And so it is third time lucky for the Lionesses who have beaten Australia 3-1 to secure a spot in the World Cup final, at last putting their knockout round frustrations to bed. Since their first shot at a place in the final back in 2015, resulting in a third-place medal, the women’s game has grown beyond recognition. As investments flowed and the game progressed, it was incredibly disappointing to see the Lionesses finish in fourth place, under manager Phil Neville, in 2019. Today there is vindication under Sarina Wiegman, who has led the team since 2021 and makes a strong case for promotion of female managerial talent in the women’s game over male mediocrity.
The Lionesses went into this World Cup with just a 16% chance of making the final, according to sporting data analysts Gracenote. They were certainly by no means the favourites, despite their gamechanging Euro victory last summer. They were also missing key players such as Beth Mead, who made such an impact in the Euros, and captain, Leah Williamson, both out with ACL injuries.
Perhaps then, they could be forgiven if at times their performances seemed a little less than inspired. But it was the 6-1 victory against China in the group stage, and the rising (and quickly falling) star of Lauren James that showed the competition there was still something to fear in this team.
By the time they reached the semi-final, the Lionesses might have looked like a strong contender to beat Australia on paper, but their victory was not an inevitability – and the Matildas made England work for it. Their pace in counterattack was rapid, and Sam Kerr’s stunning equaliser was arguably one of the goals of the tournament. Not to mention the Sydney crowd behind them, willing the hosts to win. Like England, Australia has grown during the tournament, but this was England’s hour, maintaining composure, not buckling under the pressure and keeping focus until the very end.
The way in which the Lionesses seem to consistently rise to the occasion in these big-ticket matches is one of the qualities we must really admire in this team, and one that seems so often lacking in the men’s game. Though perhaps it is the way women’s football is still viewed as the poor relation that allows them to do this. Today’s victory must be another reminder that we must stop underestimating the women’s game.
We are often told of the progress we are making in bridging the gap between the sexes, but at the same time England fans were unable to buy a Mary Earps replica kit ahead of this tournament from Nike. Although the trajectory of women’s football is a good one, women still don’t play in stadiums with any regularity, while also constantly being asked to respond to the argument that they “can’t fill” them. They are told that their goalposts and pitches must be smaller, that their technique must be better, that the skill isn’t there.
One hopes that these nonsense criticisms wash over the players, but it must be impossible for them to ignore how beholden they still are to the goodwill of their male overlords to continue funding them, as is the case for the majority of professional teams. Just look at Reading women’s team, who were forced to go part-time due to financial belt-tightening following a poor season and the relegation of the men’s team from the Championship.
We have a long way to go, but we are on the right track. A victory for the Lionesses is more than just a victory on the pitch. Their success transcends interest in football, even – women across the country will be celebrating their achievements today. But we must keep our eye on the prize, which is a sustainable women’s game across all levels, not just in these moments of glory.
Jen Offord is a producer and presenter of the Standard Issue podcast, and author of The Year of the Robin
