Spain were crowned world champions after beating England 1-0 courtesy of Olga Carmona’s first half goal.

Jorge Vilda’s side went ahead through Carmona’s precise shot in the bottom right corner, while Spain had a golden opportunity to double their lead in the second half but Mary Earps saved Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty.

The Lionesses couldn’t replicate their usual potent attack and failing to create opportunities cost them, while Spain got revenge for their quarter-final loss in the European Championships last year.

There was a cagey opening to the match as expected with both side’s playing in their first ever World Cup finals.

England had the first clear cut opportunity as patient build up play allowed Lauren Hemp to curl a shot that hit the crossbar.

The match sparked into life as under a minute later down the other end, a ball across the face of goal found Alba Redondo whose shot from close range was well saved by Earps.

Lucy Bronze foolishly went on a run into midfield and after she was dispossessed, Spain worked the ball to Carmona who guided the ball brilliantly into the bottom corner leaving Earps with no chance.

Spain were in firm control and went close again on the stroke of half time as Salma Paralluelo’s deflected shot hit the post.

At the start of the second half, Mariona Caldentey weaved through the England defence and her shot was well saved by Earps.

Substitute Chloe Kelly put a great ball in but Lauren Hemp’s shot was just wide. 

England defender Kiera Walsh handled in the box and following a lengthy VAR check the referee pointed to the spot.

However, Earps, often England’s hero, guessed the right way and caught Hermoso’s penalty.

England pushed forward for a equaliser and Lauren James hit a shot high towards the corner of the net that forced Cata Coll into a good save at her near post.

In the 13 additional minutes that were added on at the end of the 90, Earps denied Ona Battle’s shot on the overlap, while Sarina Wiegman’s side paid the price for creating very little. 

England booked their place in the final of the Women's World Cup as they overcame hosts Australia 3-1.

Ella Toone put the Lionesses in front in the first half before Sam Kerr’s wonder goal levelled the scores but second half goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo puts Sarina Wiegman’s side in Sunday’s final against Spain.

England dominated the early stages as Australia seemed happy to sit off and soak up the pressure.

Kerr appeared to have gone close early on but was later ruled offside before her Chelsea teammate Georgia Stanway spurned a golden opportunity down the other end.

Alex Greenwood picked out Stanway with a precise looped ball but the midfielder’s shot was straight at Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. 

Greenwood put another cross in that this time picked out Rachel Daly but the England striker headed over.

Mary Earps’ long ball found Toone who flicked it onto Alessia Russo but the forward’s shot from a very tight angle could only find the side netting.

England made the breakthrough on 36 minutes as good patient build up play allowed Lauren Hemp to pick out Toone, who produced an absolute pile driver to put the Lionesses in front. 

The Lionesses had never lost a World Cup game that they’d gone ahead in but made a sloppy start to the second half with the midfielders losing possession and eventually it came back to haunt them.

Kerr picked up the ball on halfway after an England corner and after a mazy run through the defence, she produced a wonderful lofted strike into the top corner.

Hemp put a clever ball into the box that picked out Alessia Russo and the Arsenal striker headed just wide. 

Manchester City attacker Hemp put England back in front.

Millie Bright went long and Australia couldn’t deal with it allowing Hemp to get in between the two Aussie centre backs and prod the ball into the bottom corner. 

The Matildas went close through Kerr’s header and substitute Courtney Vine’s shot that was well saved by Earps. 

However, at the other end Hemp made a great run through the Matildas defence and played a beautiful ball to Russo whose shot landed right in the bottom corner.

Host nation Australia secured their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant 2-0 victory in Sydney.

Goals from Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso were enough as the Matildas breezed past Denmark, whose record of never winning a World Cup knockout match continues.

While, Australia have now matched their best ever finish at the showpiece tournament after also reaching the last four in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Denmark made the brighter start as Pernille Harder proved a dangerous threat.

Harder made a mazy run through the Australian defence, evading tackles before firing a shot that went just wide.

Raso went close before Australia took the lead through Foord against the run of play.

Australia’s striker scored her 30th international goal through a left footed shot from just inside the box after Mary Fowler picked out the attacker with a precise ball following a fast paced Australian counter attack.

Goalscorer Woord went close again as her curling effort took a deflection and went just wide.

Bayern Munich striker Harder went close once more as she drove at the Australian defence that stood off but her effort was comfortably saved by Mackenzie Arnold. 

Australia started the second half better and were firmly on top and looking threatening from corners.

Kathrine Kuhl went close for Denmark after being picked out by Karen Holmgaard and at the other end, Emily van Egmond had a shot from close range that was well saved by Lene Christensen. 

Eventually Australia’s dominance in the second stanza was rewarded as Raso doubled Australia’s lead and have one foot in the quarter-final.

Van Egmond shifted the ball in the penalty box to the unmarked open Raso, whose right footed shot slid into the bottom left corner.

Superstar Sam Kerr, who is the country’s record goalscorer with 62, made her first appearance of the tournament from the bench as she recovered from her well documented calf injury.

Australia comfortably saw out the win and will face the winner of tomorrow’s last 16 match between France and Morocco.

World Cup hosts Australia collected a hard fought opening night win against the Republic of Ireland thanks to their stand in captain Steph Catley’s penalty early in the second half of a game.

All the talk before the game was about how the Australians would cope without Sam Kerr, the Chelsea star, who had picked up an injury yesterday that ruled her out of the first two games of the competition. Ireland with a full deck to pick from had a fairly predictable look to their side for the competition opener.

Ireland had come into the game as underdogs and expected to sit deep and hope to hit the Aussies on the break and that’s essentially how the first half played out but Ireland did apply plenty of pressure in the closing stages but just couldn’t find a break through.

The hosts controlled the early exchanges as Ireland struggled to get to the pace of the game but for all their possession they struggled to really generate a meaningful chance in the opening half. They did dominate the corner kick stats though, forcing five corners in the first period although they weren’t able to worry Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan from those set pieces.

Ireland soaked up the pressure from their opponents and did get two decent opportunities to threaten the Australian goal. A combination between Denise O’Sullivan and McCabe almost released Carusa but the sole Irish forward just couldn’t get control of the ball. 

Caitlin Foord seemed to be able to pick her way through the Irish defence but they were limited to long range efforts and half chances. Cortnee Vine and Hayley Raso were threatening in an attacking sense with Raso almost finding the target with one effort late in the first half which Brosnan gleefully gathered easily.

For all the pre game talk of the physicality of the opponents in last week’s game it was the Irish girls who were getting stuck into the Matildas with both Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan dishing out some tasty challenges. O’Sullivan picked up the game’s first booking just before the half time whistle as the Irish will have gone into the dressing room for the break much the happier of the two sides.

Disaster struck at the start of the second half when a clumsy challenge from Marisa Sheva saw the Japanese referee point to the spot and Arsenal player Steph Catley hit a very impressive spot kick to open the scoring and change the entire tone of the game.

Tempers began to flare slightly as McCabe again was getting stuck into her opponents, drawing fouls which gave Ireland opportunities to get the ball into the box. Australia were more than capable of dealing with the deliveries from Connolly as Australia looked to be growing in confidence.

Pauw did ring the changes in an attacking sense with the introduction of Abbie Larkin and Lucy Quinn but it failed to bring a meaningful addition of intensity to the Irish side. Australia had the first real opportunity with Gorry picking the ball up in midfield and seeing her effort blocked out for another corner by Louise Quinn.

Foord gets a header on the set piece but it goes agonisingly wide of the post for the Arsenal striker who has looked dangerous throughout.

Ireland eventually won their first corner and a whipped effort from McCabe caused havoc in the Australian box as Arnold in the Aussie goal was relieved with a whistle from the referee indicating a free out.

The fresh legs of Larkin and Lucy Quinn finally started to pay dividends as Ireland started to force a series of corners. O’Sulilvan having the best opportunity from one set piece as the ball broke to her on the edge of the box, but the ball just didn’t come down in time to get a meaningful effort on goal.

Ireland’s decision in the closing stages to move centre half Louise Quinn to attack, not for the first time in recent games, once again showed the lack of a viable plan B for the Irish.

Ireland did enjoy an last gasp chance with a free kick from Connolly taking a deflection over the bar before a series of corners for the Irish failed to find an Irish head with the Australians all over the place at the back. 

Ireland never quite looked like being able to breach the Aussies and with their largest goal threat Barrett on the bench it was opportunity lost for the Irish to start with a positive result ahead of two more challenging games.