England striker Alessia Russo has described tomorrow’s Women’s World Cup final as the “one that means the most” as the Lionesses aim to make sporting history against Spain in Sydney.

Russo’s goals in both the quarter-final and semi-final victories over Colombia and Australia respectively have helped propel Sarina Wiegman’s team to the brink of footballing immortality as they try to win back-to-back major tournaments in consecutive summers.

Speaking from England’s base camp in the coastal town of Terrigal, the 24-year-old said: “This is the biggest game, the one you dream about, the one that means the most. It’s an incredible occasion, it’s been an unbelievable tournament and this is it. This is exactly where we want to be. We can’t wait.

“I feel like it [the momentum of the match] will hit when we’re in the tunnel and ready to walk out. Right now all I want to do is go out, put on a performance to be proud of and obviously to win.

“We started this tournament wanting to win seven games and that’s still the message. This is the last one to go and we’re really locked in. I’m sure I will look back when I’m old and grey, but right now it’s about what’s coming up and what’s there to achieve.”

For more on what Russo and England are saying, go here.

What and when is it?

The World Cup final is the single biggest fixture in international women’s football. The tournament is assured to have a new winner this year with Spain or England both aiming to lift the trophy for the first time. 

The final is tomorrow, with the game kicking off at 11am UK time (8pm Sydney local time).

Where is the match being played?

The final will be played at the Stadium Australia in Sydney.

How to watch

The final will be show on both BBC One and ITV1. 

Broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup are being shared between BBC and ITV. It was ITV who broadcast England’s quarter-final win but the BBC had the rights to broadcast both semi-finals.

How did the teams reach the final?

Lauren Hemp’s second-half strike helped fire England into their first World Cup final as the Lionesses sealed a 3-1 victory over co-hosts Australia.

Ella Toone, who replaced the suspended Lauren James for England’s quarter-final win over Colombia, scored 36 minutes into her second start of the tournament in front of a crowd of 75,784.

Sam Kerr, making her first start of competition, equalised for the first-time semi-finalists with a stunning individual goal after the break before Hemp put England back out in front.

Alessia Russo added another late in the second half to cap off the historic encounter and set up an all-European final showdown against Spain. 

England are now one win away from lifting two major trophies in just under 13 months after their triumph at last summer’s European Championship. 

Earlier in the week, Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 win over Sweden in the other semi-final.

Carmona’s 90th-minute strike from long-range pinged off the crossbar and into the goal two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist had levelled the match for Sweden. 

Salma Paralluelo, the quarter-final hero against the Netherlands, put Spain in the lead with the opening goal in the 81st minute, breathing life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair.

Who is in England’s squad?

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)

Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Bethany England (Tottenham Hotspur), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Manchester United)

Russo, who signed for Arsenal from Manchester United in July, said: “Obviously we’re all aware it’s a World Cup final but as soon as you cross the white line and the first whistle goes, it’s just a normal game. It’s what we love to do. It’s 11 v 11 and it’s a game we’ve got to win. We know our jobs, we know what we need to do. We’ll just play our game.

“Everyone is excited but we’re very relaxed and chilled. It feels like a normal game to us. It shows the composure of the team. The camp has been great from the first game until now and it feels pretty similar, it’s another game we must win.”

Nonetheless, reflecting back to when she was playing football in her local park with her brothers and friends as a young child growing up in Maidstone, Russo added: “To [now] think we’re playing in a World Cup in a couple of days is a real pinch-me moment.”

Meanwhile, Jess Carter is not nervous about facing Spain.

The Chelsea defender has been one of England’s best players in Australia and said: “I think so (we play without fear). We’re a confident group. We’ve got all the tools to be a successful team. It’s about finding a way to get the best out of ourselves.

“We’ve managed to do it at different times. We’ve played games when we have not done very well but we’ve got through and that’s what you have to find.

“Personally, I won’t have any nerves. It’s football. I’m not really a nervous person. I understand and know from the outside, it’s the World Cup final, your biggest moment. But I play my best when I’m super calm.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a game of football. We have to perform as we did in the first group game. Maybe some people have nerves but I think that will be channelled into positive energy come the night.”