England will meet Spain in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup Final after the Lionesses overcame hosts Australia 3-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final in Sydney.
Alessia Russo started upfront for England with Lotte Wubben-Moy on the bench, while Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley lined up for the Matildas. England took a first half lead when Russo teed up Ella Toone. But a Sam Kerr strike from range restored parity in the 69th minute.
A few minutes later Lauren Hemp restored England’s lead before Gunners striker Alessia Russo scored the clinching goal in the 88th minute. It means Russo and Wubben-Moy will line up against Spain- and likely summer signing Laia Codina in Sunday’s final.
"RUSSSSSOOOOOOOOO." 🔊
The goal that cemented England's place in a #FIFAWWC final 🤩 pic.twitter.com/YXFmVLyKC0
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 16, 2023
Meanwhile, Saturday’s third place playoff in Brisbane with have plenty of Arsenal action too, with Stina Blackstenius, Amanda Ilestedt and Lina Hurtig of Sweden taking on Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord of Australia. That match kicks off at 9am UK time and Sunday’s final also kicks off at 11am UK time.
Well done England, looking forward to seeing Russo at Arsenal, should fit in really well
Took her goal well.
She is top class. Still makes me chuckle that utd had to let her go for free. Imagine being so incompetent. If they spent half of their time and money in a cohesive transfer strategy (women and men) they wouldn’t have to line the pockets of Howard Webb to get results.
Good player, not a great player. Eidevall overrates her, as he did Stina before her, IMO.
And just think, we had a £500k bid rejected to then sign her for free 6 months later. Cheers United 😉🤣
A true heroine! Looking forward to seeing Russo in the red and white in the new season.
The third-place match kicks off at 9am UK time.
Ah yeah, so it does, corrected, cheers!
Really good performance from England. Excellent game from Russo.
Lessi did well, as did the whole team but I still don’t get why Stanway is so highly rated!
Lauren Hemp has to be a future best player in the world if she continues with this rate of progression. Will the WSL, never mind City, be able to hold on to her with the lure of offers from the likes of Lyon, Barcelona or several German teams that will no doubt come her way?
She was excellent, must have covered the pitch many times over,didn’t let the aussies relax,Ellie Carpenter will have nightmares about her
You’re right there. She’d fit in at PSG, as well. I wonder if, from the player’s point of view, Man City is the best club for her? She used to be one of the players I was scared of, then she seemed to stall but she has grown in this WC. And now I’m scared of her again!
You have to believe England will never have a better chance of winning the World Cup even if it was at Wembley!
Spain should not be underestimated but they are not the greatest team ever either and are very very beatable!
16 years or so ago a group of parents from my daughter’s school hosted several young English soccer coaches who participated in local youth soccer camps. at the end of the two weeks the young man staying with us said, he was amazed at how many girls of all ages participated and that he could not believe what he learned about the girls leagues, the club set up and the coaching they had already received. he said there was nothing like this for girls in England and there should be. Then he said I am going to only coach girls… Read more »
What a lovely anecdote.