‘Fairytale’ for Wiegman as Lionesses roar into first Women’s World Cup final

England’s Lionesses, the reigning European champions, will play in their first ever Fifa Women’s World Cup final against Spain on Sunday after defeating co-hosts Australia 3-1 in today’s semi-final clash at Stadium Australia.

It was a “historic evening” in Sydney, said Emma Sanders on BBC Sport, as goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo “spoiled” the Australian “party”. Sarina Wiegman’s side will now be aiming to become the first senior England football team since 1966 to lift a World Cup.

Chelsea star Sam Kerr sent the vast majority of the 75,784 spectators into “raptures” and “sparked wild scenes of celebration” in the 63rd minute, said Tom Garry in The Telegraph. The Australia captain levelled the scores with a “rocket from range” that “flew past” England keeper Mary Earps. But despite Kerr’s “stunning” strike “the ride ends here” for the Matildas, said Vince Rugari in the Sydney Morning Herald, as their “history-making, record-breaking, nation-changing” World Cup run was “stopped in its tracks by the old enemy”.

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Will James come straight back in?

Spain, who beat Sweden 2-1 in a dramatic semi-final yesterday, will provide an “even tougher” test, said Lionesses striker Russo, who has now scored seven goals in 12 appearances at major tournaments for her country. Every single game at this World Cup “has been of the highest level”, so “we have to be ready”, she added, “but we’ve been dreaming since we were little girls, so we’re excited”.

One “headache” – a good one – is that England will have Lauren James available for Sunday’s final after her suspension. Will she come straight back into the starting XI, asked former England and Arsenal defender Alex Scott on BBC One. Ella Toone is “right there” and it’s a “great headache” for Wiegman to have, she added. “I would start with the same 11” against Spain and “have someone like Lauren James come on”.

Wiegman has ‘a golden touch’

The semi-final victory means that Wiegman has now become the “first coach to guide two different countries to a Women’s World Cup final”, said AFP. She took her native Netherlands to the 2019 “showpiece match”, where they were defeated 2-0 by the United States. Having the chance as a coach or a player to make it to two finals is “really special”, Wiegman said. “I never take anything for granted, but it’s like I’m living in a fairytale or something.”

In “trying to capture” just “how good a manager” Wiegman is, said Luke Edwards in The Telegraph, it’s hard not to make comparisons between men’s and women’s football. But make no mistake, after guiding England to their first Women’s World Cup final, just a year after leading them to glory at the Euros, Wiegman’s “genius” is “not up for debate”. She has shown that she has “a golden touch”, first with her native Netherlands and now with England. Pep Guardiola is the “outstanding manager of his generation” in men’s football, but Wiegman is “probably the best of hers, too”.

The win over Australia caps a “sensational” two years under Wiegman, said Sanders on BBC Sport. Her Lionesses have “created history”, but this is “a team of winners” and “they have not finished yet”.

Sunday’s final between Spain and England, which is also at Stadium Australia in Sydney, will kick-off at 11am (BST) and is live on BBC One and ITV. Australia will play Sweden in Saturday’s third-placed play-off in Brisbane (9am BST).