A Women's World Cup that has broken records on and off the pitch will reach a suitable climax when England or Spain is crowned champion for the first time on Sunday.
About 75,000 fans will pack Stadium Australia in Sydney for the final of a World Cup that began with 32 teams, compared to 24 four years ago, and saw many of the favorites fall early.
Germany bowed out in the group phase along with Brazil. Italy and Canada, the Olympic champion, lost in the last 16. Then the two-time defending champion United States followed them out that same trapdoor in its earliest ever exit.