The Lionesses of England have left their hotel as the final countdown before their historic World Cup final begins.
The players stepped out of the Intercontinental in Sydney this morning in their light blue tracksuits for the meeting with Spain, England’s first World Cup final since 1966.
Sarina Wiegman’s team was previously spotted out for a walk in the Sydney sunshine just hours before the match at Stadium Australia.
Stars like Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Lauren James – back in the squad following her red card suspension against Nigeria – looked relaxed as they strolled around town.
The players were depicted carrying bottles of water and pumpkin to stay hydrated in hot weather.
Meanwhile, England fans are already flocking to the UK and Australia this morning to cheer on the team as they bid for victory.
Lauren James – who was sent off in the final match – is set to return for today’s final
Ella Toone, who was instrumental in England’s semi-final triumph, will look to repeat this performance against Spain later today
Alessia Russo (centre), who scored in the semi-final, will try to do it again today against Spain
England take their last walk in Sydney – before the World Cup final
Sarina Wiegman has urged England to play the game of their lives today – to take their team to a historic first World Cup and sporting immortality
Lauren Hemp (right) leads the Lionesses on a walk in Sydney ahead of the World Cup final
Expectations are high for the England team as they prepare to face Spain later this morning
Ella Toone and Alessia Russo look focused as they stroll through Sydney ahead of today’s final
The Lionesses held a training session yesterday ahead of what could be the biggest match of their lives against Spain.
Yesterday, Sarina Wiegman put the side to the test as the players had a chance to impress the manager and find their place among the 11 to leave today.
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.
Lioness Alessia Russo has said she can’t wait to kick off England’s World Cup final after years of practicing the winning stroke in the garden of her childhood.
Maidstone-born Russo grew up watching her brothers play for the local boys’ team in East Farleigh, where she was too young to join but kicked a ball around the side of the field.
But soon the now 24-year-old was playing for both the girls’ and boys’ teams at Bearsted FC, meaning both weekend days were often filled with football, while Russo’s favorite school night activity continued to be playing on a strip of football. grass at the end of her street.
It would also not be entirely inaccurate to say that Russo has already won a World Cup.
In primary school, Arsenal’s signing played in a ‘Mini World Cup’ between schools over the summer and walked away with a shock win – while representing her assigned country of South Korea.
Then there were the garden tournaments where, Russo said, “we had to score to stay in.”
She added: “Growing up as a child thinking that we will be playing at a World Cup in a few days is a special feeling. A real ‘pinch me’ moment.’
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.
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.
Ella Toone played a big part in the semi-final victory over Australia and is likely to play a starring role again today
Lauren James is back in the squad today after being suspended for her red card against Nigeria
England’s Katie Zelem looks relaxed as she strolls around on Sunday ahead of this morning’s final
Striker Alessia Russo was seen with a drink enjoying the Sydney sunshine ahead of the final
Bethany England and Jess Carter look relaxed on the Lionesses’ walkabout in Sydney
Rachel Daly and captain Millie Bright look focused ahead of this morning’s historic game against Spain
Alessia Russo (right) checks her phone as she walks around Sydney ahead of the World Cup final
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.
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.