da brwin： Sarina Wiegman's team may have come up just short in Australia and New Zealand, but the next generation can help them reach even greater heights

da bet vitoria： England's Women's World Cup dream was not to be in 2023, but that does not mean there shouldn't be a lot of optimism and excitement surrounding the future of this team. The Lionesses achieved an incredible feat by reaching the final of the tournament despite missing a number of key players, and many of those who stepped up during that historic run are still only in the early years of their careers.

Indeed, 13 members of England's 23-player squad were aged 25 or under, with veteran defender Lucy Bronze saying after the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final that there will be much more to come from this group in the next few years.

“I think we have a really strong squad,” she said. “I think we showed that with the fact that we have made a final and nearly won, nearly took it to extra-time with many players from the Euros having retired or got injured. The starting XI tonight, in attack especially, was very young and they have got many, many tournaments ahead of them."

There are a number of exciting players who weren't part of this World Cup, too, that could well find themselves leading a title charge in 2027. So, who are those young stars that could be at the forefront of the Lionesses' battle to become world champions in four years' time? GOAL takes a look…

GettyLauren James

The star of the show in the group stages, Lauren James' performances at this Women's World Cup were so exciting and encouraging. After bringing a serious spark to England when playing off the left wing against Denmark, she showed versatility, too, as she shone in a creative playmaker role once the team had changed to a 3-5-2 system.

What is scary is that this tournament came at the end of the Chelsea star's first full season at the very highest level. Having helped Manchester United win promotion to the top-flight as a teenager, she is a name everyone has been raving about for several years, but a couple of seasons struggling with niggling injuries since meant she had to wait to really show that on the biggest stages.

The 21-year-old is well on top of those problems now, though, and has put them behind her to show the world just why everyone in England is incredibly excited about her future. James will come back even better after this experience, with her sure to learn massively from the last few weeks – including from that foolish red card in the last 16.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesChloe Kelly

It's been another big year for Chloe Kelly in an England shirt. After scoring the goal that won England the Women's Euros at Wembley last summer, it was her penalty in the shootout that secured the Women's Finalissima title in April, and she came up big again at this World Cup with a decisive spot-kick, hers sending the Lionesses through to the quarter-finals following a tricky last-16 encounter with Nigeria.

But despite all of that, and her fantastic performances for Manchester City in the Women's Super League, Kelly is yet to secure her spot in England's starting XI. It's something that is sure to come over the next few years as she starts to hit her prime years.

Currently 25 years old, she is the oldest name on this list, but it feels like there's so much more to come from her looking ahead to that 2027 Women's World Cup. She'll be a leading figure going into that tournament.

GettyMaya Le Tissier

A player incredibly unlucky to have missed out on this Women's World Cup, Maya Le Tissier was outstanding for Manchester United last season and was probably the best centre-back in the Women's Super League, even.

Already so mature, with the intelligence in her play belying her years, the 21-year-old is still learning a lot about the highest level of the game, too, and is sure to get a lot of big games and pressure moments under her belt over the next four years.

Despite being a surprise omission from the squad, Le Tissier did get the opportunity to fly to Australia to train with England ahead of the tournament, and that will be something she can take a lot from, with her sure to be an integral member of the team come 2027.

GettyHannah Hampton

There are a couple of promising young goalkeepers coming through in this England set-up, and one of them, Hannah Hampton, was part of the squad that reached this World Cup final.

The 22-year-old burst onto the scene six years ago and her shot-stopping reflexes and great technical ability have been catching the eye ever since.

This past year will have been a huge learning experience for her, too. After being part of the group that won the Euros last summer, Hampton was dropped from the England squad for what head coach Sarina Wiegman cited as "some personal issues that she has to solve". She came through that, returned to the team before the World Cup and has just been part of a run to the final.

Hampton will now enter a new chapter in her club career, too, joining Chelsea ahead of the new season. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out for her in a very competitive – and large – goalkeeping group, but she's sure to only develop.