Ellie Roebuck, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp were all named in Sarina Wiegman’s 23-player squad for the prestigious tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
And all six have made a sizeable impact for the current European champions, on and off the field in the southern hemisphere.
Between them, they had gained an impressive 163 caps for their nation ahead of the major competition which they’ve spectacularly built on this summer.
From a hard-fought opening game victory to a phenomenal and historic semi-final performance, this is City’s Lionesses sextet’s World Cup story so far.
Following their tremendous European Championship triumph, England entered the World Cup as one of the favourites for the precious trophy.
But injuries to influential members of the heroic squad, such as Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, forced Wiegman to slightly tweak her winning formula with two of her most trusted lieutenants ruled out of the tournament.
As the European nation ironed out the kinks ahead of their opening match with Haiti, they fell to their only defeat under the Dutchwoman so far, a 2-0 loss to Australia, before drawing 0-0 with Portugal in their final warm-up game.
After recording back-to-back blanks, the Lionesses’ struggles in the final third continued in their first match of the World Cup as Georgia Stanway’s penalty was enough to record a narrow 1-0 victory over the North American team.
However, a sign of a good, well-oiled team is one who can win in the face of adversity and the Lionesses did just that.
Alex Greenwood started and played the match’s entirety while Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly both featured at the Suncorp Stadium.
In the search for goals, Wiegman deployed Kelly from the off and Chelsea’s talismanic Lauren James on opposite wing - and it had the desired effect when the latter turned on the style against Denmark in matchday two.
In what was a fast start for England, the 21-year-old turned on the style in Australia when she collected the ball on the edge of the box and outstandingly swept the ball home.
Midway through the first half, opportunity followed in the face of disappointment as Laura Coombs made her maiden major tournament appearance when replacing Keira Walsh who was forced off through injury.
It represented her fifth cap for her country following a remarkable rise to the grandest stage in football with eight years separating her third and fourth.
“Career goals complete” she perfectly described her emotions following the match.
Marshalled by City’s centre-back, England survived a late onslaught from Lars Sondergaard’s side to record their second successive 1-0 win in Group D.
Eyebrows continued to raise following back-to-back narrow wins, but the Lionesses answered their critics in their final match of the first phase of the World Cup when, spearheaded by members of Taylor’s team, they recorded an emphatic win over China.
It was once again a fast start by the Europeans when they opened the scoring inside four minutes when Alessia Russo neatly tucked home at the near post, before it became a match to remember for Hemp.
The 22-year-old would neatly slot home to double England’s lead and score her first ever-World Cup goal.
It would then prove to be a night of firsts for those connected with City with Kelly getting in on the act and also bagging her maiden goal at the showpiece.
As the full-time whistle blew, Wiegman’s Lionesses had answered their critics and sealed a memorable 6-1 victory which handed them strong momentum heading into the last-16.
However, against a dogged and determined Nigeria side in the first knockout round, they had to battle and use all of their magical major tournament experience to progress into the quarter-finals.
The African nation will have felt they deserved the place in the last-eight after hitting the bar twice in regulation time, while James was sent off in the closing stages.
After surviving a few scares, the Lionesses defended valiantly and took the game to penalties after a 0-0 draw and up stepped Kelly with the final, decisive kick to send England into the next round.
She once again proved to be the player for the big occasion to thunder her spot kick into the top corner to record a 4-2 penalties victory.
Next up was another fierce test in Colombia who had prevented 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners Germany from progressing into the knockout stages.
And it looked as if they were going to take another scalp at the tournament when they took the lead in the 44th minute.
But their advantage didn’t last for long thanks to the brilliance from City’s Hemp when she showed her poacher’s instinct to tap home after the ball fell to her feet in first half stoppage time.
The goal just before the interval gave England an enhanced boost and they took turned the game around shortly after the break when Russo coolly slotted home to ensure the European side booked their place into the semi-final for third successive World Cup.
Standing in the way of the Lionesses and their first-ever showpiece was co-hosts Australia who were backed by a raucous army of supporters.
However, Wiegman’s side rose to the occasion to produce arguably their best performance in the southern hemisphere so far to make history and set up a meeting with Spain for the iconic prize.
Ella Toone broke the deadlock close to half-time when she had ghosted into the box and drilled the ball into the top corner.
Although they took a deserved lead into the pause in play, the European champions’ mental resolve was tested once again when Sam Kerr scored one of the goals of the tournament when driving into the opposition half and fired home from 25-yards to equalise.
England were looking for a hero and it arrived in the form of Hemp who amazingly influenced proceedings to help her team advance into the final by scoring and assisting to secure a 3-1 victory.
The skilful winger restored the lead when she anticipated a hesitation across the Matildas backline to expertly poke home from close range before she dropped her shoulder in injury time to play a sublime through ball into Russo who tucked home.
History was made, but all connected with England will be looking to go one further on Sunday 20 August at 11:00 (UK).
Everyone at City wishes England the very best in the final against Spain this morning!
