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Wrexham midfielder Elliott Lee perfectly summed up the club's emphatic 6-0 win over Morecambe on Saturday.

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Lee assesses Wrexham's win over MorecambeCongratulated Paul MullinMullin netted a hat-trick against former clubWHAT HAPPENED?

Wrexham star Paul Mullin netted a hat-trick against his former club Morecambe as the Welsh club registered a thumping 6-0 win on Saturday in a League Two clash.

After the emphatic win, midfielder Lee took to Instagram where he shared the club's full-time post and congratulated his colleague Mullin for scoring a hat-trick and also breathed a sigh of relief for successfully crossing the 19-match mark with four yellow cards to his name.

AdvertisementWHAT ELLIOT LEE SAID

In his story, Lee wrote, "Three points. Hat-trick for my mate Paul Mullin and yellow card threshold completed!

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After missing the start of the season due to a punctured lung – which he suffered during a pre-season match against Manchester United in the US – Mullin is slowly regaining his form from the last season. In the ongoing campaign, the striker has scored nine goals and provided two assists in 14 matches across all competitions.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

After a setback against Accrington Stanley last week, the Red Dragons are back to winning ways and have climbed up to the second position on the league table. They will next face Harrogate Town on Tuesday.

GOAL profiles the stars from the continent who came close to winning the English competition.

The FA Cup final takes place on Saturday with Liverpool facing Chelsea and a number of African players will be involved.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Joel Matip are all likely to start for Liverpool while Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech could line up for Chelsea.

With one team set for the disappointment of losing, GOAL looks at six African players who reached the FA Cup final but never won it.

Getty ImagesQuinton Fortune

The former South African international, who played as a midfielder and left-back, was on Manchester United’s books for seven years (1999-2006) where he featured sparingly. While he won a Premier League title in 2003, the FA Cup eluded him in 2005 when he was an unused substitute as the Red Devils lost to Arsenal 5-4 on post-match penalties after a barren draw in regular time.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALEmmanuel Adebayor

Despite turning out for Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, the former Togo international never managed to reach the FA Cup final with the aforementioned and his only chance to get his hands on the prestigious trophy came in the 2015-16 season while playing for Crystal Palace. Adebayor was an unused substitute as Palace lost 2-1 to Manchester United in extra time, the Eagles having been 12 minutes away from victory.

Crystal Palace.Wilfried Zaha

Like Adebayor, the Ivory Coast international also lost the 2015-16 final to Manchester United, having started and completed the match as he was among manager Alan Pardew’s key men for Crystal Palace. Zaha tormented the United defence for most of the game but he could not find the target. Unlike Adebayor, Zaha still has a chance to win the trophy if Palace, or another team that he could join, reaches the final.

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Getty ImagesEric Bailly

The Ivory Coast centre-back looks set to leave Manchester United and he could do that without winning the FA Cup trophy. Bailly was an unused substitute as United lost the 2017-18 final to Chelsea who won 1-0 thanks to Eden Hazard’s strike. Bailly had been a key member of the squad prior to the final but injuries limited his appearances.

The midfielder made his United debut aged 17 and will be one of the players to watch during the Red Devils' pre-season campaign

The FA Youth Cup has been the launching pad for many successful Manchester United careers, and everyone who followed the team's run to the 2022 trophy talked about two players in particular. It was difficult to ignore Alejandro Garnacho, who finished as United's top scorer, firing the Under-18s to glory with two goals in the final against Nottingham Forest. But behind him was the more unassuming yet equally influential Kobbie Mainoo, who orchestrated United's play from deep and held everything together.

Garnacho galvanised big crowds at Old Trafford with his talismanic displays in the Youth Cup and has catapulted himself into the hearts of the wider United support with a stunning breakthrough season in 2022-23. The Argentine is a star in the making and loves the limelight.

Mainoo is a very different character, but albeit at a steadier pace, he is following in Garnacho's footsteps into Erik ten Hag's side. After getting his first taste of first-team football last season with a smattering of appearances, the 18-year-old will be one of the players to watch in United's pre-season campaign, which begins on Wednesday against Leeds in Norway and will take the team across the United States.

Getty'He's a cracker'

Mentioning Mainoo's name to anyone around United generally provokes a huge grin. There is tangible excitement about the 18-year-old's progress and what he could achieve with the club. "He’s a cracker, he really is," a club source tells GOAL. "Balance, movement, doesn't panic under pressure. Out of the lot who won the Youth Cup, him and Alejandro were always going to be the ones [to make it].

"He'll definitely be around the first-team squad next season or he'll be playing first-team football somewhere on loan. And he'll knock it out the park. He’s such a big lad. He's got balance, movement, he doesn't panic under pressure. He’s superb."

It might sound strange for Mainoo to be described as big. He stands at just 5'9 (175cm), making him the same height as Lisandro Martinez. But he compensates with remarkable physical strength honed in the gym after being encouraged to bulk up by coaches.

AdvertisementThriving in older age groups

Mainoo was born in Stockport to Ghanaian parents. He often returns to Ghana to visit family, but he is an England Under-19 international and wants to represent the Three Lions at senior level.

He was discovered by United while playing for Cheadle and Gatley Junior Club, and became part of the club's academy aged nine, though he continued to represent his local club until he was 12. United encourage their youngsters to keep up their normal football activities as they want to promote a healthy childhood. The club believes United can be a great addition to a player's childhood, but should not define it.

Mainoo was encouraged to train with older age groups to test himself and get more experience, and he was one of the youngest players in the Youth Cup team, beginning the campaign when he was 16. He still started all six games in the cup run and was one of the most important players forU18s coach Travis Binnion.

GettyTesting himself all across midfield

Mainoo played as a No.6 under Binnion, but last season for the U21s he was tasked with playing all over midfield, as a No.8 and as a No.10. He has even played on the wing. The idea was to give him as much experience and confidence in different roles, as that will make him more equipped to come off the bench for Ten Hag's side.

"His talent is so high they'll push him around, try him in different positions play him on wings to give him that technical challenge," explains another club source. "In the first-team central midfield is such a competitive position, if you’re going to come off the bench often it might be on the wing for 10 minutes, so if he’s used to doing it in the U21s then it’s easier to do it at Old Trafford as and when he needs to.

"He would define himself as a No.6 but he may end up being a No.8 or a No.10. It's not fully defined what his best position is, but if you asked him he’d say No.6 or No.8."

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GettyEnhancing his reputation in Spain

While Garnacho joined United's first team on their pre-season tour of Australia last year, Mainoo stayed in Manchester. But he remained in Ten Hag's thoughts, and was named on the substitutes' bench for the Premier League game against Newcastle in October.

He didn't get on the pitch, but the fact he was called into the squad for such an important game was an indication of how highly Ten Hag thought of him. Mainoo then joined the first team on their training camp in southern Spain in December during the World Cup, along with a number of his FA Youth Cup-winning team-mates.

The trip might not have seemed like a success on some levels. It was supposed to be a warm weather training camp but it rained throughout, while United lost both their friendly matches, against Cadiz and Real Betis. But for Mainoo it was a big success, and he scored in the 4-2 defeat against Cadiz, returning to Manchester with his reputation enhanced.

USMNT captain Tyler Adams has announced that he and his partner, Sarah Schmidt, are having their first child together – a baby boy!

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Adams announces he and partner having a baby boyUSMNT midfielder currently sidelined with injuryPotential return to pitch in FebruaryWHAT HAPPENED?

"Baby boy coming in January, beyond grateful👶🏼🩵," Adams posted on Instagram, with USMNT teammates and players from around the world flooding the comment section following the brilliant news. One user even pointed out that 18 years on from his child's birth, the U.S. could find themselves playing in the 2042 FIFA World Cup, with a prodigy in the making potentially forming part of that line up.

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The USMNT midfielder made a big summer move from relegated Leeds United to Bournemouth, but only managed one appearance for the Cherries before returning to the injury table. Last spring, Adams suffered a season-ending injury for the now-Championship side, and returned in September before finding himself sidelined once again. He seemingly cannot catch a break, but the hope is that this latest surgery has permanently fixed the issue that has been bothering him.

DID YOU KNOW

Adams nearly made a move to Premier League giants Chelsea over the summer, even undergoing a medical with the Blues, before talks collapsed. He then agreed a deal with Bournemouth instead.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TYLER ADAMS

The USMNT midfielder is going to be out for at least three more months, with Cherries boss Andoni Iraola saying that he won't take to the pitch until at least February. Until then, he'll be getting ready to welcome his new arrival.

Shahid Afridi has been branded an “absolutely clueless” captain in a report submitted by Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam in the wake of the team’s poor World T20 and Asia Cup campaigns

Umar Farooq01-Apr-20162:31

Chappell: Afridi very honest in interview after WT20 exit

Shahid Afridi has been branded an “absolutely clueless” captain in a report submitted by Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam in the wake of the team’s poor World T20 and Asia Cup campaigns.The document by Intikhab, which follows an equally scathing report by coach Waqar Younis, covers the back-to-back T20 tournaments where Pakistan managed just three wins out of eight matches – with one of those victories coming against UAE. They exited the World T20 at the Super 10s stage following defeats against India, New Zealand and Australia.The five-page report, a copy of which has been obtained by ESPNcricinfo, is hugely critical of Afridi’s on-field tactics and off-field leadership, the lack of skills in all departments of the squad and how they became involved in “needless controversies” during the World T20, though Intikhab said the coaching and support staff performed their duties “most diligently”.”These very same reasons continued to be Team Pakistan’s bugbear, but since this was a global tournament with the top-most competing for honours, the magnitude of the stress, and the pressure was even more pronounced,” Intikhab wrote.”The recent Asia Cup and the ICC World T20 have made it evident that we have critical gaps both in batting and bowling, and our fielding keeps on leaking runs, thus releasing pressure. In bowling, with the exception of Mohammad Amir, we do not have a bowler who can win us matches. Our death bowling also is way below par. And the same goes with our batting line-up, where we do not have reliable pinch hitters and the top and power hitter to clinch us games.”Intikhab’s recommendations

Strict selection criteria must be formulated, with a marks scale for each (such as form, statistical record, ability to adapt and being a team player).

In order to improve fitness, the free period between now and the England tour, should be used for a training camp to improve fitness and fielding.

“To cap it all, the tournament was being held in India, where the team was under multiple scanners at the same time, pushing the stress and anxiety levels very high,” Intikhab said. “Much to our chagrin [added to the above reasons], was a captain in his farewell event after a career spanning nearly 20 years, yet absolutely clueless in terms of on-field tactics and off-field leadership.”Afridi’s captaincy was a regular topic of debate throughout the two tournaments. His decision-making came under scrutiny when Pakistan controversially dropped Wahab Riaz in favour of Anwar for the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh. Then there was the surprising move when Afridi promoted himself to No. 3 in the World T20 match against India at the expense of Mohammad Hafeez, who had made 64 off 42 balls in the previous match against Bangladesh, with Afridi subsequently scratching around for 8 off 14 deliveries.In the field, too, questions were often asked. Against India, defending 118, Pakistan had made early inroads through Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Sami before a 61-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh for the fourth wicket took the game away. Amir, who conceded just three runs in his first two overs, was taken off and brought back when the game was all but lost, in the 14th over.Intikhab continued: “We were also set back by two absolutely needless controversies, the first emanating from Afridi’s ‘more-loved-in-India-than-in-Pakistan’ statement in his mandatory on-arrival press conference [had he stuck to the detailed briefing given to him by the media manager and myself, this would not have occurred] and Umar Akmal again stealing the limelight in an unseemly manner by seeking Imran Khan’s intervention to fix his batting position at three, when he had done little to inspire confidence at number 4.”

It was a pretty decent one as far as pep talks go, but it was evident that Imran – not unlike many outstanding exponents of the game from his time who have not stayed abreast with it – was not too familiar with the demands and tactics employed in this condensed, post-modern format of the gameIntikhab Alam on Imran Khan’s address to the team

Pakistan won their opening game of the World T20 against Bangladesh comprehensively, and regained some confidence after a poor showing in the Asia Cup, when they posted 201 to set up a 55-run victory at Eden Gardens. However, in the high-octane atmosphere against India they fell to a six-wicket defeat and were then comfortably beaten by New Zealand and Australia.Intikhab’s report focused heavily on the game against India where he said “many factors were at play” including Pakistan’s poor record against their “arch-rivals” at ICC events and he highlighted the rain in the lead-up to the match which had a considerable impact on conditions before referring to the invite handed to Imran Khan to address the team.”On the day, the events also conspired against us. For one, the weather didn’t help. On the same square where the Pakistan batsmen gave a commanding performance against Sri Lanka [the warm-up match] and Bangladesh, the weather suddenly turned from sultry and sunny to wet and unpredictable. Intermittent rain during the night prior to the game, followed by further downpours and overcast skies, meant that the pitch and outfield remained covered for more than 24 hours, changing its character from slow in pace to a spitefully turning and gripping one.”To prop up the team’s morale, Shahid Afridi invited Imran Khan (then in India for his own media and other engagements) for a pep talk prior to the game. Imran for his part tried to lift the morale, advising the boys to stay positive till the last ball was bowled, and never allow the possibility of defeat enter their consciousness. It was a pretty decent one as far as pep talks go, but it was evident that Imran – not unlike many outstanding exponents of the game from his time who have not stayed abreast with it – was not too familiar with the demands and tactics employed in this condensed, post-modern format of the game.”I also felt if proper field placing was placed for Shoaib Malik in his initial over may have given us a breakthrough; it was very surprising to see in a low-scoring game there was no attacking field-placing. There was no slip; had he employed a slip cordon for Malik, we may have had Yuvraj as two chances from his blade went through.”Earlier our batting, too, had left much to be desired. Hafeez was not sent in at number three while Sarfraz too did not get a meaningful strike. These two were our best bets, as they were our prime exponents against spin. The Indian spin attack was not challenged at all by our batting, save Shoaib Malik near the closing stages, resulting in a total that was 20 runs short of the average on the Eden Garden turf.”To support his criticisms of the batting order, Intikhab referenced various statistics including that of all the deliveries that Pakistan faced at the World T20, Sarfraz Ahmed only played 17 of them despite having made scores of 41, 25, 58 and 38 in his four T20I innings leading into the tournament. Intikhab termed the use of Sarfraz “a critical waste of talent and form.”He was also highly critical of Umar Akmal’s returns, writing that his figures “are a damning expose on his game awareness and sense of responsibility” and said that Ahmed Shehzad, who had been recalled shortly before the tournament, was “equally poor.”In response to claims of factions forming within in the team, Intikhab said: “The news of groupings in the team only emerged after the team’s loss to New Zealand. It may have been fed from inside the team only to divert attention and shift blame from the captain’s and other boys’ failure.”In my opinion, to alleviate our situation in shorter formats of the game, we have to make a comprehensive plan at the Board level. And this includes improving our selection methods. Pick-up, drop, pick-up routine has not helped us at all, neither has bowing down to player power nor hanging on to the so-called ‘talented mavericks’ who refuse to learn, evolve and deliver.”

Luis Rubiales refuted claims he 'inappropriately' touched England's players before his non-consensual kiss on Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final.

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Rubiales accused of touching England playersEx-RFEF president hit back at the claimsOfficial has been banned for three yearsWHAT HAPPENED?

The former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president responded to accusations by Football Association (FA) chair Debbie Hewitt that he "cupped and stroked" England star Laura Coombs' face and "seemingly forcefully kissed" Lucy Bronze. Hewitt then said that when the Spain players came up to accept their medals, Rubiales was "tactile" as he kissed their cheeks and "rubbed some on their back, tapped one on her bottom, grabbed some by their arm, lifted several off their feet, and one was hoisted twice".

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Hewitt's comments were submitted to FIFA as they investigated Rubiales because he kissed Spain star Hermoso, sparking outrage across the football world. The president refused to apologise or resign from his post at the RFEF, but was initially temporarily suspended by FIFA before the governing body handed down a three-year ban from football in October.

WHAT RUBIALES SAID

Rubiales was given the opportunity to respond to Hewitt's comments as part of FIFA's investigation and his representative labelled her account "astonishing" as he accused the FA chair of doing the same as he had been accused of.

The response, which was published by FIFA on Wednesday, states that Rubiales felt "the need to point out that Ms. Hewitt, hugged several players even after clearly noticing that they were extending their hands to receive a handshake, which applying the same logic she used, could be understood as a forceful nonconsensual physical contact, or even when greeting the referees, it can be seen Ms. Hewitt touching all of them in their arms, while [Rubiales] limited his interaction to a plain handshake. The hypocrisy is blatant."

It adds: "The way she presents a gentle gesture of comfort to all the rivals in the final of the [Women's World Cup], suggesting that [Rubiales] is some sort of creep is absolutely disgusting. Also, she either purposely or negligently decides to obviate some of crucial facts, first Ms. Coombs was injured during the final, had to receive stitches and was wearing a bandage in her head, reason why [Rubiales] tried to comfort her.

"And second, Ms. Bronze not only plays in Spain, but she was also super cup champion in Spain just few months before in which celebration Mr. Rubiales obviously participated. This conduct was not denounced when on June 18, 2023, he hugged Mr. Luka Modric after the final, precisely for the same reasons he hugged Ms. Bronze."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RUBIALES?

The 46-year-old has vowed to appeal the suspension he was hit with, though FIFA said in its ruling that the disgraced official could have been given an even more severe sanction. He could also face criminal prosecution as the incident is being investigated by a Spanish judge.

Eighty-six runs short of the record for most runs by a West Indian, Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been left out of the first Test against Australia on June 3

ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-2015Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been left out of West Indies’ 14-member squad to face Australia in the first of two Tests starting June 3. He is 87 runs short of breaking the record for most Test runs by a West Indian, but has hit a trough of poor form and both chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd and coach Phil Simmons had felt he did not have a place in their best XI.Chanderpaul made only 92 runs at an average of 15.33 in the three Tests against England in April and May. He has had six single-digit scores and only one fifty in his last 10 innings.Meanwhile, the uncapped duo of Shane Dowrich, who scored twin fifties against the touring Australians, and Rajindra Chandrika find a place in the team.Changes to WI squad from the England series

In: Shane Dowrich and Rajindra Chandrika
Out:Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devon Smith and Carlos Brathwaite

Dowrich, the 23-year old wicketkeeper batsman, peaked over the last two years in first-class cricket, averaging 50.18 against his overall figure of 37.46. He struck three centuries and seven fifties in that period, including a career-best unbeaten 131. Chandrika, the 25-year old batsman, averages 25 as well in first-class cricket. But his selection into the national squad comes on the back of better recent form. Apart from the 74 he hit against the Australians, he’s struck four fifties this year in the Regional four-day tournament.Opening batsman Shai Hope, who made his debut against England, retains his spot. Spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, who played only one of the three Tests of that series, have kept their places as well. The fast bowling will be headed by Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel.West Indies squad for the first Test Denesh Ramdin (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor

The legendary striker scored his first goal at Parc des Princes on Tuesday – now just 15 grounds have denied him as a Real Madrid player

Stade de MarrakeshMarrakesh, MoroccoAdvertisementGetty ImagesEl ArcangelCordoba, SpainGetty ImagesSan SiroMilan, ItalyENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesStade de l'Abbé-DeschampsAuxerre, France

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An essential to get rid of any post-training muscle pain

Whether it's after training in the gym or a post-match strain, there's nothing worse than aches and pains stopping you from doing what you love. This is where massage guns become an essential piece of kit to keep you moving.

Massage guns have evolved to become the must-have gadget for sports recovery and there’s a wide selection of options to choose from. From ones with advanced LCD screens to travel-size minis – perfect for away games – there's an option out there to suit everyone.

What is a massage gun and why should use one?

If you’ve never used a massage gun before, fear not because they couldn't be simpler to operate. They are handheld machines that help relieve muscle pain and tension and are an excellent tool for giving you an effective muscle massage, and pain relief using vibration therapy. 

Most devices come with multiple attachments, specifically designed to be used on different parts of the body. There will usually be more than the one-speed setting, so you can truly personalise your experience.

So, whether it’s an overstretched leg from a tackle you didn’t quite make, or a shoulder barge you were on the receiving end for, GOAL has you covered. Here are all the best massage guns you can buy right now. 

Shop: Best massage guns for 2023

If you don’t mind investing in the best quality massage gun the market can offer, you won't go wrong with the Therabody Theragun PRO.

Voted best Kitbag accessory in the GOAL 2022 Product Awards, the newest member of the Theragun family comes with an impressive bounty of new features like built-in guided routines and app connectivity, plus, a stronger motor quieter than ever before.

A kitbag essential – loved by the likes of Trent Alerxander-Arnold and Granit Xhaka – for muscle recovery, the Theragun PRO is the ultimate tool to help you find relief after those tough games. 

The Hypervolt 2 is on the pricier end of the scale, but you’ll get the best of every feature for the money. It’s lightweight, so you can operate it with ease, and quiet enough for you to watch your favourite boxset whilst recovering post-match.

You don’t have to break the bank to get some much-needed relief from sore muscles. The MKHS massage gun packs a punch for a reasonably priced device. Plus, you get all the benefits of a much higher-priced item for a fraction of the price.

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Nothing is worse than when you’re using a massage gun, and the battery goes dead halfway through.

You won't have to worry about cutting your recovery session short with the Mebak 3 model. Featuring a three-hour run time after being fully charged, plus an LCD screen that displays the battery life in real-time.

The Manchester United star shook off her critics to set Sarina Wiegman's side on their way to a 3-1 win on Sydney that sets up a finale against Spain

England will face Spain in their first ever Women's World Cup final on Sunday after breaking the hearts of co-hosts Australia in Sydney on Wednesday with a 3-1 win. More than 75,000 fans packed into Stadium Australia, with the majority holding the hopes of seeing the Matildas achieve that feat, but goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo meant it was Sarina Wiegman's side that booked a return to the venue this weekend.

England started well and could've been ahead within minutes, but Georgia Stanway's half-volley was blocked by Mackenzie Arnold in the Australia goal. They did go in at the break with the lead, though, thanks to a bullet of an effort from Toone that flew into the top corner after good work down the right from Russo.

The Matildas were not going to go away, however, and after a couple of decent chances in the second half for England – Hemp seeing an effort well-saved by Arnold before Millie Bright headed wide from a corner – it was captain Sam Kerr that sent Stadium Australia into raptures. Driving at Bright, and realising that her Chelsea team-mate wasn't going to close her down, Kerr unleashed a strike from 25 yards out that flew past Mary Earps and produced an incredible roar inside the ground.

But England did well to wrestle back momentum and shortly after Russo saw a header drop just wide of the far post, Hemp fired the Lionesses back into the lead, pouncing on some hesitant defending from Ellie Carpenter.

Australia had two huge chances to get back on level terms and both fell to Kerr, the exact player they'd want them to. But the Matildas' star couldn't flick Mary Fowler's cross beyond Earps, instead nodding it well over, and then missed an even bigger opportunity when she failed to hit the target from six yards out. Only moments later, she watched Hemp race down the other end and slip in Russo to finish the game off and send England into the final instead.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stadium Australia…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Ella Toone

This was an incredible redemption story for Toone, whose place in the England team has been questioned time and time again both before and during this tournament, with her form having dropped a little.

The Manchester United star was an excellent super sub during the Euros last year, and while there were many pondering whether returning to that role would help her and benefit the team, Sarina Wiegman stuck by her No.10 and that faith paid off on Wednesday.

With the game extremely tight in the first half, it was Toone who broke the deadlock with a fierce strike inside the box that flew into the top corner. It'll do her confidence the world of good and, in turn, surely benefit her all-round game.

It also gives Wiegman a big decision to make this weekend as Lauren James, who had excelled in that No.10 role before her red card against Nigeria, will be available again after suspension.

AdvertisementGettyWINNER: Lauren Hemp

Hemp was in flying form when last year's Euros came around, but it felt like we never really saw her hit top gear in the tournament on an individual level, even as England went on to lift the trophy.

This World Cup, however, has been a different story. Moving into a role as one of two strikers, she has thrived alongside Russo and this was her best performance yet in Australia – and probably even her best yet in an England shirt.

Her directness caused plenty of problems, her energy was a nuisance that allowed her to score her goal and her desire to run at players was what allowed her to set up Russo for the third. What a brilliant display.

Getty ImagesLOSER: Sam Kerr

When Kerr smashed the ball into the top corner of the England goal to level the scores on Wednesday, it looked like this was going to be her fairy-tale night. After missing all three group-stage games with injury, she was slowly reintroduced in the knockout rounds and marked her first start of the World Cup with an incredible strike.

However, the two huge misses that followed when the Lionesses were still only 2-1 up will haunt her. A little glance on Fowler's cross would've levelled the scores, but she made too much contact and sent it over the bar. A more composed finish when the ball fell to her six yards out, moments before Russo made it 3-1, would have, too. But it wasn't meant to be and it will hurt her.

"Knowing Sam, she probably thinks that goal was worth nothing," Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson said afterwards. "She's a winner. I know she's upset she missed the two chances. That's how she's wired."

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Getty ImagesWINNER: Jess Carter

There have been some tricky moments for Jess Carter in this tournament, with her targeted by Australia's pressing in this game and hitting some poor passes as a result.

But the Chelsea star is a really, really good at defending, even if she's not the most comfortable on the ball of England's back three, and she showed that in this game generally, but particularly at the end.

When Earps saved Cortnee Vine's shot late in the game, Emily van Egmond was ready for a tap-in at the back post until Carter intervened. It was a crucial intervention and the defender deserves huge credit for it as well as for her performances in this tournament.