England beat co-hosts Australia to reach first-ever World Cup final

Sarina Wiegman speaks to the BBC about leading England to the World Cup final.

“We really want to win and we stick together and stick to the plan. And it worked again,” Wiegman said.

On Australia: “They’ve done an incredible job. Sam Kerr came back and as a team they are really tough to play against. What a performance.”

On making two-straight World Cup finals with two different teams, here is what Wiegman said: “I never take anything for granted but am I in a little fairytale or something?”

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo has been talking to the BBC about England reaching the World Cup final.

Can they win it? “Why not?” was her response...

England have done it! They are in the World Cup final for the first time in their history.

The Lionesses will take on Spain in Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday at 6am ET as a new world champion will be crowned with neither England or Spain ever reaching the final before.

Sam Kerr scored a stunner to cancel out a beauty from Ella Toone but then Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo scored to make it 3-1 after Kerr missed a few big chances late on.

England have got better as the tournament went on and this was probably their best overall performance. They also have Lauren James to come back from suspension for the final and they will be the favorites over Spain.

Game. Set. Match.

Just went it looked like Australia would equalize, England score a third.

Lauren Hemp did superbly to keep the ball and play in Alessia Russo who then finishes across goal.

Some of the home fans in Sydney are in tears. Ruthless from England, who are surely heading to their first-ever World Cup final.

That looked certain to be an equalizer for the Matildas.

A cross is clipped into the box and Kerr is in six yards out but gets too much on her header and it flies over.

Moments later Mary Earps denies Vine and England clear the rebound. Just.

Then a corner is only half cleared and drops straight to Kerr six yards out, but she hammers the volley wide.

England do retake the lead!

A long ball over the top from Millie Bright caused the Australian defense problems and Carpenter couldn’t clear with Lauren Hemp lurking.

Hemp somehow squeezed it home to stun the fans in Sydney. 2-1 England!

Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo both go close for England as the latter flashes a header just wide.

The Lionesses are pushing hard to go back in front...

What a goal from Sam Kerr! She is back from her injury for her first start of the tournament and my word she’s made it count.

That is an absolutely incredible run and strike (which took a slight deflection) from distance after Australia won the ball back in midfield and broke quickly. That was the gameplan from the Matildas and Kerr delivered a moment of magic.

Australia’s fans go wild in Sydney. 65th minute. Game on!

Much of the same from the first half so far as England are keeping the ball really well and Australia are trying to win it back and launch counter attacks.

The home crowd are getting right behind their team and with over 35 minutes to go there is still plenty of time for the co-hosts to get back in this. The Matildas need to get the ball to Sam Kerr as much as possible.

What a goal from Ella Toone!

Brilliant strike from the Manchester United forward.

Excellent play from Hemp and Russo down the left to set up Toone.

Sam Kerr was played in over the top but Mary Earps saved well. The offside flag went up and Kerr was a yard or two offside.

England have dominated possession and both Stanway and Russo have had chances.

As expected, England are unchanged from the team which beat Colombia in the quarterfinals.

Lauren James is still suspended after her red card against Nigeria in the last 16.

England XI: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Carter, Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Toone, Russo, Hemp.

The Matildas start main striker Sam Kerr as she has fully recovered from a calf injury.

That is a massive boost for Australia as Kerr is a hugely influential figure and one of the best finishers in the game.

Alana Kennedy is missing due to illness which is a blow.

Australia starting XI: Arnold, Polkinghorne, Catley, Foord, Fowler, Hunt, Raso, Gorry, Kerr, Carpenter, Cooney-Cross.

The pressure is either on or off Australia, depending on your point of view.

The Matildas have beaten third-ranked France and sixth-ranked Canada en route to the semifinal, and that’s a completely respectable run for the 12th-ranked nation by FIFA.

So beating No. 8 England, the EURO champions, would come while playing with house money, right?

Or... Australia is likely hosting a World Cup for the only time in these players’ lifetimes and the Matildas cannot possibly function with the weight of a nation on its backs, right?

Anyway, Australia has only allowed a goal once in five matches this tournament, the 3-2 loss to Nigeria, and Sam Kerr looks ready to meet several Chelsea teammates on the pitch in Sydney.

England’s third-straight World Cup semifinal could end with the Lionesses making their final debut or playing in the third-place game again.

Sarina Wiegman’s powerhouse won EURO 2022 and has enjoyed an easier path in this tournament despite a number of key injuries before the tournament.

Haiti, Denmark, China, Nigeria, and Colombia all sit 15th or lower on the FIFA Rankings, while Australia is 12th. The other side sees Spain (7th) and Sweden (2nd).

England star Lauren James will serve the second game of her suspension for a stamp in the Round of 16. Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo have both scored in multiple games and will again be in focus on Wednesday.