England secured their maiden Women’s World Cup final berth with a commanding 3-1 victory over Australia, who co-hosted the tournament. Despite a remarkable goal from striker Sam Kerr, Australia’s fairytale journey came to a close.
Having stumbled at the semi-final hurdle in the past two World Cups, England now gears up to face Spain on Sunday, aiming to complement their Euros triumph from the previous year with a world championship title.
The lead was taken by England’s attacking midfielder, Ella Toone, in the first half, effectively silencing the crowd of 75,784. However, the Matildas responded after halftime with a stunning strike from Kerr, who was making her tournament debut. The eruption of euphoria at Stadium Australia was palpable.
Yet, Lauren Hemp swiftly restored England’s advantage, and shortly before the end, Alessia Russo solidified the victory.
Lucy Bronze, England’s fullback, expressed her elation: “This is the one thing I’ve always wanted, to make finals at a World Cup and after two times of getting huge disappointment, honestly I can’t believe it.”
Tactical Strategy
Sarina Wiegman’s tactical strategy was evident; England aimed to exert physical dominance on Australia, resulting in nine first-half fouls. This approach effectively nullified Australia’s attacking prowess. Notably, Wiegman became the first coach to lead two distinct teams to a World Cup final, following her runner-up achievement with the Netherlands in 2019.
Wiegman noted, “This team has ruthlessness, whether up front or in defence… we really want to win and we stick to the plan, and it worked again.”
England found the net in the 36th minute as Russo skillfully maneuvered to the byline before providing Toone with the opportunity to strike into the top right corner, marking her first tournament goal.
Australia displayed renewed vigor at the start of the second half, seeking to emulate Cathy Freeman’s historic 400m victory at the same venue during the 2000 Olympics. Their moment arrived in the 63rd minute as Kerr received the ball deep within her territory, surged towards the goal, and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner. However, England quickly regained their lead.
Barely ten minutes later, Hemp’s brilliant turn on the halfway line set up Russo, who calmly slotted a low shot into the far corner, effectively securing England’s slot in the final.
The Matildas, visibly disappointed, will now regroup for a third-place playoff against Sweden on Saturday. Kerr acknowledged their achievement despite falling short: “We can’t thank the fans enough, they’ve been amazing.”
Player of the Match, Hemp, assured that England would be ready for Sunday: “Oh my god, what a feeling. There’s no word 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.” The 23-year-old forward exuded excitement.