England manager Sarina Wiegman said the Lionesses will feel the support of the country back home and urged her players to play their “best game ever” when they face Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney tomorrow. The nation is set to come to a stop on Sunday morning as the Lionesses feature in England’s first World Cup final since 1966 and Wiegman said reaction to their historic success at the tournament has been a “dream”. Wiegman led England to their groundbreaking victory at the European Championships last summer and said her players are determined to create another moment that will inspire lasting change for women’s football while uniting the nation. “It’s really exciting to play the game tomorrow and we are eager to win it,” Wiegman said in her pre-match press conference at Stadium Australia. “It shows how football unites. It brings people together. "It’s incredible what happened. We felt the support, we felt the support here, but also from the other side of the world in the UK. That’s something you dream of and we hope we play our best game ever tomorrow.” Wiegman’s team have faced several challenges throughout their historic run to the World Cup final, after losing key players Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby before the tournament. Lauren James was sent off in England’s last-16 victory against Nigeria but will be available for the final after serving a two-match suspension, with Wiegman admitting the forward learned a “hard lesson” after stamping on an opponent. Wiegman said James is “ready to play again”, although the 21-year-old is likely to only start on the bench following Ella Toone’s impressive performance against Australia in the semi-finals. When asked to sum up England’s run to the World Cup final, Wiegman said her players have shown “togetherness” and” resilience”.” “The team has inspired the nation so much last year but also at the World Cup also on this stage,” Wiegman said . “Hopefully it will inspire more girls to play football, not just in England but around the world.” England captain Millie Bright said the bond between the players and their manager had grown throughout the tournament. "The longer you work together the better the connection,” Bright said. “The better you can be off the pitch, the better the conversation can be, and then we can translate that to the squad. "As much as people don’t want to face challenges, it’s part of the game, it’s part of life, and without those challenges we wouldn’t be where we are today.” Bright said every player in the team will be living out a “dream” when they walk out to play the World Cup final. “Everyone knows how big this is. It’s been players’ dreams for years. We know how big it is back home but it’s just another game. “It’s massive, but it’s for everyone. It’s an honour and a dream to come true to lead the girls out, but ultimately it’s the team.” “We have seen how hard the games have been. It’s a proud moment as a player and a woman to show the level we are at on the world’s stage. “We live in the moment. It’s a World Cup final but for us it’s another game. Our preparation remains the same. We’ve got a game plan.” Read More Women’s World Cup LIVE: England press conference updates as Australia face Sweden in third-place playoff How to watch England vs Spain: TV channel and kick-off time for Women’s World Cup final England stand on the brink of history — and a moment to change the game forever England vs Spain: Kick-off time and how to watch World Cup final on TV Women’s World Cup LIVE: England set for ‘game of our lives’ in final England stand on the brink of history — and a moment to change the game forever
England manager Sarina Wiegman said the Lionesses will feel the support of the country back home and urged her players to play their “best game ever” when they face Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney tomorrow.
The nation is set to come to a stop on Sunday morning as the Lionesses feature in England’s first World Cup final since 1966 and Wiegman said reaction to their historic success at the tournament has been a “dream”.
Wiegman led England to their groundbreaking victory at the European Championships last summer and said her players are determined to create another moment that will inspire lasting change for women’s football while uniting the nation.
“It’s really exciting to play the game tomorrow and we are eager to win it,” Wiegman said in her pre-match press conference at Stadium Australia. “It shows how football unites. It brings people together.
"It’s incredible what happened. We felt the support, we felt the support here, but also from the other side of the world in the UK. That’s something you dream of and we hope we play our best game ever tomorrow.”
Wiegman’s team have faced several challenges throughout their historic run to the World Cup final, after losing key players Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby before the tournament.
Lauren James was sent off in England’s last-16 victory against Nigeria but will be available for the final after serving a two-match suspension, with Wiegman admitting the forward learned a “hard lesson” after stamping on an opponent.
Wiegman said James is “ready to play again”, although the 21-year-old is likely to only start on the bench following Ella Toone’s impressive performance against Australia in the semi-finals.
When asked to sum up England’s run to the World Cup final, Wiegman said her players have shown “togetherness” and” resilience”.”
“The team has inspired the nation so much last year but also at the World Cup also on this stage,” Wiegman said .
“Hopefully it will inspire more girls to play football, not just in England but around the world.”
England captain Millie Bright said the bond between the players and their manager had grown throughout the tournament.
"The longer you work together the better the connection,” Bright said. “The better you can be off the pitch, the better the conversation can be, and then we can translate that to the squad.
"As much as people don’t want to face challenges, it’s part of the game, it’s part of life, and without those challenges we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Bright said every player in the team will be living out a “dream” when they walk out to play the World Cup final.
“Everyone knows how big this is. It’s been players’ dreams for years. We know how big it is back home but it’s just another game.
“It’s massive, but it’s for everyone. It’s an honour and a dream to come true to lead the girls out, but ultimately it’s the team.”
“We have seen how hard the games have been. It’s a proud moment as a player and a woman to show the level we are at on the world’s stage.
“We live in the moment. It’s a World Cup final but for us it’s another game. Our preparation remains the same. We’ve got a game plan.”
Read More
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How to watch England vs Spain: TV channel and kick-off time for Women’s World Cup final
England stand on the brink of history — and a moment to change the game forever
England vs Spain: Kick-off time and how to watch World Cup final on TV
Women’s World Cup LIVE: England set for ‘game of our lives’ in final
England stand on the brink of history — and a moment to change the game forever
