Carli Lloyd scored a brilliant hat-trick as the US beat Japan 5-2 to win the Women's World Cup on Sunday night.

As if that wasn't enough her third goal was a lob from the half-way line after nut-megging an opponent - simply one of the best goals in World Cup history.

Lloyd said she had dreamed of playing in a World Cup final - although she saw herself scoring four girls rather than three.

“The break we had before we met up in Jersey I was home and it was just my headphones, myself and I at the field and I’m running and I’m doing sprints and I just completely zoned out,” Lloyd recalled to reporters.

“I dreamed of and visualised playing in a World Cup final and visualised scoring four goals.

“Sounds pretty funny but that’s what it is all about.

Women's World Cup - in pictures Show all 11 1 /11 Women's World Cup - in pictures Women's World Cup - in pictures 1) Celia Sasic celebrates with her Germany team-mates after scoring a hat-trick in a 10-0 win over the Ivory Coast Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 2) Angie Ponce (sitting) scored two own goals as Ecuador were beaten 10-1 by Switzerland Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 3) England manager Mark Sampson was furious after France midfielder Camille Abily went unpunished for an elbow on Laura Bassett Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 4) Fran Kirby celebrates after a superb individual goal gave England their first win of the campaign Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 5) England secured their passage into the last-16 with a 2-1 win over Colombia Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 6) Kyah Simon shocked the world as Australia beat Brazil 1-0 to knock one of the favourites out of the competition Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 7) Lucy Bronze scored a stunning long-range goal against Norway to put England into the quarter-final Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 8) Lucy Bronze was on target again as England upset hosts Canada with two goals in the first 15 minutes Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 9) The US won the clash of the titans against Germany to book their place in Sunday's final Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 10) Laura Bassett after scoring an injury-time semi-final own goal against Japan Getty Images Women's World Cup - in pictures 11) US players celebrate after beating Japan to win the World Cup GETTY

“At the end of the day you can be physically strong, have all the tools but if your mental state isn’t good enough you can’t bring yourself to bigger and better things.