BBC Newsbeat

Hello from the hometown of Lioness midfielder Keira Walsh - Rochdale!

We’re down at the Crown Oil Arena watching the final with Rochdale Ladies whose pre-match nerves were calmed by a quick game of Fifa.

They weren’t keen on jinxing anything though - refusing to play a game between England and Spain…

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Stadium Australia

Image source, BBC Sport

Flames burst into the air as the closing ceremony continues on the pitch and Sarina Wiegman and Jorge Vilda give final instructions to their players in the dressing rooms. We're 10 minutes or so from kick-off.

Sean Seddon
BBC journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The dreaded word is being whispered among some fans at Croydon Boxpark - penalties.

Holly Cornford, 30, and Anja Kadijevic, 28, both think it's going the distance - although Pheobe Shavelar, 25, and Lara both think England will get it done in 90 minutes.

Holly says: "My interest in women's football really started during the Euros. Before that it wasn't really accessible - now it's everywhere."

"There's no chance it will go backward from here", Pheobe says. "It's only going up."

Sarah, Rosianna and Hollie fear England will have to do it in “squeaky bum time” but will win by a goal.

Hollie says: “The atmosphere is just electric here. Women, men, kids - everybody’s dancing and supporting. It’s incredible.”

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Stadium Australia

Both teams have been going through their final warm-ups on the Stadium Australia pitch.

We've just had the team line-ups announced as well - and there were plenty of cheers for the Spain and England players but lots of boos for Spain head coach Jorge Vilda.

A lot has been written about a player revolt and concerns over Vilda's training methods and inadequate game preparation. You can read more about it here.

Image source, BBC Sport

The closing ceremony of the World Cup is well under way. It's set to include live music sets, dancing, light shows and a didgeridoo.

You can watch the full ceremony on the BBC iPlayer.

Image source, Getty Images

Love this from the Welsh Guards...

England

Image source, Getty Images

More from Millie Bright on England's ability to adapt after losing players through injury and suspension: "It's difficult but it's football. As a player you understand that at any given time something could pop up and things could change. Football is never a given and whilst we would love everyone to be here it has been a great opportunity for other people to come in and step up and I think again we have shown how adaptable we are.

"But I think we are really blessed as a nation that we have such a big pool of players to choose from and so much talent.

"That shows the growth of the game, but it is down to the mentality and culture we have within the England set-up - I think it is unbelievable.

"But to have the mentality to adapt to change - that is football."

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on BBC One

That's what makes the women's game so special, we are engaging, we give people our time. These Lionesses will go back heroes to England but they'll still walk the streets like they did the day before they came out here.

I think that's what's different about our game. Going back to the comment the FIFA president made [Gianni Infantino comments encouraged women to “just push the doors” saying that they have the “power to convince us men”], if he wants the door to be knocked down, let us women bombard his door down for sure.

Sergi Forcada Freixas
BBC News in Madrid

Supporters of the Spanish national team have gathered in anticipation at Madrid's Wizink Center venue, where up to 6,000 enthusiastic fans will watch the match together on four large screens.

Remarkably, the tickets for this event were in such high demand that they sold out in less than an hour. Many attendees are waving national flags and wearing the Spanish football kit to cheer for "la Roja”.

Outside the venue, lively music and children's activities amplify the celebratory atmosphere. The crowd is buzzing with excitement, as this marks the historic first appearance of the women's team in a World Cup final.

Plenty of fans have gathered around the country to show their support for the Lionesses at World Cup final watch parties.

England shirts ✅

Flags ✅

Bucket hats ✅

Face paint ✅

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Stadium Australia

Image source, BBC Sport

Standby for the closing ceremony. Both sets of players have disappeared to their respective dressing rooms and the pitch is being covered by a white sheet as Queen's Somebody to Love blasts from the speakers.

England

England captain Millie Bright on correcting the history that saw women's football banned in England for almost 50 years - from 1921 to 1970: "It shows our strength and mentality. We never want that to happen again.

"It is something that we've been very open about and I don't think we would ever let that happen again with the people that are involved.

"As players, I think we are very open about how we feel and what we stand for and I would like to think the game has grown so much that never has to be a thing again.

"The fact we are now we sat here, that tomorrow is the World Cup final, is phenomenal.

"The growth of the game has been incredible. But for all the people that work behind closed doors that maybe don't always get the recognition, we absolutely appreciate everything that everyone does for the game.

"As players we don't want to stop here and are always pushing for more."

Pete Allison, BBC Newsbeat

On Friday’s Newsbeat, I was joined by a very special co-host – Debbie Day, one of the original Lionesses, who played for England in the late 1970s. She talked to us about how it feels to see the current generation perform on the sport’s biggest scene – and her path to wearing the white shirt. “It just sends tingles down my spine," Day said.

"I just can’t explain to you, I’m so proud of them and I’m so pleased that they’ve got the recognition that they’ve always deserved. They are playing so well – this is the thing that I love – they’re playing like a dream at the moment. They can’t do anything wrong.

“I started playing football for a team in Droitwich when I was about 13 but it was the only team around. Bless him, the manager used to come and collect us all from various different locations. I went and played for a team in Leicester and they had a lot of other women that were playing for England at the time and I think that’s what really helped improve my game.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, BBC 5 Live Sport twitter

Jorge Bronze, brother of Lucy, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "To see the squad just improve year on year, and then win the Euros, it just gave us that belief.

"We [the Bronze family] have been in the England set up for a while now, booking hotels, plotting 'If the side win their group they play there, if they're in the third placed play-off they go here. We'll book all these hotels.' Whereas the Russo family, oh they'll just book straight through to the final. They know what winners do.

"It has been nice to see that transformation in confidence of the England girls, and subsequently the families too."

Vicki Sparks
BBC commentator, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

That really has been a hallmark of this England side not just in this tournament, but last year at the Euros and in general under Sarina Wiegman.

A big step in their development is the building of that resilience.

Poor performance against Nigeria, but they held their nerve to go through on penalties.

Falling behind to Colombia in the quarter final in front of that raucous crowd, but they stayed calm, equalised quickly and turned it around in the second half.

Then conceding that Sam Kerr equaliser in the semi-final as Stadium Australia erupted, but managing to score again and seal the win late on.

Chatting to captain Millie Bright ahead of this final, you really got the sense that this team is firmly 'feet on the ground,' and they feel like there is nothing that can be thrown at them that they cannot overcome.

Georgie: Me: “I’m not that superstitious.”

Also me: “My washing machine is broken so I’ve hand washed everything I wore to watch the semi-final so I can wear it for the final. Including my lucky pants.”