Stunning Triumph: England’s Lionesses Make History, Sparkling Performances by Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo Propel Victory Over Australia

England Women have made history by reaching their first ever World Cup final - so how did they do it? And who shone in the process?

England are history makers

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Under Sarina Wiegman's leadership, England has achieved back-to-back final appearances in major tournaments. Making history, they are now poised to establish themselves as a formidable force in women's international football. Wiegman successfully developed a winning strategy in under a year, with the European conquest serving as a stepping stone towards global supremacy.

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When Wiegman took on the role of head coach, the World Cup became a more achievable goal, especially considering the limited time between her appointment and the Euros. With her meticulous and detail-oriented approach, the Dutchwoman has propelled England's progress far beyond what anyone could have imagined. England has transformed into a team of confident believers.

Unlike Spain, who have been plagued by conflicts and disputes leading up to this tournament, England displays a far stronger sense of unity. Could it be that England is the favorite to win the trophy? It is worth noting that Wiegman has stumbled at the final hurdle once before, with the Netherlands in 2019, but she is known for learning from her mistakes and never repeating them.

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Alessia Russo killed the game with a clinical strike in the 86th minute

Hemp harassed Australia

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Lauren Hemp netted England's second goal before providing the assist for their third. Despite facing criticism, Hemp fearlessly confronts her critics. The reason behind the criticism is her immense potential, which is challenging to fully realize. In the match against Australia, she thoroughly troubled Ellie Carpenter, causing her significant difficulties. Hemp displayed tremendous effort and determination, similar to her performance against Colombia, ultimately seizing an unexpected opportunity to set England on the path to triumph.

She has excelled as a cunning and strategic forward at this championship, adopting a different role compared to her wide position at Manchester City. She capitalizes on opponents' mistakes and takes advantage of the ensuing chaos.

In addition, there was a remarkable moment in the 86th minute of a captivating and physically demanding semi-final when she skillfully disguised a pass to assist Alessia Russo. Despite fatigue setting in and legs growing weary, Hemp exhibited remarkable endurance as she charged down the field, drawing the attention of all opposing players with her powerful run. She then executed a phenomenally impressive no-look pass, perfectly guiding the ball into Russo's path.

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Lauren Hemp was England's most effective threat in forward areas

Australia's night was over from that moment.

The cutting edge, craft and guile was just too overwhelming. Hemp was at the heart of it all, and shone on a stage she was born to thrive on.

Greenwood a cut above

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In England's defensive lineup, Alex Greenwood stood out as a dominant force.

Alex Greenwood outperformed all other players on the England team in terms of completed passes (47), line-breaking passes (9), chances created (3), and passing accuracy (94%) during the first half against Australia.

Greenwood's intervention during England's challenging moments, whether it involved her head, leg, or any other body part, effectively disrupted Australia's goal-scoring attempts. With the composed demeanor and defensive prowess of an experienced player, combined with the ball-playing skills of a cultured midfielder, Greenwood has greatly contributed to the success of the Lionesses in the absence of the injured Leah Williamson.

What truly speaks to Greenwood's impact is the fact that England has hardly felt the absence of Williamson. While her presence and leadership qualities may be missed within the team, Wiegman's defensive lineup on the field has been exceptionally stable and reliable.

Stop Russo if you can

"This is the epitome of it all, a World Cup final, I'm absolutely thrilled," Russo exclaimed after securing England's spot in Sunday's final, where they will compete for the opportunity to claim the highly sought-after golden trophy.

She is the ultimate deceptive player. Just when you start feeling secure, thinking that Russo has positioned herself harmlessly deeper or on the flank, she suddenly bursts into action. It is this element of unpredictability that has left opponents astonished throughout the course of this tournament.

When Wiegman spoke about "ruthlessness" after the match, she was indirectly referring to Russo. Although the young striker wasn't specifically named, this aligns with Wiegman's usual approach. It is clear that England needs to capitalize on limited opportunities, and Russo has consistently delivered at crucial moments. Russo's ability to seize control of the situation is remarkable, with her impeccable timing reminiscent of her performance in the previous summer's Euros. Twelve months later, the storyline remains the same. With three goals under her belt and the most significant 90 minutes of her promising career ahead, Russo has the chance to make an even greater impact.

What's next?

England and Spain are set to go head to head in the Women's World Cup final on Sunday in Sydney, starting at 11.30am. Meanwhile, Australia will be taking on Sweden in the third-place play-off in Brisbane on Saturday, and the match will kick-off at 9am.