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Women's World Cup | Third-Place Match

Jul 4, 2015 at 9pm UK

Germany Women Germany Women
0-1
England Women England Women

FT(HT: 0-0)

Williams (108' pen.)

Mark Sampson hails "awesome" England Women side

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 05 July 2015

England Women head coach Mark Sampson says that he "can't be more proud" of his players following their third-place playoff victory over Germany at the World Cup.

Mark Sampson has expressed his pride at seeing England Women bounce back from disappointment to finish third at the World Cup.

The Lionesses missed out on a place in the showpiece final earlier this week following an agonising 2-1 defeat to Japan in Edmonton.

However, a Fara Williams penalty in the first half of extra time against Germany was enough to see England round off their campaign on a relative high.

"The players have been absolutely awesome," Sampson told Sky Sports News. "I've spoken a lot about my sense of pride in this team but I'll say it again: I can't be more proud of the players or the staff, the effort that they've put in this tournament has been incredible.

"This team stepped up today, they really stepped up and they bounced back like the champions that they are and we saw a performance full of this team epitomises; resilience, character, hard work, never say die and what squad effort.

"It's been an honour and privilege to work with these players and staff over the course of this tournament. They've shown the world what we wanted to show; that with some strong values and some excellent players you can achieve special things."

The final will be contested between reigning champions Japan and the United States at 11pm tonight.