded to the reports nor confirmed Andonovski’s exit.

Ellis, who oversaw two World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, said there were plenty of high quality and successful women coaches but the most important thing was that the U.S. ended up with the right person for the job.

USA face ‘critical’ decision as Andonovski exits after disastrous World Cup

Keira Walsh backs Ella Toone to keep place for World Cup final

12:48 , Jamie Braidwood

Keira Walsh on the potential return of Lauren James for Sunday’s World Cup final:

“I think obviously people are going to speak about that, but I think everyone has got to give Tooney credit. She has come back in and she has done an unbelievable job again. People probably won’t speak about it too much, but it’s not easy to come in for a quarter-final or semi-final when all the spotlight has been on the player’s place you are taking. I think tonight she was unbelievable. She tackled, she got stuck in, she took us up the pitch, she gave us a lot of security. LJ is a massive talent, but I think we have got to put some respect on Tooney’s name as well. She has been fantastic.”

‘Another reason to whinge’: Australian media criticise England after Matildas beaten at Women’s World Cup

12:29 , Mike Jones

Australia missed out on a first appearance in a Women’s World Cup final after a 3-1 defeat to England in Sydney.

The Matildas fell behind in the first half at Stadium Australia before Sam Kerr levelled with a spectacular finish from distance.

But goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo secured victory for the Lionesses late on to take Sarina Wiegman’s side through to a second consecutive major tournament final.

‘Another reason to whinge’: Australian media criticise England approach

Keira Walsh looking forward to Spain battle

12:13 , Jamie Braidwood

Keira Walsh on facing Spain in the World Cup final, and coming up against her Barcelona teammates.

“Massive. They are a great team. They have got some world-class players, but again we are looking forward to it. It’s a challenge that we have faced before and hopefully it will be a good game on Sunday. We have full respect for Spain, they are an unbelievable team.

“The Barca girls are obviously unbelievable players and I am sure whatever I say, they will probably come up with something different because they are very special players. But we have got full belief in ourselves and what we can do. Looking forward to it.”

Ella Toone on her ‘big moment’ against Australia

11:56 , Jamie Braidwood

Ella Toone on her wonderstrike against Australia:

“It fell straight to me in the box and I just thought ‘why not just smack it?’ Honestly, that’s the best shot I’ve hit in my life,” said Toone, who scored the opener in last summer’s Euro 2022 final triumph.

“Sometimes when you hit a ball, you just know I’ve caught that perfectly and I was like ‘wow, that was alright’. I think I knew as soon as it left my boot that it was going to end up in the back of the net.

“It seems to be I like the big stage in tournaments, but in tournament football it is often about taking those moments and it was my turn to do so tonight.

“I had my moment, it fell to me and I put it in the back of the net. Even if I hadn’t scored, I would still have done my job for this team, worked hard and did what I needed to do.

“When big moments fall to me in tournaments, I’ve taken them.”

Ella Toone’s PE teacher reveals why it’s no surprise she’s in the World Cup final

11:39 , Mike Jones

Lioness Ella Toone’s former PE teacher said it is “not a surprise” that the midfielder reached her first World Cup final after England beat Australia 3-1 on Wednesday.

Chris Nuttall, PE teacher at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley, Wigan, who taught Toone from Year 9 to Year 11, said he saw the midfielder’s potential at school and “could tell” she would achieve great success in football.

The sports teacher said it was a “surreal” experience watching Toone score the opening goal on Wednesday, but felt her success was expected after demonstrating a strong sporting ability at school.

Ella Toone’s PE teacher reveals why it’s no surprise she’s in the World Cup final

11:14 , Jamie Braidwood

Player-of-the-match Lauren Hemp after England’s win:

““Oh my god, what a feeling. I feel like there are no words to describe what we all feel right now.

“It’s an unbelievable achievement, getting to a World Cup final. It’s every kid’s dream. I mean, I’ve got no words, I’m absolutely knackered right now. We’ve got a few days to recover but then we go again.

“We want to win this, obviously we’ve come so far now, so why not?

“I feel like as a team we have got such an inner-belief and also so much confidence as the group. No matter what happens on the outside, no matter who we come up against, every challenge we’ve managed to solve.

“I feel like this team is so special. You saw last year how successful we were. We want to do the same again and we want to go one step further.

“We have all got a dream. We’re pushing each other to be the best that we can and we know that whenever a player gets beaten by their opponent, we know there will be someone there, having each others’ backs, no matter what.”

Support grows for bank holiday if Lionesses win World Cup final

10:50 , Mike Jones

Sir Keir Starmer has called for a celebratory bank holiday should England win Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final. The Labour leader said he was “never complacent” as he backed the suggestion in the event of the Lionesses beating Spain.

The Government has said an extra bank holiday is not currently in its plans, adding it will find the “right way to celebrate” if England win.

Support grows for bank holiday if Lionesses win World Cup final

Sarina Wiegman says England are ‘getting better every day’

10:28 , Jamie Braidwood

Sarina Wiegman on how England have changed since the Euros: ‘’So many things have changed. The expectation in England has been high all the time. But after winning the Euros, it went up but I also think the lives of the players has changed a lot.

“They really had to adapt to a new life which bring lots of very good things but also some challenges because everyone wants something from you, but you still have to perform and we always said performing brought us to where we are right now and performing will keep us where we are and that’s what we trying to do. In terms of how we grew up?

“I think we’re still growing, we’re still getting better every day. I think what we mostly have seen in this tournament is that we can adapt in situations we haven’t been in before and that the players can translate what we want to do on the pitch really well.”

Infighting and rebellion: How Spain overcame themselves to reach edge of Women’s World Cup glory

10:15 , Mike Jones

With so much still unsaid around this Spain team, three statements over the last 48 hours stood out all the more, that illustrate much of the story of their Women’s World Cup run.

One was Tere Abelleira immediately after the semi-final victory over Sweden. “Now we can talk about a ferocious team spirit.” It was as the midfielder was saying this in the Eden Park mixed zone that Jenni Hermoso was striding behind and shouting: “Come on! We’re in the final of the f**king World Cup!”

That is now the most important fact of all. It was amid this mood of jubilation, however, that the abrasive Spanish federation boss Luis Rubiales came out with something that was much more open to dispute.

Read Miguel Delaney on Spain and their run to the final:

How Spain overcame themselves to reach edge of Women’s World Cup glory

USA face ‘critical’ decision amid Vlatko Andonovski’s impending exit after disastrous Women’s World Cup

10:02 , Karl Matchett

Former United States women’s national team coach Jill Ellis said on Thursday that the recruitment process for Vlatko Andonovski‘s replacement should be diverse but that the sex of the candidates should not be a decisive factor.

Andonovski resigned as coach on Wednesday, multiple US media outlets reported, following the four-times champions’ early exit from the Women’s World Cup this month. US Soccer have neither responded to the reports nor confirmed Andonovski’s exit.

Ellis, who oversaw two World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, said there were plenty of high quality and successful women coaches but the most important thing was that the U.S. ended up with the right person for the job.

More here:

USA face ‘critical’ decision as Andonovski exits after disastrous World Cup

Lionesses captain Millie Bright hails England mentality

09:46 , Jamie Braidwood

England captain Millie Bright said to the BBC: “I don’t know I think it’s a moment that we’ve wanted for so long.

“We loved the success last summer but we’ve always known there was something missing and that was the world Cup. What an incredible semi-final.

“The mentality of this group is something that I’ve never seen before and i think that comes from Sarina as well.

“We can play many different ways that is the beauty fo this squad and whatever is thrown at us we find a way to adapt and a way to win.”

This World Cup means so much more for women than who wins and who loses

09:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Record attendances, standout goalkeeping performances, and penalty-taking fire-power to eclipse any strike by a man in last season’s Premier League.

Not bad for a bunch of girls, is it?

The 2023 Women’s World Cup has certainly been pulling in the fans. One of the home teams, Australia, has twice played in front of crowds exceeding 75,000 in Sydney, and that was only limited by the capacity of the stadium.

Well over 500,000 have attended fan zones in host cities to watch the games on big screens, and, after only two rounds of the tournament, attendance numbers had already exceeded the total attendance of the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

The football world governing body, FIFA, has been trying to grow women’s football at pace, and it seems to be working.

Gemma Abbott on the importance of this World Cup:

This World Cup means so much more than who wins and who loses

Ella Toone produces another big-game goal for England

08:46 , Jamie Braidwood

According to Opta, Ella Toone is the first England player, men’s or women’s, to score in quarter-final, semi-final and final of a major international tournament.

• QF - vs Spain at Euro 2022

• SF - vs Australia at 2023 World Cup

• Final - vs Germany at Euro 2022

Ella Toone celebration explained after goal against Australia in Women’s World Cup semi-final

08:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Ella Toone struck a magnificent opener for England against Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-final.

The Manchester United star smashed the ball high into the top corner before wheeling away in delight with her teammates.

The 23-year-old, who has grabbed her opportunity in place of the suspended Lauren James, explained her celebration ahead of time.

Ella Toone celebration explained after World Cup semi-final goal

England’s deadly duo have already provided the answer to the Lauren James debate

07:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Lauren Hemp didn’t need to look; she already had the picture in her head. After 86 minutes of being everywhere for England, Hemp found another burst to turn away from Katrina Gorry and ease into the space, gliding to the left to create room on the right. As Australia backed off, Hemp opened up the angle and reversed the ball back to Alessia Russo - her target all along. Then came the finish, low, controlled, a clinical way to round off a ruthless performance on a gutsy night. Cool, calm and collected, it booked England’s place in the World Cup final and summed up how they beat Australia.

“Incredible finish, incredible pass,” Sarina Wiegman said. For the second match in a row, her front two were both on the scoresheet, Hemp and Russo on target in the semi-finals, just as they were in the quarter-finals, just as Wiegman had planned. Except, of course, that no one would have planned for this, in a tournament where rarely anything has gone to script for England and they have been forced to adapt. The Lionesses came into the World Cup with seven forwards and they will likely start Sunday’s final with only two in attacking positions; Hemp and Russo stand as their unlikely combination.

England’s deadly duo have already provided the answer to the Lauren James debate

England finally reach the world’s greatest stage — and that is worth celebrating

07:25 , Jamie Braidwood

Alex Greenwood claimed she “cannot put it into the words”, so she just kept repeating the words that made her feel like that. “We’re in a World Cup final.”

“I just keep having to say it,” she laughed.

It is a glorious fact worth actually reflecting on, even as thoughts quickly turned to Sunday, what next, who starts, whether Lauren James comes in.

If actually winning the World Cup is the great ambition of any career, the final itself is the great stage. Those who step onto the pitch will leave their own mark on history, the very line-ups part of the record that makes football so rich.

“We wanted to take England and women’s football to a new level and we have certainly done that over the last 12 months,” Ella Toone said. They’ve taken it all to the highest level for the very first time.

That is worth celebrating, as Sarina Wiegman and the players insisted they would be doing.

By Miguel Delaney in Sydney

England finally reach the world’s greatest stage — and that is worth celebrating

Will Lauren James play in the Women’s World Cup final?

07:14 , Jamie Braidwood

Lauren James could return to play in the World Cup final after her England teammates earned their spot in Sunday’s Sydney showpiece with a 3-1 win over hosts Australia.

James was handed a two-game ban by Fifa after being sent off during the last-16 win over Nigeria for a stamp on defender Michelle Alozie during the knockout game, which England won via a penalty shootout.

The Chelsea star sat out both England’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals and the semi-final victory over Australia, where Ella Toone’s first-half piledriver, Lauren Hemp’s second-half finish and Alessia Russo’s late strike knocked out the hosts to set up a final with Spain.

James was given an automatic one-match suspension and feared being ruled out of the tournament altogether, with Fifa typically increasing cases of “violent conduct” to a three-game ban. However, the governing body’s disciplinary committee showed some leniency and James could now return for the World Cup final.

Whether she starts the game depends on whether manager Sarina Wiegman wants to change a winning team. The same starting XI saw off Colombia and Australia to reach the final, and Toone – James’s replacement in the No 10 position in those two games – scored a brilliant goal in the semis.

Will Lauren James play in the Women’s World Cup final?

When do England play the Women’s World Cup final?

07:12 , Jamie Braidwood

England stormed into their first ever Women’s World Cup final after defeating Australia 3-1.

Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo were enough to put the Matildas away in Sydney.

Australia has been gripped by World Cup fever after the Matildas’ dramatic penalty shootout victory against France in the quarter-finals became the most-watched sporting event in the country since the 2000 Olympic Games, but Sarina Wiegman’s side had too much in the semi-finals.

But the European champions will now play Spain in Sunday’s showpiece in Sydney, after La Roja defeated Sweden 2-1 in the other semi-final.

Get all the latest football betting sites offers and get the latest odds on football matches here. Here’s everything you need to know about the Lionesses’ run down under:

Who and when do England play in Women’s World Cup final?

‘It’s the one thing I’ve always wanted’: Emotional Lucy Bronze tears up after World Cup semi-final win

07:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Lucy Bronze was visibly emotional after the Lionesses’ emphatic World Cup semi-final win over Australia. Interviewed by the BBC on the pitch and asked how she felt, Bronze was struggling for words.

She said: “I don’t know. This is the one thing I have always wanted, to make the final of the World Cup. After getting two times of such disappointment, I can’t believe it.”

Asked what coach Sarina Wiegman said in the huddle after the win, Bronze said: “Just that we played the game how we wanted to. We were resilient and we were determined.”

‘All I’ve wanted’: Emotional Lucy Bronze tears up after World Cup semi-final win

A robot? Inside the ‘genius’ mind of Sarina Wiegman

06:44 , Jamie Braidwood

English football has long found one specific hurdle to be insurmountable. Whether it’s the men’s or women’s game, reaching a final has been a step too far for even the most talented of teams; so-called ‘golden generations’ tried their luck yet no matter how hard England tried or how much they reinvented their game, it couldn’t be done.

That was the case until Sarina Wiegman came along, that is. A manager who is regarded as “phenomenal”, a “genius”, and undoubtedly one of the all-time greats.

Adam Millington from Sydney on the Lionesses’coach extraordinaire:

A robot? Inside the ‘genius’ mind of Sarina Wiegman

‘Massive congratulations‘: Harry Kane and the Prince of Wales laud Lionesses after win over Australia

06:22 , Jamie Braidwood

Harry Kane and the Prince of Wales led the congratulations after England swept aside co-hosts Australia 3-1 to reach their first World Cup final.

The Lionesses roared past the Matildas in front of a 75,784-strong crowd thanks to second-half strikes from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.

Ella Toone had fired England into the lead in the first half, but Sam Kerr produced a thunderous equaliser before Hemp and Russo helped Sarina Wiegman’s side end their run of World Cup last-four exits.

Kane, England’s men’s record goal-scorer, was able to provide instant reaction during an interview with Sky Sports, saying: “Massive congratulations to the Lionesses. It sounds like a heck of a game and massive congratulations. We’re all behind them and hopefully they can do it in the final.”

The prince tweeted his best wishes to the Lionesses for the final and offered his commiserations to Australia.

“What a phenomenal performance from the Lionesses – on to the final,” he said. “Commiserations to The Matildas, you’ve played brilliantly and been fantastic co-hosts of this World Cup.”

Women’s World Cup: How England deployed dark arts and cool heads to silence Australian noise

06:22 , Jamie Braidwood

England walked out and for a moment it might have felt like they had been there before. A crowd of over 75,000, millions elsewhere turning in. An expectant nation inspired by the power and momentum of a team who represent something greater than themselves.

But this wasn’t the Euros final. This wasn’t Wembley. This time England were the enemy, deep in the land of Matildas fever. This time they faced the crowd, the noise, the jeers and boos, the helicopters hovering over their training session and splashing photos of their plans across the morning newspapers. They faced Australia’s biggest night in a generation. They faced the spirit of Cathy Freeman, and a moment that would unify the country. They faced Sam Kerr, and they heard the eruption that greeted the star of the World Cup finally having her moment.

Full story by Jamie Braidwood in Sydney.

How England deployed dark arts and cool heads to silence Australian noise

Women’s World Cup: Sensational England capitalise on Sam Kerr’s missed moment to make World Cup history

06:22 , Jamie Braidwood

England reach the game’s grandest stage, having fittingly reached their greatest level so far.

Such was the professionally commanding nature of this 3-1 semi-final win over hosts Australia that they somehow made this moment of glorious football history feel like it was always coming. They have just got better and better as this World Cup has gone on, as symbolised by all of Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo coming to form with goals, and as crowned now with a place in the final itself.

It was celebrated, of course, with a delirious rendition of Sweet Caroline in the centre circle.

The full report by Miguel Delaney in Sydney:

Sensational England capitalise on Sam Kerr’s missed moment to make World Cup history