35min – Can England find a response? Spain are looking comfortable in possession inside the Lionesses’ half at the moment.
29min – Spain open the scoring! The ball is worked forward down the left and full-back Olga Carmona fires low across Mary Earps and inside the far post.
17min – And immediately a glorious chance for Spain at the other end! Paralluelo fails to connect at the near post and Redondo somehow sidefoots straight at Mary Earps! Hemp then draws a straightforward save from Coll.
16min – Lauren Hemp hits the bar! Daly teed the forward up on the edge of the box but her left-foot curler was just too high with Coll beaten.
12min – Alessia Russo almost breaks through but is crowded out by the Spanish defence. Alex Greenwood’s corner is well claimed by Coll.
7min – Spain put together their first attack of note but Alba Redondo’s cross is overhit and Rachel Daly shepherds Aitana Bonmati’s delivery to safety.
5min – Hemp has the first shot on goal, but a weak left-footed effort is easily fielded by goalkeeper Cata Coll.
2min – England start on the front foot with Lauren Hemp leading the press. Jess Carter’s long ball is just too far ahead of Ella Toone.
1100 – Kick-off in Sydney! Here we go…
1055 – A final reminder of today’s line-ups as we prepare for kick-off.
1050 – Spain have plenty of support as well.
1040 – FIFA and Adidas have pulled out all the stops with a golden matchball for the final!
1030 – England fans are showing their support at Stadium Australia.
1025 – England are taking in the scene ahead of kick-off in Sydney.
1020 – Spain are ready to go, with Salma Paralluelo looking focused as she prepares to start.
1010 – Sarina Wiegman was characteristically restrained when asked about Lauren James’ return from suspension.
Wiegman told BBC Sport: “First of all we hope everyone on the pitch, starting, will have an impact on the game.
“We have players on the bench who can make an impact and it’s really nice to have LJ on the bench too, and if necessary she’s ready.”
1005 – England full-back Lucy Bronze is calm before kick-off, telling BBC Sport: “I’m just enjoying the moment like I have in every game.
“We’ve played in this stadium twice before so it’s quite familiar territory for us now, so I think a lot of the girls are pretty relaxed and just excited for the next 90 minutes.”
1000 – Pre-match preparations in Sydney.
0940 – England have arrived at the stadium, having earlier been cheered onto their bus by fans outside their hotel.
0935 – England have named an unchanged XI for the final, meaning Ella Toone keeps her place with Lauren James on the bench.
0920 – “If you bring this home, man, I’ll be in Trafalgar Square, I’ll be topless, I’ll be in the water!”
Rio Ferdinand promises he will be crying in the Trafalgar Square fountains if England win the trophy…
0915 – Kelly Smith, second on the Lionesses’ all-time goalscoring list with 46, is tipping England to win 2-0.
“I’m really calm, confident, I’ve got no nerves,” Smith told Sky Sports. “The way they played against Australia, they managed the game so well, all three forwards scored so that will have given them great confidence.
“It’s the belief they’ve experience winning a trophy last year at the Euros, it’s the manager – the best manager in the world, Sarina Wiegman.”
0910 – Support from former Lionesses forward Toni Duggan.
0855 – Former captain Faye White was fired up by the Lionesses’ hype video.
0845 – Spain have gone early with their team announcement! Super-sub Salma Paralluelo steps into a starting role for the big game, with Alexia Putellas on the bench.
Will Sarina Wiegman follow suit by unleashing Lauren James from the start? We await news of the England XI.
0840 – England fans gathered ahead of the match have some live rugby to entertain them as well as a visit from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.
0830 – Our reporter Rachel Steinberg is in Sydney for the occasion and is bringing us some pre-match flavour, with both teams having strong support.
0820 – Euro 2022 hero Beth Mead tells Sky Sports: “I’m sure the nerves are setting in and I’m sure they’ll be excited and ready to go, and I’m super excited for them.”
“There’s a lot of experienced players on that bus, a lot who’ve experienced that final last year, and they can share that with the girls who’ve not been there before.
“It’s been a tough tournament to sit there and watch the games when you know you could have been involved if I didn’t have the injury. I’ll be so proud if the girls lift that trophy but a little touch of sadness because I want to be there with them. I know the others will be feeling the same, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby and the other girls.”
0810 – England men’s captain Harry Kane urged the Lionesses to “bring that trophy home” and James Maddison said they are “putting so many smiles on faces that (they) probably don’t even realise” in a message of support on social media.
Coach Gareth Southgate admitted: “There is of course no advice because you’ve done more than us already!”
0800 – Good morning and welcome to the PA news agency’s Women’s World Cup final blog. Stay here for all the build-up, key match action and post-game reaction as England and Spain clash at a sold-out Stadium Australia.
Casemiro hits back at critics over Man Utd performances
Casemiro has hit back at the "disrespectful" critics over comments made about his recent Manchester United performances.
The Red Devils have come under pressure for a poor run of form in recent weeks, with Casemiro one of the players singled out, in particular for his performance in the 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Casemiro enjoyed a successful first campaign with United, finishing third and lifting the EFL Cup, but the club are currently in danger of suffering their lowest-ever Premier League finish in eighth place.
"I was considered one of the best signings of the Premier League last season, and now I'm not worth anything anymore?" Casemiro told Sky Sports.
"The criticism is disrespectful. So, when it's lacking respect, then it's worrying, and I don't have to respect that either."
Casemiro was also recently left out of Dorival Junior’s Brazil squad for this year’s Copa America.
United finish their Premier League season away at Brighton on Sunday before facing Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
Chelsea players must set ego aside or 'situation will hardly change', Silva warns
The departing Thiago Silva warned Chelsea's players to set their egos aside, or their "situation will hardly change" next season.
Silva, who will return to hometown club Fluminense in the close season, is gearing up for his final appearance for the Blues after four years at Stamford Bridge, where they host Bournemouth on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign.
A draw would be enough for sixth-place Chelsea to secure a return to European football next season, while they could still overtake Tottenham in fifth with a win and Spurs losing to bottom side Sheffield United.
But despite a positive end to the campaign, during which they have won four successive games and lost just one of their last 14, Mauricio Pochettino's side are a whopping 28 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
Silva believes the club deserves better, having spent over £400 million on no fewer than 13 players over the past year, and has urged the squad to prioritise teamwork over their personal ambitions next term.
"I hope [the players] understand that everything they did to get to Chelsea has to be worth it," he told Sky Sports. "Because the season we're having is not worthy of Chelsea. I think they need to do more next year.
"These boys need to be aware that Chelsea has to fight for [for trophies] in the top positions. If we take a little of our ego and put it in favour of the team, I think it will work. If we don't do that, the situation will hardly change, unfortunately."
Mbappe left out of PSG squad for final Ligue 1 game
Kylian Mbappe has been left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for what would have been his final league game for the club.
PSG face Metz on Sunday having already secured the Ligue 1 title for a record-extending 12th time, but Mbappe will play no part in the match.
The Frenchman is not listed on the club’s medical list, though he did miss their win over Nice on Wednesday as a precaution. PSG did not give a reason to justify his absence.
PSG still have the Coupe de France final to play on May 25 against Lyon, which Mbappe could return for.
Mbappe confirmed he would be leaving the club at the end of the season after seven years. He is the club’s top scorer with 256 goals, with 191 of those coming in Ligue 1.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
