Australia and England are ready to revive their enduring sporting rivalry as they confront each other in the second Women’s World Cup semifinal in Sydney. Australia, one of the co-hosts, is preparing for their first-ever World Cup semifinal, and Stadium Australia expects a spirited crowd of around 80,000 on Wednesday.
Their nail-biting victory in a penalty shootout against France during the quarterfinals on Saturday marked one of Australia’s most-watched television sporting events in nearly two decades.
On the other hand, England, the reigning European champions, hold the position of favorites to secure their first-ever World Cup final appearance, even as they confront an unfriendly crowd.
Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach of the England team, acknowledged the monumental nature of the match between Australia and England. She expressed, “It’s going to be quite significant. But now that I’ve received multiple questions about it, it might be even larger than I initially envisioned. I’ll discuss this with my players and staff to understand the depth of this rivalry.”
Millie Bright
England’s captain, Millie Bright, comprehends the immense significance for fans of both nations. She conveyed, “You can’t help but look forward to that game,” following England’s comeback victory against Colombia with a 2-1 score in the quarterfinals.
Lauren Hemp, Bright’s teammate and the scorer of the equalizing goal against Colombia, welcomed the challenge of playing against Australia, stating, “Australia, bring it on. The stadium will fill with numerous Australian fans, yet we recognize that when we deliver our best performance, we become unstoppable.
Even though England will once more miss the presence of the suspended Lauren James, her absence didn’t have an impact during the match against Colombia. The crowd passionately backed the South American team.
Australia has harnessed the support of their fans to bolster their performance during challenging moments and is counting on a similar boost at the impressive Stadium Australia.
Vice-captain Steph Catley emphasized that her team is “perfectly prepared for this moment.” She explained, “We’ve achieved an ideal equilibrium with a core group that comprehends the gravity of the situation, alongside a smaller contingent of younger players who might not fully grasp the significance, which can be a form of bliss.”
The Matildas have scripted history by becoming the first host team since the United States in 1999 to secure a quarterfinal victory in nine Women’s World Cups.
