Keira Walsh says that England are relishing a chance to silence Sydney in their Women’s World Cup semi-final showdown against tournament co-hosts Australia on Wednesday.
Australia has been gripped by World Cup fever and the Matildas’ quarter-final penalty shootout win over France on Saturday was the biggest television audience of the year, peaking at 4.17million viewers.
Wednesday’s meeting against the Lionesses is front-page news, with today’s Daily Telegraph carrying the headline ‘Now for the Poms’.
Over 75,000 supporters are expected at Stadium Australia for the semi-final, with only around 8,000 of those England fans, but Walsh says Sarina Wiegman’s side are ready for the challenge.
“I think it [a home crowd] was massive for us at the Euros [last summer], especially in the final,” said the midfielder.
“In those moments where the opposition could potentially score, it kind of shifts momentum sometimes when you are playing and you know the crowd is behind you. It gives you that extra push.
“But I think also when you are playing against it, when you can quieten the crowd, it is also a very nice feeling. I think trying to take the momentum out of the game for them is going to be important.”
Australia and England renewed their sporting rivalry this summer in the Ashes and, during her press conference this morning, Walsh was even asked to give her views on the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s.
Walsh is ready for a hostile atmosphere on Wednesday and says the Lionesses are used to being the team everyone wants to beat
“Obviously, the media do talk a lot, but for us I think it’s not about Australia or any team,” said Walsh. “We want to win regardless. I think there is a rivalry in any team, so for me it doesn’t make much of a difference if the media is trying to talk about beating England.
“I think most teams probably say that about the England team and the Lionesses now. I think off the back of the Euros most teams probably thought that anyway. So, for us, it is not too much of a change — and obviously we want to beat them as well.
“I think we have seen that the girls are ready to fight. I think the Nigeria and Colombia games weren’t easy. We were not always on top, and I think people have seen that side to us.
“Obviously, when the whistle ends it is a different story, but I think in the game the girls are very aware of what the game is going to be like, what the stadium is going to be like. I think we are more than ready for it.”
England have been playing with a 3-4-1-2 formation at this World Cup, after Walsh was injured in their second group game against Denmark.
The midfielder recovered, returning for the last-16 win over Nigeria, and believes she is growing into the new system as the tournament progresses.
“I experienced that a little bit at Man City, where they play with the inverted full-back and sometimes it was a back-three,” said Walsh.
“It’s something I have experienced before, but 3-5-2 is a little bit different. The back three have been really helpful with that and talking me through it. I think it is a good thing, it keeps you on your toes.
“Because me and Millie [Bright] are sometimes in a similar area, I think it is just kind of getting those angles a little bit different. The girls did so well against China playing it, so I can understand why Sarina stuck with it.”
