England striker Alicia Russo calls tomorrow’s Women’s World Cup final “the most important” as the Lionesses aim to make sporting history against Spain in Sydney.
Rousseau goals in both the quarter-finals and the semi-finals wins over Colombia and Australia In a row, she helped push Sarina Wiegman’s team to the brink of soccer immortality as they try to win back-to-back major championships in back-to-back summers.
Speaking from England’s base camp in the seaside town of Terrigal, the 24-year-old said: “This is the biggest game, the dream game, the most important game. It’s a fantastic occasion, it was an incredible tournament and that’s it. That’s exactly it.” The place we want to be in. We can’t wait.
“I feel like (the momentum of the game) will happen when we’re in the tunnel and ready to go out. Now all I want to do is go out and put on a show to be proud of and obviously win.
“We started this tournament wanting to win seven games and that’s still the message. This is the last one we’re going to and we’re really locked in. I’m sure I’ll come back when I’m old and grey, but for now it’s about what happens and what needs to be done.” achieve it.”
For more on what Rousseau and England have to say, visit Go here.
What and when?
The World Cup Final is the largest single match in international women’s football. The tournament is sure to produce a new winner this year as either Spain or England aim to lift the trophy for the first time.
The final starts tomorrow at 11am UK time (8pm Sydney local time).
Where is the match being played?
The final will be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
How do you watch
The final will be shown on both BBC One and ITV1.
Broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup are shared between the BBC and ITV. It was ITV that broadcast England’s quarter-final victory but the BBC had the rights to broadcast both semi-finals.
How did the teams reach the final?
Lauren Hemp’s second-half strike helped propel England to their first World Cup final as the Lionesses cruised to a 3-1 victory over hosts Australia.
Ella Ton, who replaced the suspended Lauren James in England’s quarter-final victory over Colombia, scored 36 minutes into her second start of the tournament in front of a crowd of 75,784.
Sam Kerr, making her first start in the competition, equalized for the first time in the semi-final with a stunning solo goal after the break before Hemp put England ahead again.
Alicia Russo added again late in the second half to cap off the historic encounter and set up an all-European final against Spain.
England are now one win away from claiming two major titles in less than 13 months after winning the European Championships last summer.
Earlier in the week, Olga Carmona hit late on to lift Spain to Exciting 2-1 win over Sweden in the other semi-final.
Carmona’s 90th-minute shot hit the bar off the bar and into the net two minutes after Rebecca Blomqvist equalized for Sweden.
Quarter-finalist Selma Baralelo, the heroine against the Netherlands, put Spain ahead with the opening goal in the 81st minute, breathing life into an affair that was slowly flaring up.
Who is in the England squad?
Goalkeepers: Marie Erbes (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Eli Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defenders: Miley Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lute Woopen Mooy (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Laura Combs (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Ton (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelm (Manchester United).
Attackers: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Bethany England (Tottenham Hotspur), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alicia Russo (Manchester United)
What does England say?
Rousseau, who He signed for Arsenal from Manchester United in JulyHe said: “Obviously we all know it’s a World Cup final, but once you cross the white line and the whistle blows, it’s just a normal game. That’s what we like to do. It’s 11v11 and it’s a game we have to win. We know our jobs, And we know what we have to do. We’ll just play our game.
“Everyone is excited but we’re very relaxed and cool. It feels like a normal game for us. The team shows the composure. The camp has been great from the first game so far and it feels very similar, it’s another game we have to win.”
However, she remembers when she was playing soccer at her local park with her siblings and friends As a young boy he was brought up in MaidstoneRousseau added, “I think (now) we’re playing the World Cup in two days is a real pinch moment.”
Speaking after their historic 3-1 win over hosts Australia on Wednesday to end English football’s 57-year wait to appear in a World Cup final, Sarina Wegman said she felt like she was “living a fairy tale”.
In the process, Dutch Wegman arrived Her fourth consecutive final as a coachHaving won the 2017 European Championship with the Netherlands, he led the Dutch national team to the 2019 World Cup Final and lifted Euro 2022 with the Lionesses. She also became the first coach to reach the Women’s World Cup finals twice with two different countries.
The 53-year-old said: “I can’t describe how proud I am of the team, how this team has adapted all along, before the tournament, during the tournament and this match, how we come and find the way to win is incredible.”
Wegman, who had yet to lose a competitive match in England’s coaching for two years in her role, said immediately after the match that it felt “unbelievable”, adding: “It looks like we’ve won the whole trophy but we haven’t”. R. An away game at this great stadium, it was a tough game but again, we found a way to win.”
When asked how it feels to be the first coach to lead two different nations into the final that awaits England on Sunday, she replied: “I don’t know! The chance that you as a coach get to two finals is really special, we’ve been to four already – it’s like I’m living A fairy tale or something?!”
What are the odds for the World Cup final?
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Spain 13/8
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England 9/5
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He paints 15/8
How is the Spanish team like?
They are sixth in the world as La Roja’s side beat Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Zambia and Costa Rica to reach the final, although they suffered a modest 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage.
They control possession
They had more possession than any other team in this tournament and enjoyed 75 percent or more possession in all three of their group stage matches, even in a 4-0 loss against Japan. They try to keep the ball in a style not unlike the approach taken by the Spanish men’s team in 2010 that won the World Cup, between two European Championship victories. Despite this, Spain’s women have never won a major tournament.
The young Barcelona star is making headlines
19-year-old Spaniard Selma Baralelo showed what she is capable of, coming off the bench and scoring decisive goals in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Spain also faces wide threats with two in-form full-backs, Real Madrid left-back Olga Carmona – who scored the winning goal against Sweden – and former Manchester United full-back Una Patel.
Unsung hero in midfield
Real Madrid midfielder Teresa Apelera has quietly been one of Spain’s most important players, and her passing stats show that she is among the best performers. She has played the most assists in the final third of any player in this competition so far (65), ahead of England’s Alex Greenwood for second, and also leads her way with a career-high 23 assists.
A star facing fitness concerns
Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Potellas almost missed last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury to her knee and hasn’t been looking her best, seemingly lacking match sharpness. However, Potellas is still very dangerous on the ball and plays with the aura of a world star.
Losing some of the best players
Off-field problems between coach Jorge Vilda and several of Spain’s top players had threatened to derail the World Cup, especially last fall when, according to the Spanish board, 15 of the squad threatened to quit if Vilda was not eliminated. The players denied making such a threat, but multiple reports emerged of their concern about Vilda’s alleged methods on and off the field.
Filda stayed at his job and called up some silently protesting players, but others notable remained absent, including Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Banos, midfielder Maby Lyon and midfielder Patry Guijaro, who scored twice in the Champions League final in June.
Without players of this caliber, any squad in the world would look weak.
Where will the game win and lose?
By Luke Edwards in Sydney
Alicia Russo vs. Irene Paredes
Just a few weeks ago there was a real debate about whether Rousseau was worthy of keeping her place in the side but she has scored three goals at this World Cup and formed a dangerous pairing with pace-maker Lauren Hemp.
Rousseau’s strength and delaying ability will be key to England’s game plan, but it will be against the vastly experienced Paredes, who has been the glue in Spain’s defense for more than a decade. She assisted the most fallible defender Laya Codina during this tournament.
Keira Walsh vs. Aitana Bonmati
The Barcelona duo play exceptionally well together at club level, winning the Spanish title and the Champions League together last season. The prospect of facing each other in a World Cup final is mouth watering.
Bonmati had the best championship up to this point, but Walsh was still the player who could make England tick in the middle of the field. She’s been a bit out of color, but it’s the perfect time to prove why she’s the most expensive player in the world.
Millie Bright vs. Jennifer Hermoso
Bright had to ease her way back into things after a lengthy injury layoff in the build-up to the tournament, but she’s now back to her best and was phenomenal in narrow wins over Nigeria and Colombia in the knockout rounds.
The England captain is a magnet for the ball whenever it is flicked through the air, but she will need to keep the versatile and dangerous Hermoso calm. The 33-year-old is Spain’s record goalscorer, can play as either a number nine or number 10 and has the ability to dribble in front of you in the blink of an eye with her quick feet.
What is third placement?
The two semi-final losers, Sweden and Australia, will play each other for the honor of winning the bronze medal at the World Cup.
Sweden had finished third in the previous two editions of the tournament, but it was Australia’s first time in the semi-finals. The play-off takes place at Lang Park in Brisbane today at 9am BST.
It will be available to watch on the ITV website as well as BBC iPlayer.
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