The Matildas will face England in the Women’s World Cup semi-final in Sydney on Wednesday, after a nail-biting penalty shootout win over France on Saturday night. It is the first time in their history that the Matildas have reached the last four of a World Cup. Here’s what you need to know about their opponents.
Reigning European champions but form has been patchy
Football “came home”, as the English like to say, when England lifted the Women’s European Championship trophy at Wembley last year. It was the first time England had won a major men’s or women’s tournament since the 1966 men’s World Cup. The Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 in the final, with Chloe Kelly scoring the winner in extra time.
That triumph buoyed the England team and they arrived in Australia ranked fourth in the Fifa rankings. But they have looked unconvincing throughout the tournament: they were fortunate to beat newcomers Haiti in their opening match, before narrowly seeing off Denmark. A blowout win over China sent the Lionesses through to the knockout stage atop Group D, but they almost went home in the round of 16 and were lucky to beat Nigeria on penalties. The quarter-final victory over Colombia was an improvement, but they still look far from their scintillating best.
Key players missing – and James suspended
The England squad at full strength is one of the strongest in world football, but the Lionesses travelled to Australia depleted due to long-term injuries to several key players. Forward Beth Mead was joint top scorer at the Euros last year, but ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during the club season and is still recovering. The captain, Leah Williamson, is another missing through an ACL injury, while Fran Kirby was ruled out after undergoing knee surgery in May.
One player who has been fit and firing, but will be absent on Wednesday night, is Lauren James. The 21-year-old attacking sensation has starred for England this tournament but was sent off for stamping on opponent Michelle Alozie in the last 16, earning a two-match ban in the process. James’s absence will be a blow for the Lionesses as they seek to break down a Matildas’ backline that has conceded in just one match this tournament.
Dutch maestro leading Lionesses
At the last World Cup, in France four years ago, the Netherlands were the surprise package – going all the way to the final and taking the fight to eventual champions the United States. At the helm was former Dutch international Sarina Wiegman, who had done a superb job guiding the Netherlands from the footballing wilderness to a European Championship title in 2017 and then the final in France. It was only the second World Cup appearance for the Dutch women’s team.
Wiegman became hot managerial property following the tournament, and in 2021 joined England. Having won the Euros twice and taken a team to the World Cup final, Wiegman is one of the most successful managers in women’s football history – and one of the few female football managers at the highest level (although that is slowly changing). The manager is known for being calm, decisive and tactically astute.
Familiar foes for the Matildas’ WSL contingent
More than a third of the Matildas squad play their club football in England, which means that many of their semi-final opponents will be familiar foes. Women’s football has been supercharged in recent years with the growth of the Women’s Super League, with English clubs now becoming a magnet for global talent.
Six members of the English team, including Kelly and Lauren Hemp, play at Manchester City alongside Australia’s Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy. England’s Alessia Russo has recently joined Arsenal, where she will link up with Matildas left-sided duo Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord. There have also been rumours that several of Australia’s breakout World Cup stars, including Clare Hunt and Kyra Cooney-Cross, could be transfer targets for English heavyweight clubs.
The Matildas have beaten England recently
England will be tough semi-final opponents for the Matildas. But Tony Gustavsson’s side will take heart from their April match-up, when Australia ended England’s 30-game unbeaten streak with a strong showing in Brentford. The captain, Sam Kerr, and youngster Charlotte Grant both netted that night, while midfield pairing Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry, a starring partnership at the World Cup, were dominant in the centre of the park.
That match was an international friendly and will count for little on Wednesday. But the Matildas know they can beat anyone, including European champions England.
