England take on Spain in an all-European Women’s World Cup final on Sunday at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Here are three things that will happen should the Lionesses bring it home.
Sarina Wiegman’s side booked their place in a maiden World Cup final in emphatic style on Wednesday by toppling co-hosts Australia 3-1.
Ella Toone put England ahead at half-time, only for the Matildas’ superstar Sam Kerr to fire their side back on level terms shortly past the hour mark.
However, England, the reigning European champions, ultimately claimed the victory courtesy of goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
Spain are also playing their first-ever Women’s World Cup final, having defeated Sweden on Tuesday with a dramatic late winner through Real Madrid’s Olga Carmona.
Should England claim a historic victory on Sunday, here are three things that will definitely happen.
Sarina Wiegman to receive a damehood
After leading England to last year’s Euros Wiegman is almost certain to be put forward for a damehood if the Lionesses win the World Cup.
As per the Telegraph, Downing Street would increase the allocation of available sporting honours to recognise a footballing achievement considered parallel to 1966.Upon the men’s World Cup win, manager Alf Ramsey was knighted by the Queen immediately after the triumph.
This suggests that Wiegman will also be recognised should the Lionesses win at the weekend.
Women’s Super League attendances to explode
In March, research by Two Circles revealed that crowds in the Women’s Super League in the first half of the season were up a staggering 267 per cent on the previous season.This was in part driven by a strategy of playing big games in larger stadiums, but also due to a rise in interest off the back of England’s Euro win.
And with the country gripped by World Cup fever, interest in the Women’s Super League will inevitably get another sharp increase should England win at the weekend. In fact, it would likely get an increase in interest even if they lose.
Rishi Sunak to be forced into bank holiday U-turn
Okay, maybe this won't ‘definitely’ happen. But it might happen.
There are currently no plans to give the UK a bank holiday to celebrate if England wins the Women's World Cup, the government has said.
However, public pressure will mount on Rishi Sunak and co should the Lionesses claim the victory. Indeed, one of Sunak’s predecessors, Boris Johnson, was prone to the odd U-turn to align himself with public opinion.
Sunak too has displayed populist leanings during his short tenure in Number 10 and could be swayed to U-turn on the government’s bank holiday stance if there is enough support for the celebratory day-off.
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