Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman says her team are living “a fairytale” after they beat Australia to reach the Women’s World Cup final for the first time.
England conquered hosts Australia 3-1 in Sydney thanks to goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
The win means the Lionesses will face Spain on Sunday, with kick-off at 11am.
Image: England’s Ella Toone celebrates her goal
An emotional and almost speechless Wiegman said: “We achieved the final! It’s unbelievable, it feels like we won [the tournament] which we didn’t, we just won this game – in an incredible stadium, an away game, the way we played – it was a hard game, but we found a way to win again.
“People have been talking about ruthlessness all the time, in this team there is ruthlessness, up front or in defence. We really want to keep the ball out of the net and we want to win.
“We stick together, we stick to the plan, and it worked again.”
She added: “I just said to [assistant manager] Arjan, having the chance as a coach or a player to make it to two finals is really special. I never take anything for granted, but it’s like I’m living in a fairy tale or something.”
The tense semi-final showdown brought early chances at both ends, but England struck the first blow with a magnificent strike from Toone silencing the crowd and giving the Lionesses a 1-0 lead at half-time.
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Thousands of fans across England took time off work to watch the game. There were jubilant scenes at fan parks – which erupted as Toone’s strike hit the back of the net.
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‘Come on England’: Fans react outside stadium
Toone’s goal was the first Australia had conceded in five hours and 54 minutes – after losing 3-2 to Nigeria in the group stages, the Matildas went on to keep three clean sheets.
Australia needed some magic to keep their World Cup hopes alive – and found it in their captain Sam Kerr, who picked up the ball on the half-way line and hit home from 25 yards out to level the match.
Image: Chelsea forward Sam Kerr scored Australia’s equaliser
But England weren’t fazed and did what they had to do to book themselves a place in the global showpiece with a second goal – this time from Hemp, who fired the ball past Australia’s keeper Mackenzie Arnold, around 20 minutes from time.
Russo wrapped up proceedings with a goal in the 86th minute.
“(I’m) over the moon, incredible. I think a World Cup final – we’ve been saying we’ve been dreaming of the semis but now this is what it’s all about, a World Cup final with this group, I’m buzzing,” she told BBC One.
Image: Alessia Russo celebrates the Lionesses’ third goal which sealed the win
Wiegman also paid tribute to the Matildas after the game, saying: “Australia have had an incredible tournament, they grew into the tournament. They had some setbacks, they had to win their last group-stage game and then they got better and better.
“Sam Kerr came back, we saw today why she is the star of the team, but they are really tough to play against as a team too.”
Image: Australia’s players looked close to tears after the match
“We all dreamed of being in the final,” said England’s Lucy Bronze, after the final whistle.
“It is the one thing I have ever wanted – to reach the final of the World Cup… I can’t believe it.”
England men’s captain Harry Kane told Sky Sports News: “Massive congratulations to the Lionesses. They deserve it. We are all behind them and hopefully they can do it in the final.
“We saw what happened when the Lionesses won the Euros and how much it brought the country together. I’ll be watching the final out here in Germany.”
Image: The Lionesses including England’s second goalscorer Lauren Hemp (centre) celebrate after the final whistle
King Charles said in a statement: “My wife and I join all our family in sending the mighty Lionesses our warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the World Cup, and in sharing our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
“While your victory may have cost the magnificent Matildas their chance for the greatest prize in the game, both teams have been an inspiration on and off the pitch – and, for that, both nations are united in pride, admiration and respect.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker added his congratulations, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Well played Lionesses. Absolutely superb performance. A World Cup final. A World Cup final at football. It’s been a while. What a wonderful achievement.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added his thoughts on the game, posting: “What a performance Lionesses. Just one more game to go… Bring on Sunday.”
The Welsh Guards Band performed one of England’s footballing anthems Sweet Caroline during Wednesday’s Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace after the victory.
Australia will face Sweden in the third-place play-off in Brisbane on Saturday, with kick-off at 9am.
Prince Harry has denied having a fight with Prince Andrew after it was claimed “punches were thrown” between the pair in 2013.
The allegations appeared in excerpts from a new book on the Duke of York being serialised in the Daily Mail.
It claims a row started after Prince Andrew said something behind Harry’s back, with Andrew “left with a bloody nose” and the pair needing to be broken up.
It also claimed the Duke of York once warned his nephew about marrying Meghan and suggested it wouldn’t last long.
However, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex strongly denied the claims.
“I can confirm Prince Harryand Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry,” a statement said.
They said a legal letter had been sent to the Daily Mail due to “gross inaccuracies, damaging and defamatory remarks” in its reporting.
The book – Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York – is billed as the first joint biography of Prince Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
It’s said to be based on interviews with “over a hundred people who have never spoken before”.
He said his brother once knocked him to the floor amid a confrontation over Meghan’s “rude” and “abrasive” behaviour.
“It all happened so fast. So very fast,” Harry wrote in the book.
“He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me.”
“I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out,” the prince added.
Harry claimed his brother wanted him to hit him back “but I chose not to”, and that William later returned and apologised.
The Duke Of Sussex has described his relationship with his family as extremely strained after he quit as a working royal and took legal action against the media, and over the removal of his UK police protection.
He claimed earlier this year the King wouldn’t speak to him and there had “been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family”.
Martin Lewis says motorists who were mis-sold car finance are likely to receive “hundreds, not thousands of pounds” – with regulators launching a consultation on a new compensation scheme.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com believes it is “very likely” that about 40% of Britons who entered personal contact purchase or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for payouts.
“Discretionary commission arrangements” saw brokers and dealers charge higher levels of interest so they could receive more commission, without telling consumers.
Image: Pics: PA
Speaking to Sky News Radio’s Faye Rowlands, Lewis said: “Very rarely will it be thousands of pounds unless you have more than one car finance deal.
“So up to about a maximum of £950 per car finance deal where you are due compensation.”
Lewis explained that consumers who believe they may have been affected should check whether they had a discretionary commission arrangement by writing to their car finance company.
However, the personal finance guru warned against using a claims firm.
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“They’re hardly going to do anything for you and you might get the money paid to you automatically anyway, in which case you’re giving them 30% for nothing,” he added.
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Who’s eligible for payout after car finance scandal?
Yesterday, the Financial Conduct Authority said its review of the past use of motor finance “has shown that many firms were not complying with the law or our disclosure rules that were in force when they sold loans to consumers”.
The FCA’s statement added that those affected “should be appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way”.
Lewis told Sky News that the consultation will launch in October – and will take six weeks.
“We expect payouts to come in 2026, assuming this will happen and it’s very likely to happen,” he said.
“As for exactly how will work, it hasn’t decided yet. Firms will have to contact people, although there is an issue about them having destroyed some of the data for older claims.”
He believes claims will either be paid automatically – or affected consumers will need to opt in and apply to get compensation back.
The FCA says you may be affected if you bought a car under a finance scheme, including hire purchase agreements, before 28 January 2021.
Anyone who has already complained does not need to do anything.
The authority added: “Consumers concerned that they were not told about commission, and who think they may have paid too much for the finance, should complain now”.
Its website advises drivers to complain to their finance provider first.
If you’re unhappy with the response, you can then contact the Financial Ombudsman.
Any compensation scheme will be easy to participate in, without drivers needing to use a claims management company or law firm.
The FCA has warned motorists that doing so could end up costing you 30% of any compensation in fees.
The FCA estimates the cost of any scheme – including compensation and administrative costs – to be no lower than £9bn.
But in a video on X, Lewis said that millions of people are likely to be due a share of up to £18bn.
The regulator’s announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled on a separate, but similar, case on Friday.