Women’s World Cup: Now Lionesses have got this far they don’t want to leave Australia without biggest prize
Just what it all means to Sarina Wiegman comes to life in the moments of victory.
Emotion replaces the necessary pre-match caution from the England manager.
And, despite winning the Euros last year, she perfectly encapsulated the sense of disbelief that the Lionesses had reached a World Cup final.
King sends message to Lionesses – reaction to England’s semi-final triumph
After the 3-1 victory over Australia, she asked: “Am I in a fairytale or something?”
The Lionesses have become the Wizards of Oz.
Six successive wins in Australia have taken them into Sunday’s final against Spain – back at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Player of the match, Lauren Hemp, said: “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.”
They solved Sam Kerr being fit to start for Australia for the first time at the World Cup – initially with a spot of physicality.
They solved conceding a stunning long-range strike from the Matildas’ star turn in the second half, which cancelled out Ella Toone’s rocket of an opener.
They solved the need to suppress late Australian resolve with Alessia Russo popping up with the third to ease any late anxiety.
And above all they solved losing top-scorer Lauren James for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Hemp and Russo have stepped up – now matching the three goals from James before her suspension for a stamp against Nigeria.
The Chelsea forward will be available again for the final – a welcome selection quandary presented to Wiegman.
“I feel like this team is so special,” Hemp said. “You saw last year how successful we were. We want to do the same again and we want to go one step further.”
A step England’s footballers have only taken once before – winning the World Cup in 1966.
That came on home soil at Wembley – as did the Lionesses’ European Championship success last year.
Now they’ve got this far they do not want to leave without the biggest prize in world football.
“We have all got a dream,” Hemp said.
“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.”