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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Football World Cup final between England and Spain at Sydney's Stadium Australia.
After a month of world class football across NZ and Australia, the women's showpiece reaches its climax, with a clash between European powerhouses chasing their first World Cup crown.
England are the reigning Euro champions and have gathered momentum throughout the event, culminating in their pulsating 3-1 victory over the home team in the semi-finals.
Spain have had to overcome several onfield and off-field dramas, including a player mutiny, a haka controversy, apparent dissatisfaction with Palmerston North as their homebase and a 4-0 drubbing from Japan in poolplay.
In a tournament that saw favourites drop like flies, the final outcome is anyone's guess, but promises a fitting signoff on an event that has had a profound affect on women's sport globally.
Join us at 10pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Spain $1.87, England $1.90
Spain
Goalkeepers: Cata Coll, Misa Rodríguez, Enith Salon
Defenders: Ivana Andres, Ona Batlle, Olga Carmona, Laia Codina, Rocio Galvez, Oihane Hernandez, Irene Paredes
Midfielders: Tere Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí, Irene Guerrero, Jenni Hermoso, Maria Perez, Alexia Putellas, Claudia Zornoza,
Forwards: Mariona Caldentey, Marta Cardona, Athenea del Castillo, Esther Gonzalez, Eva Navarro, Salma Paralluelo
England
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Midfielders: Laura Coombs, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Katie Zelem
Forwards: Rachel Daly, Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Katie Robinson, Alessio Russo
Matildas' World Cup heroics prompt funding boost for Aussie women's sport
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised A$200 million (NZ$215m) for women's sport, after the Matildas' run to a maiden Football World Cup semi-final.
The Aussie women face Sweden in the third-place playoff at Brisbane, after a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to England ended their best-ever run at the tournament.
The success has sparked calls for more funding of women's soccer, which has struggled in a market dominated by Australian Rules football and rugby league.
Albanese says the funds will be used to improve sports facilities and equipment for women and girls, with soccer expected to need "significant resourcing", after the Matildas' standout campaign.
The government will also work to ensure "iconic" women's sporting events like the World Cup semi-final are available for Australians to watch for free, he says, after criticism that many World Cup games were behind paywalls.
"The Matildas have given us a moment of national inspiration," he said. "This is about seizing that opportunity for the next generation, and investing in community sporting facilities for women and girls around Australia.
"We want women and girls everywhere in Australia to have the facilities and the support to choose a sport they love."
The government tipped A$44 million (NZ$47m) into hosting the World Cup. A further $40 million was allocated for grassroots programmes and to help fund the Matildas' recently opened training base at Melbourne.
Even so, after Australia's defeat to England, captain Sam Kerr called for more funding to ensure the World Cup was more than just a sugar rush for women's soccer in Australia.
National governing body Football Australia has welcomed the funding boost, with chief executive James Johnson saying it has arrived "at a poignant moment".
"With the FIFA Women's World Cup reaching new heights, we anticipate a further surge of up to 20 percent in grassroots participation," said Johnson.
Football Australia will also hope to keep the women's game relevant by hosting more international fixtures, after hosting the 2015 Men's Asian Cup and a successful bid for the 2026 women's event.
Reuters
