2023 Women’s World Cup semi-finals: England vs Australia – Match preview, live stream, kick-off time, prediction, team news, lineups
England will face tournament co-hosts Australia on Wednesday in the last of the semi-final matches.
Stadium Australia will host the highly-anticipated match which will see the Matildas with the majority of the stadium’s support take on the European champions.
The winner of the match will face Spain in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup – which will take place on Sunday at 11:00 BST.
The Matildas edged out France during a penalty shootout to book their spot in the semis, whilst England were able to best Colombia to reach the last-4.
16 August, 11:00 BST: Australia v England – BBC One
Match Preview
It won’t be easy for the Lionesses, the stadium will likely be hostile – not too dissimilar to England’s Colombia game, with most filling up the stadium supporting the home team.
But England are no strangers to a hostile crowd and as Keira Walsh has already said, the pressure is on Australia not England.
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England preview
England have proved they know how to dig deep. Their football in this tournament hasn’t always been pretty, but it’s not the prettiness you remember when you’re busy lifting the trophy.
It marks the Lionesses’ fifth successive semi-final appearance in a major tournament.
They managed to edge out Haiti and Denmark with 1-0 scorelines, before switching up formation and ending their last group game against China with a 6-1 win.
They struggled against Nigeria but England were able to hold a goalless draw for 120-plus minutes to finally best Nigeria on penalities.
A tough game against Colombia saw England go 1-0 down in the first half, but before the half was up England had equalised and in the second half found the winning goal.
England lost a friendly match to Australia earlier this year, but it won’t count for much. There are new players in this team and it’s a major tournament, the environment will be extremely different.
What separates this England squad from the rest is their ability to adapt. They suffered a few major setbacks including injuries to key players and a red card, but they’ve held a strong defence and adapted to find a win – even if it hasn’t been pretty. England have only conceded 2 goals in the tournament so far and no doubt Mary Earps will be planning to keep it that way.
Australia preview
The Matildas had a shaky start to the tournament their country is co-hosting.
They squeezed past Ireland and lost to Nigeria in the group stage. But by their third group game they thrashed Olympic champions Canada 4-0.
They beat Denmark in the last-16 before meeting France in the quarter-finals, where the Matildas won on penalties.
After 20 spot kicks, Australia prevailed. They’ve now reached their first-ever Women’s World Cup semis.
The Matildas will be looking to use the advantage of having the crowd support, and the knowledge they have beaten England before, to see them over the line.
Team News
Since recovering from a calf injury, Sam Kerr has been utilised as a substitute in Australia’s last two games, but she is expected to be given her first start of the tournament for Wednesday’s semi-final.
The back four of Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy and Steph Catley will be looking to help their country keep a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
As Australia’s current top scorer with three goals at the tournament, Real Madrid’s summer signing Hayley Raso will provide a meaningful goal threat from the right flank.
As for England, they are still unable to call upon the services of Lauren James, who will serve the final game of her two-match suspension.
Jess Carter, Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood have proven to be a formidable force in the England backline, and they will need to be at their best again to thwart Kerr and co.
After scoring her second goal of the tournament against Colombia, Russo will be looking to add to her tally when she leads the line against Australia.
Australia possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord; Kerr, Fowler
England possible starting lineup:
Earps; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Walsh, Stanway, Daly; Toone; Russo, Hemp
WTX News predicts England 3-2 Australia
We expect this to be a highly entertaining match. We think England will get off to a great start as the Matildas might struggle under the weight of expectation. Whilst Australia have beaten England before, we think the Lionesses have just a little more experience to see them over the line.