England’s Lionesses held a training session ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain today.
Sarina Wiegman put the side to the test as the players had a chance to impress the manager and find a place among the 11 to leave on Sunday.
England enter the competition as favorites to win a first Fifa World Cup since Alf Ramsey’s men defeated West Germany at Wembley Stadium in 1966.
This is the first time the England senior women’s team has reached a World Cup final, although many of the squad were part of the UEFA European Women’s Championship winning side at Wembley Stadium in July 2022.
Although preparations on the pitch went well, there was controversy in England because Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, will not be traveling to Sydney this weekend.
England national coach Sarina Wiegman, top left, gives tactical advice to a group of players during a training session at the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, Australia ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain
England goalkeepers Mary Earps and Ellie Roebuck clash their fists during training
The Lionesses knocked out co-hosts Australia 3-1 in the last four, while Spain booked their spot in the showpiece by beating Sweden 2-1.
Both teams are playing in their first finals, with England losing back-to-back semi-finals in 2015 and 2019 and Spain winning just one World Cup match this year.
The Lionesses are undefeated in the tournament and top Group D, while Spain finished second in Group C after a 4-0 loss to Japan.
Spain are only the second team in World Cup history to reach the final after losing a game by four or more goals, after Norway recovered from a 4–0 opening defeat to China to finish second in 1991.
Laura Coombs takes on Lauren James as the Lionesses prepare for the biggest game of their careers. James was sent off in England’s final group game against Nigeria, but was able to return to the field on Sunday, having already hit the back of the net three times and made three assists.
Hannah Hampton, practicing her ball skills during today’s training session in Gosford
Regardless of the outcome, Europe is guaranteed to end its 16-year World Cup drought, with Germany last winning in 2007, while marking the 20th anniversary of the last two European countries final (Germany v Sweden in 2003).
As reigning continental champions, England are looking to emulate the aforementioned German side by completing a historic double, having already matched Sarina Wiegman’s 2019 Dutch team by reaching the final as Euros winners.
The Netherlands’ defeat to the United States in the 2019 final remains Wiegman’s only defeat in 25 matches at major international tournaments.
That remarkable record was built on consistency in selection.
England started with the same 11 in every match of Euro 2022 and have so far used just 17 players in the World Cup, the joint fewest of any team to reach the knockout stages.
Spain, on the other hand, have called up all but one player from their 23-man squad, with only third-choice goalkeeper Enith Salon yet to play.
Wiegman has also barely used her bench compared to Jorge Vilda – her Spanish counterpart – and England has made 17 substitutions to Spain’s 29.
Statistically, Spain outperformed England in most divisions at this year’s World Cup.
They have scored 17 goals to the Lionesses’ 13, having attempted significantly more shots (143 to 81), passes (4,137 to 3,605), crosses (214 to 129) and ball progressions (181 to 99) than their last opponents.
Wiegman’s side have only occasionally found the form that took them to the Euro 2022 title – when they scored 22 goals in six games – relying instead on their defensive resilience to progress.
Manchester City midfielder Esme Morgan has five senior caps and was called up to join the England squad during a training camp in September 2020
Chelsea’s Niamh Charles passes the ball during today’s practice.
England conceded just three times from 64 attempts on Mary Earps’ goal, while Spain proved more sensitive, conceding seven goals from just 36 shots.
Both teams will be bracing themselves for a thrilling battle following their most recent encounter in the quarter-finals of Euro 2022.
The Lionesses emerged 2-1 victors on that occasion, but only after a late fight back.
Esther Gonzalez fired Spain into a deserved lead before Ella Toone equalized in the 84th minute and Georgia Stanway scored an extra-time winner.
Spain dominated for long spells, finishing with 56 percent possession and firing 17 shots at the Lionesses’ nine.
It remains the only tournament match under Wiegman in which England saw their opponents enjoy the ball for the most part.