Geri Horner, Emma Bunton and Jess Glynn have joined a string of stars flooding social media with praise for England’s Lionesses as they reach the World Cup final after beating Australia 3-1 on Wednesday.
In a thrilling game, the team stormed to victory over their classic rivals thanks to goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, meaning they will face Spain in Sunday’s final.
Celebrities including Paloma Faith, Aitch and Rio Ferdinand took part in a sweet video montage wishing the team the best of luck, which was shared on their official social media pages.
Geri, 51, said in the clip: “Lionesses, we are so proud of you.” Sarina, you are inspirational. Mary… girls you got this, good luck.
Fellow Spice Girl Emma added, “We’re so proud of you.” I can’t imagine how your family feels. I am sending you so much love and all the happiness in the world and I will watch.”
Proud: Geri Horner, Emma Bunton and Jess Glynn have joined a string of stars flooding social media with praise for England’s Lionesses as they reach the World Cup final after beating Australia 3-1 on Wednesday
Sensational! In a thrilling game that ended 3-1, the team defeated arch-rivals Australia
Jess Glynn told the team: “Hey girls, I just want to wish you the best of luck for Sunday. You’ve been so great in the tournament so far and I’m so thrilled you’re in the finals.”
The singer, wearing a Lioness t-shirt, then jumped into the pool and shouted, “Go get it England!”
England’s women’s footballers celebrated their entry into their first-ever World Cup final after beating Australia 3-1 with goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
Second-half goals from Russo and Hemp for the European champions silenced a hostile home crowd of 75,000 in a feverish atmosphere in Sydney, with Hemp’s goal coming just minutes after Sam Kerr’s equaliser.
England now meet Spain for the trophy this Sunday at 11am UK time after beating Sweden 2-1 on Tuesday to secure a trip to the final. The game comes just over a year after England won Euro 2022 by beating Germany.
Both sides had early chances in the semi-finals and moments later a crucial clash erupted when Australia were awarded a free-kick after England’s Keira Walsh fouled Sam Kerr. Then, after ten minutes, Alex Greenwood was booked for a foul on Kerr.
England scored the opening goal in the 36th minute when the ball flew past Hemp in the box and fell at Toone’s feet, who fired into the top right corner of Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
The Lionesses were 1-0 up at half-time while millions of England fans watched at home in front of the television – some taking a few hours off to go to a pub or keeping it playing in the background while they ‘from to worked from home”.
Jess Glynn told the team: “Hey girls, I just want to wish you the best of luck for Sunday. You’ve been so great in the tournament so far and I’m so thrilled you’re in the finals.”
The singer, wearing a Lioness t-shirt, then jumped into the pool and shouted, “Go get it England!”
There was fear for England early in the second half when Australia’s Mary Fowler sent in a skillful cross for Caitlin Foord, although she failed to save the header with enough threat and forced a save from Mary Earps.
And the breakthrough for the Matildas came when Kerr scored a superb goal in the 63rd minute after catching the ball narrowly in the Australian half. She ran and ran before firing a long-range arrow-like shot into the net.
But England regained the lead when Millie Bright sent a perfect long ball from the back line to a running Hemp, who picked it up with ease, wormed his way through the defence, lured Arnold out and fired on goal in the 71st minute.
And 15 minutes later, Hemp slipped through the Matildas and found Russo on the edge of the box to make it 3-1 in the 86th minute. England then had to sit out the rest of the game, including six minutes of stoppage time at the end.
Defender Lucy Bronze was overwhelmed after the game, telling the BBC: “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wished for, being in a World Cup final and having suffered disappointments like this twice I honestly can’t believe it .” .’
When asked what manager Sarina Wiegman was saying, Bronze said: “We played the game the way we wanted, we were resilient, determined, I honestly couldn’t hear much else she said!” that the crowd was going to go crazy tonight and she felt like shutting them up and I feel like we did that in the end after the third goal.”
But it comes as the England side become embroiled in a bizarre espionage controversy after a training session was photographed from a helicopter.
The European champions meet the Matildas at the packed Australia Stadium in Sydney, where most of the 75,000 crowd will support the co-hosts.
The winners of today’s competition will meet Spain for the trophy this Sunday at 11am UK time after the team beat Sweden 2-1 yesterday to secure a trip to the final.
Fellow Spice Girl Emma added, “We’re so proud of you.” I can’t imagine how your family feels. I am sending you so much love and all the happiness in the world and I will watch.”
This comes after tickets for England fans were bought up by Australians after a unique Lionesses code for a contingent of 1,970 was leaked on social media.
In a video message ahead of the game, Beckham said, “Hey girls I just wanted to say wow what a tournament this has been so far.” It’s been so much fun to watch and we’re all so proud of it as a nation what you have already achieved.
“But it was really incredible to see you girls play as a team. So keep up the good work, good luck in that next game and know that our entire nation has your back as always, and good luck.”
He then pointed his camera at Harper, 12, who said: “Good luck lionesses!” Beckham added: “There’s Harper.” Keep inspiring these girls because it’s amazing to watch and I’m very, very happy that you do it for this. Good luck girls.’
This comes after Australia’s Daily Telegraph sent a plane to capture images of the Lionesses sitting behind closed doors at their training base as they finalized plans for tonight’s game.
Captioned ‘Elf Poms vs. One Nation: Welcome to the Jungle Lionesses’, the images show England coach Sarina Wiegman and her staff putting the players through their paces ahead of the much-anticipated competition.
England’s first appearance in a semi-final came in Canada eight years ago, when Laura Bassett’s own goal in second-half injury time ended her dreams of reaching the final abruptly.
The Lionesses won their third-place play-off, earning their best-ever World Cup result. Four years later they finished fourth in France, where current England coach Ms Wiegman led the Netherlands to the final but ultimately lost to defending champions United States.
The Matildas are the only side to boast of having beaten England since Wiegman – otherwise unbeaten in 36 games – took charge in September 2021, with a 2-0 win at Brentford in April.
Preparations: The day before the semi-finals, England attended a team training session at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium
While she too was impressed by the growth she witnessed as the ninth edition of the World Cup grew to 32 teams for the first time and guaranteed a new champion, that elusive trophy remains paramount for her.
Wiegman said: “I’m aware that this is something very special and that the level of development in women’s football has really increased, so people around the world can see what’s going on.” I hope that helps women in football , but also women in general.
“But to be honest, I’m very focused. So when it comes to the game, it’s the game and you just try to tune it all out because you have a job to do.”
Gustavsson believes his team is well prepared for this monumental event.
He said, “We don’t really see it as pressure.” We consider it a privilege that so many people believe in this team and feel the support.
“We think of it more as fuel, as energy, than as pressure.” We don’t think of it as heavy. We contemplate it as we are being carried and nurtured from below, and I feel faith in us.”