Good Luck to the Lionesses

Whatever happens in today's momentous showpiece against opponents Spain in Sydney, the Lionesses will become the first senior England football team to play in a World Cup final since 1966, and the only one ever to do so on foreign soil.

Last year, their march to European glory was fuelled by home advantage. This time they have been thousands of miles away, and in the semi-final found themselves in the most intimidating of atmospheres imaginable, taking on inspired co-hosts Australia, buoyed by the will of an entire nation in their national stadium.

But as ever with this team, despite such adversity, England found a way to prevail.

And here at the biggest and most competitive World Cup to date, if they can add the sport's greatest prize to their European crown it will establish them as not only one of Britain's greatest teams in any sport, but as the dominant force in the international women's game - an astounding feat given the much smaller player pool compared with rivals like the United States.

For many, the final will feel like the completion of a long journey the sport in England has been on since the FA's 49-year ban on women playing on league grounds was lifted in 1970.

Whatever the score is at the final whistle, we can all be proud to stand behind our England Ladies Football Team.