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England are into the Women’s World Cup final after beating Australia 3-1 in the semis, leaving the Lionesses squad dreaming of making it back-to-back major tournament successes. Having already won Euro 2022 last summer, Sarina Wiegman’s squad will now face Spain on Sunday for a shot a second straight triumph on the biggest stage of all. Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo were all on the scoresheet, with Sam Kerr briefly equalising for the Matilda’s with a stunning long-range effort in the second half. But the day belonged to England as the co-hosts were knocked out, with wing-back Lucy Bronze noting afterwards the atmosphere was a sensational throughout the encounter. “[Wiegman told us] just that we played how we wanted to: determined, resilient. I couldn’t hear much else! She talked about silencing the crowd, I feel like we did that tonight [especially] after the third goal. “We all dreamed of being in the final and to have family and friends staying here the whole way through because they believed in us is unbelievable. At the same time, against Australia, in Australia and what a fantastic tournament they had, I’m just amazed to get to the final.” Bronze, who plays in Spain with Barcelona, knows from the quality of her club teammates that England will be in for a hugely difficult encounter in the final, noting several of the squad as “unbelievable” talents. Goalscorer Russo, meanwhile, was impressed with her team’s capacity to turn the match after the equaliser, when Australia were at the time in the ascendency. “I’m over the moon! I’m laughing at the friends and family dancing in the crowd,” she said. “We’ve been dreaming of it but this is what it’s all about - we’re buzzing. “When they scored they had momentum but Hempo’s goal flipped it. [The third] helped us see the game out. “The fans are brilliant every single time - to celebrate with them is really special. Spain’s going to be even tougher, every game has been of the highest level but we’re excited. We’ll recover and go [there] to win.” For Wiegman, Sunday’s World Cup final will mean four straight appearances in the last game at major tournaments, having won the 2017 Euros with Netherlands, reached the 2019 World Cup final with the same team and most recently taking the Lionesses to the Euros triumph of last summer. The head coach praised her team’s ability to find different routes to victory, with a strong mentality on show at both ends of the pitch. “We achieved a final! It’s unbelievable. We won the game at this incredible stadium, it was a hard game of course but again we found a way to win,” she said. “You’ve been talking about ruthlessness all the time; this team have it whether it’s in offence or defence. We really want to win, we stick to the plan and it worked again. “Australia have done an incredible job, they grew into the tournament because they had setbacks too, then they started playing better and better and Sam Kerr came back - you saw today why she’s the star of the team. “The chance as a coach or a player to make two finals is really special. I never take anything for granted, it’s like being in a fairytale or something now.” Read More Alessia Russo says England can win ‘tough’ World Cup final against Spain England fans sing and dance to ‘Sweet Caroline’ as Lionesses reach World Cup final Lionesses sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ in pitch celebration as they reach World Cup final England fans celebrate three goals as Lionesses reach Women’s World Cup final Watch: England fans react as Lionesses reach World Cup final Brian Blessed’s powerful rendition of Three Lions in message of support to Lionesses

WASHINGTON U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday said he met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy a

Lauren James could return to play in the World Cup final after her England teammates earned their spot in Sunday’s Sydney showpiece with a 3-1 win over hosts Australia. James was handed a two-game ban by Fifa after being sent off during the last-16 win over Nigeria for a stamp on defender Michelle Alozie during the knockout game, which England won via a penalty shootout. The Chelsea star sat out both England’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals and the semi-final victory over Australia, where Ella Toone’s first-half piledriver, Lauren Hemp’s second-half finish and Alessia Russo’s late strike knocked out the hosts to set up a final with Spain. James was given an automatic one-match suspension and feared being ruled out of the tournament altogether, with Fifa typically increasing cases of “violent conduct” to a three-game ban. However, the governing body’s disciplinary committee showed some leniency and James could now return for the World Cup final. Whether she starts the game depends on whether manager Sarina Wiegman wants to change a winning team. The same starting XI saw off Colombia and Australia to reach the final, and Toone – James’s replacement in the No 10 position in those two games – scored a brilliant goal in the semis. But James was in fantastic form before her red card, scoring three goals and picking up three assists, and it will be a tough call for Wiegman to make. Follow LIVE: Reaction after England beat Australia in World Cup semi-final James had apologised for the red-card incident, posting in response to a tweet from Alozie: “All my love and respect to you. I am sorry for what happened. Also, for our England fans and my team-mates, playing with and for you is my greatest honour and I promise to learn from my experience.” James became the fourth England player to be sent off in a World Cup knockout match after David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and current Lionesses captain Millie Bright. Alozie had earlier tweeted in defence of James. “Abeg, rest,” she wrote. “We are playing on the world’s stage. This game is one of passion, insurmountable emotions, and moments. All respect for Lauren James.” Read More How to watch England vs Australia: TV channel and kick-off time for Women’s World Cup semi-final England and Australia’s old rivalry on a new stage for World Cup semi-final Australia is having a moment — will Sam Kerr finally get hers against England?

England reach the game’s grandest stage, having fittingly reached their greatest level so far. Such was the professionally commanding nature of this 3-1 semi-final win over hosts Australia that they somehow made this moment of glorious football history feel like it was always coming. They have just got better and better as this World Cup has gone on, as symbolised by all of Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo coming to form with goals, and as crowned now with a place in the final itself. It was celebrated, of course, with a delirious rendition of Sweet Caroline in the centre circle. They looked a level above a gutsy Australia who ran out of momentum and fortune. And yet it couldn’t quite be said it was a formality, not with Sam Kerr on the pitch. Even within that and the greater story of this England side, there was still drama and subplots. Kerr had finally arrived at this World Cup with a second-half goal of true brilliance, and the only time that England suffered any kind of doubt, only to fail to keep Australia in it with a jaw-dropping late miss at 2-1. That’s what it came down to, but only in terms of the details of the game rather than the pattern of the play. It still felt like England could go again, which is why they are ultimately going further and possibly all the way. A brilliant Spain await at this same Stadium Australia, but this is now an England with all of their players coming to form at the right. Sarina Wiegman, who has got virtually every call at this World Cup correct in hugely trying circumstances, now has her biggest decision to make. Does she bring back Lauren James after a two-match ban? That, in its own way, is an uplifting discussion to be able to have. This performance suggests she might have to keep the same team. It just worked, right from the start. England played their way through Australia in convincing fashion, right from the off. The opening goal was certainly coming, even if few would have said it was coming from Toone. The Manchester United attacker has not been at her best in this World Cup, which made the emphatic nature of the goal all the more impressive. That was not the strike of a player struggling for form or confidence. It is one of a player who excels in latter stages, as illustrated by the fact she has become the first England player in men’s or women’s football to score in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of a major tournament. This was the pick of them. After fine work from Alessia Russo on the byline, the ball was cut back only for Lauren Hemp to just miss it. So, Toone went through it. Perfectly set up for a first-time strike, the midfielder drove a swerving ball right into the top corner with a release that was as divine as it was devastating. Mackenzie Arnold could only stand there. Moving would have been pointless, in any case. Australia had not really got going. It didn’t help that Kerr couldn’t really get moving. This was partly down to a hugely cynical approach from England, as they rotated challenges and fouls. A stricter referee might have given Alex Greenwood more than a booking for one industrial early intervention that let everyone know what this was going to be about. She clearly kept that in mind. Kerr began to hurt England in very different ways, and in a manner that meant no one could get close enough to even try and foul her. It was like the playmaker was saving herself for when she was most needed. Australia had come out with more impetus in the second half but it still looked like they were going to need something different to open England. Kerr’s moment went beyond that. Surging through the half, and with Millie Bright backing off as she waited to try and challenge, the forward just let fly. The ball did take a touch off the defender’s flailing leg, but such was the quality of the effort that it only helped it soar over Mary Earps. It was the centrepiece of Australia’s best period, when Kerr looked like she was going to make this World Cup her own in the way that might have happened without injury. She had England’s defence tetchy and tense, especially with one jinking run through that could have brought a penalty. England had to get back into it, and did so by getting right back to basics. Bright, who should have scored a header shortly before Kerr’s goal, spotted a run from Hemp on launched it forward. Ellie Carpenter struggled with the bounce and was punished for it. Hemp got in front to put the ball into the corner. That was the goal that set England on the way the final. This was now Australia’s whole World Cup. They had to throw everything at it. It came down to inches. First, Jess Carter displayed supremely quick thinking to get enough on an Earps parry and prevent Courtnee Vine’s shot forcing the equaliser. It was so slight, but meant the world. There was still more. In Australia’s last grand attack, a corner dropped just yards out, to the player they would want there above any other. Kerr instead put it over the bar. It was a bad miss, especially for someone of her quality. Would it have happened if she was on full fitness? It almost feels unfair to ruminate on. It’s also immaterial, something made certain by Russo’s brilliant finish. With Australia just having to go with it, there was inevitably space in behind, which Hemp again exploited. Russo then excelled. That is a word that can be used to describe this England as a whole, as they are now one game away from becoming world champions as well as European champions. Australia, of course, were still cheered off by their proud home crowd after the final whistle. It is England that were singing, though, and look like they can go further again. They've already made history. They now just have to make themselves world champions. Read More Australia vs England LIVE: Women’s World Cup result and reaction as brilliant Lionesses reach final Lionesses react after beating Australia in Women’s World Cup semis Will Lauren James play in the Women’s World Cup final? Ella Toone celebration explained after World Cup semi-final goal

By Inti Landauro and Charlie Devereux MADRID (Reuters) -Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday he intended to

England defeated Australia 3-1 in Sydney to reach the Women’s World Cup final. Here, the PA news agency takes a look back at some other memorable victories for England on Australian soil. Wilkinson’s golden boot Jonny Wilkinson’s last-gasp drop-goal secured England’s men a dramatic triumph in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final in Sydney. Wilkinson’s kick sealed a 20-17 extra-time victory over hosts Australia in front of a then-record record crowd of almost 83,000 – with millions more watching on television around the globe. After the scores were locked at 14-14 at full-time following a second-half fightback from the Wallabies, Wilkinson’s fourth penalty edged Martin Johnson’s men back in front, only for Elton Flatley to level things up again. Then, with just 28 seconds remaining, Matt Dawson’s run brought England into drop-goal range, with the scrum-half passing back to Wilkinson who slotted over the posts from 30 metres to secure the most dramatic of finishes. Ashes triumph Down Under England’s men’s cricket team headed out for the 2010-11 Ashes series looking to deliver a first Ashes victory on Australian soil for 24 years. Andrew Strauss’ side scored 517 for one declared in the second innings of the drawn opening Test at the Gabba in Brisbane – with future captain Alastair Cook making an unbeaten 235. The foundations were set as a massive first innings of 620 for five, Kevin Pietersen scoring 227, helped secure a comfortable victory in Adelaide. Although Australia recovered to win the third Test by 267 runs in Perth, England again came out on top in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by an innings and 157 runs to retain the urn – before amassing 644 in their first innings in Sydney to close out a memorable 3-1 series victory. Commonwealth Games netball gold England’s netballers were crowned 2018 Commonwealth Games champions with a dramatic late 52-51 win over hosts Australia on the Gold Coast. Helen Housby netted in the final second for Tracey Neville’s side to win the most astonishing of contests. The Roses took the game to the then three-times Commonwealth champions, with the match level 25-all at half-time. Australia led by four goals early in the fourth quarter, but after Neville switched her side around, England rallied. Housby claimed a vital rebound late on before dropping the shot at the second attempt – after a foul – to spark scenes of ecstasy from the England camp. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Former captain Hugo Lloris set to leave Tottenham after opening talks with Lazio Ben Stokes to play as specialist batter at World Cup after ODI retirement U-turn A look at Chelsea’s biggest deals under Todd Boehly

Australia’s hopes of playing in a Women’s World Cup final will remain a dream for at least four

England has moved on to its first Women's World Cup final with a 3-1 victory over co-host Australia in Wednesday's semifinal

Ella Toone struck a magnificent opener for England against Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-final. The Manchester United star smashed the ball high into the top corner before wheeling away in delight with her teammates. The 23-year-old, who has grabbed her opportunity in place of the suspended Lauren James, explained her celebration ahead of time. FOLLOW LIVE - Australia vs England LIVE: Women’s World Cup semi-final score and updates "Yeah, I'd do an absolute madness,” Toone told BBC 5 Live. “I definitely do think about that and in tournament football, moments fall to different people, and if you take them moments, and we've definitely had a lot of them throughout the tournament. “I'm sure if it falls to me in the box then I'd be buzzing to put it away. Well, usually anything happens! “But I'm on strict orders that my mates, we all got matching tattoos before I came out. They want me to kiss it and do a little love heart. so I promised them I'd do that.” BBC pundit Alex Scott praised Toone’s impact, saying: “She lost her place to Lauren James, she’s saying, ‘don’t forget about me,’ what a goal it was.” While Ellen White added: There’s a bit of bite behind that, I’m still here, I’m here for a show, I’m not going anywhere and I’m taking this team to a World Cup final.” Read More Australia vs England LIVE: Women’s World Cup semi-final score and updates after stunning Ella Toone goal Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today How many games will Lauren James miss at Women’s World Cup after red card?

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