England manager Sarina Wiegman has described Sam Kerr’s goal in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final with co-hosts Australia as “incredible”.
The Chelsea forward equalised for the Matildas in the second half with a powerful long-range strike that sent the Stadium Australia crowd buzzing. Australia could however not find their way through as further goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo after Ella Toone’s first-half strike sent England to their first-ever Women’s World Cup final.
Wiegman praised her team for their response despite the massive crowd that was solidly behind the Matildas.
“I can hardly describe how proud I am of the team, because how this team has, yeah, has been (adapting) all the time – before the tournament, then during the tournament and now in this game again – how we come through again is so incredible. So I’m really proud of them,” Wiegman said after the match.
“Sam Kerr, of course… the way she finished that ball was incredible. After that, we did have a couple of minutes we really had to go through, because of course then the crowd, makes even more noise and becomes extra energy.
“I thought we did that really well, but we have done really well the whole tournament so far. And then of course… didn’t take long that before we scored the second goal. And that helps, of course, when you score a second goal.”
Respect ????
Brilliant co-hosts. Well played, @TheMatildas. pic.twitter.com/uzDVrOEEwY
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) August 16, 2023
Wiegman has now led England to a second tournament final after winning the 2022 European Women’s Championship on home soil and the Dutch tactician says she is not taking the World Cup final for granted as she prepares to tackle Jorge Vida’s Spain on Sunday.
“Well, going to a final feels really good. And I’m the lucky one that now in… (the) two last tournaments I went to the final,” Wiegman continued.
“So now I’m going to the final with my team. Well, I know that you don’t take anything for granted. It’s so hard to reach a final, even though you might be the favourite. But we’ve seen in this tournament too that there are many favourite teams who are really good who are not in the knockout, or in the group stage already, yeah, finished their tournament.
“So every step has been really, really hard, but yeah, again we find a way. And I think, the women’s game has grown so much that it’s really hard to get through. So, yeah, I know it’s very, very special… and that’s how it feels too.”
Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final will once again take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
