For much of this World Cup, it looked like Ella Toone would not get her moment to shine.
She started England’s opening game of the tournament against Haiti but struggled and lost her place to Lauren James.
The Chelsea forward duly sparkled in the No10 role, scoring the only goal against Denmark and then adding two more and setting up three in the 6-1 thrashing of China.
Things changed again when James was sent off for a stamp on Nigeria forward Michelle Alozie in the last-16 and hit with a two-game ban, which opened the door for Toone.
Since coming back into the team, Toone has made her mark — and on Wednesday her brilliant arrowed finish set the Lionesses on their way to their first ever World Cup final.
Toone has grasped her opportunity and left head coach Sarina Wiegman with a huge selection decision for Sunday’s final now James is available again.
Does she bring James straight back in to the team or stick with Toone against Spain? After Toone’s starring role on Wednesday, it is hard to argue against starting her ahead of James.
More than her just her goal, Toone produced a sublime performance and off the ball she was excellent as she pressed and harried the Australia defence.
Given Spain are likely to dominate possession, her defensive work could be vital. Being critical, that is perhaps the one area of James’s game that she needs to develop and is why using her off the bench seems the ideal plan.
The final is likely to be a tight affair and having a potential game-changer such as James to bring on would be a huge weapon for Wiegman. She will remember both of England’s goals in the final of Euro 2022 were scored by substitutes.
“Tooney has come back in and she has done an unbelievable job again,” said midfielder Keira Walsh.
“People probably won’t speak about it too much, but it’s not easy to come in for a quarter-final or semi-final when all the spotlight has been on the player’s place you are taking.
“She tackled, she got stuck in, she took us up the pitch, she gave us a lot of security. LJ is a massive talent, but I think we have got to put some respect on Tooney’s name as well.”
Given the way Toone so emphatically opened the scoring on Wednesday, it is no surprise to learn she has been reading Jamie Vardy’s autobiography during her downtime in Australia.
Her finish was straight out of the Leicester striker’s playbook, as she lashed the ball into the top corner.
Toone’s defensive work could be vital and having a game-changer such as James to bring on would be huge for England
It was pure instinct from Toone, which is how the Manchester United midfielder plays, and the only thing premeditated about the goal was her celebration.
Toone and five of her friends got matching tattoos before the World Cup, and she promised them she would kiss hers and make a love heart gesture with her hands if she scored.
“Honestly, that’s the best shot I’ve hit in my life,” she said. “It fell straight to me in the box, and I just thought, ‘Why not just smack it?’
“Sometimes when you hit a ball, you just know, ‘Yeah, I’ve caught that perfectly’ and that was like, wow! I knew as soon as it left my boot that it was going to end up in the back of the net.”
Toone says the tattoo, which is a small heart on her wrist, will be her last but she hopes the goal celebration will return in Sunday’s final.
The 23-year-old has developed a knack of scoring goals at important times for the Lionesses. On Wednesday, she became the first English player in history to score in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final at major tournaments.
“It seems to be that I like the big stage,” she said. “But in tournament football it is often about taking those moments, and it was my turn to do so.”
The form of England strikers Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp has helped Toone shine. Russo and Hemp struck up their partnership just three games into the World Cup but they have quickly clicked and their movement caused Australia real problems.
Hemp was especially effective, scoring the Lionesses’ second goal and creating their third with her pace and willingness to run in behind vital.
“Oh my god, she was a joke!” said Rachel Daly of Hemp. “I said to her that’s the best I’ve seen her play.”
Hemp’s form is all the more remarkable when you consider she is a winger by trade. “After she scored, she turned around to me and said, ‘I’ve found a new position!’” said Lucy Bronze. “I said, ‘Yeah, you might have!’ Now you’re seeing what kind of a player she is.”
