How many times has England made it to the final in the Women’s World Cup?

Germany were the last European team to lift the Women’s World Cup in 2007. Either England or Spain will be the next, to become the continent’s third world champion since the tournament began 32 years ago. Sunday’s final in Sydney will be just the third time that the trophy will be contested between teams from the same continent.

Two teams who play very different styles of football but who share quite a lot in common. Both have enjoyed thrilling campaigns in Australia and New Zealand. En route to the final, England won all but one of their games (the 0-0 draw with Nigeria) as did Spain - a 4-0 group stage defeat to Japan was the only time that Jorge Vilda’s team have dropped their guard during the tournament. The stats aren’t too dissimilar either - Spain are the top scorers with 17 goals so far, ahead of Japan on 15 and England on 13; at the back, the Lionesses’ defensive figures are solid - just three goals conceded in six games. Likewise, Spain have looked strong in defence and while their figures are worse (seven goals against), most of that was down to the meltdown against the Nadeshiko.

So near yet so far

The parallels don’t stop there. Both finalists have suffered their fair share of heartbreak in this tournament - in three editions (1991, 1999 and 2003), both were absent after failing to qualify. Neither has ever made it to the final. At 2015 Canada, England came agonizingly close, only to be cruelly denied in their semi-final against Japan. The game was poised at 1-1 and appeared set for extra-time when Laura Bassett turned a Nahomi Kawasumi through ball past her own keeper two minutes into stoppage-time. A freak own goal that sent the Lionesses home when the final was within reach.

Until now, that semi-final against Japan was the furthest England have gone in the nine editions of the Women’s World Cup. There was some consolation in the 0-1 extra-time victory over Germany three days later to finish the competition in third place. Prior to that, England made it as far as the quarter finals on three occasions (1995, 2007 and 2011) and finished fourth in 2019, when they were eliminated in the semis by the United States but were unable to redeem themselves in the match for third place, losing 1-2 to Sweden.