England reach first World Cup final since 1966!

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [The Independent]( August 17, 2023 [View online](   [Morning Headlines]( 1 /[Sensational England capitalise on Sam Kerr’s missed moment to make World Cup history]( England reach the game’s grandest stage, having fittingly reached their greatest level so far in the competition. Such was the professionally commanding nature of this 3-1 semi-final win over hosts Australia that they somehow made this moment of glorious football history feel like it was always coming. They have just got better and better as this World Cup has gone on, as symbolised by Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo all getting on the scoresheet, rewarded with a place in the final itself. It was celebrated, of course, with a triumphant rendition of Sweet Caroline in the centre circle. They looked a level above a gutsy Australia who ran out of momentum and fortune. And yet it couldn’t quite be said it was a formality, not with Sam Kerr on the pitch. Even with England’s stellar performance, there was still drama and subplots. Kerr had finally arrived at this World Cup with a second-half goal of true brilliance and the only time that England suffered any kind of doubt, only to fail to keep her side in it with a jaw-dropping late miss as Australia trailed 2-1. That’s what it came down to, but only in terms of the details of the game rather than the pattern of the play. It still felt like England could go again, which is why they are ultimately going further and, possibly, all the way.   2 /[UK inflation rate tumbles sharply but recession still looms, economists warn]( Experts warn slump in economy could soon overtake cost of living as main worry for UK 3 /[Students receive A-level results as ministers in England aim to restore pre-pandemic grades]( This cohort could face greater disappointment as their inflated GCSE results could leave them with higher expectations, sector leaders say 4 /[Crooked House could rise again but will it be wonky?]( West Midlands mayor Andy Street called for fire-hit pub to be ‘rebuilt brick by brick’, as hopes of the famed pub’s reconstruction remain high 5 /[The great car insurance con: Complaints about payouts soar as motorists hit by record-high premiums]( Exclusive: Insurers delaying payout claims and undervaluing cars among top complaints THE BIG QUESTION [Which parts of the UK are paying the most council tax?]( Some Britons are now paying 10 per cent of their income on council tax – but it’s not in the areas you might think. An analysis by campaign group, [The TaxPayers’ Alliance](, compared council tax rates with Office for National Statistics figures on local earnings and Land Registry house price data. It found the [council tax]( disparity meant some [UK]( residents had been landed with a burden five times heavier than others. [For the full article click here]( Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   Watch / [Step inside The Britain’s new ‘wonkiest pub’ following Crooked House fire]( NUMBER OF THE DAY £2,074 – The average annual energy bill for a household in July 2023, according to the ONS. It comes as [UK price inflation fell 1.1 per cent in a month](to approach levels not seen since [Russia](’s invasion of [Ukraine]( in February 2022. [Read more]( QUOTE OF THE DAY “I thought ‘real’ men didn’t watch women’s football – how wrong I was.” – "I wasn’t going to watch it," says Sean O'Grady, "but after witnessing the Lionesses triumph against Australia, I now can’t wait for Sunday’s final. I’m a convert." What took him so long? 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