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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Rafqa Touma

How Australian and UK newspapers reacted to the Matildas’ defeat in the Women’s World Cup semi-final

Matildas World Cup Australia Sam Kerr United Kingdom Neil Henderson the Daily Telegraph
How newspapers in Australia and the UK reacted to England’s win over the Matildas in in the 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-final in Sydney on Wednesday night.
How newspapers in Australia and the UK reacted to England’s win over the Matildas in the 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-final in Sydney on Wednesday night. Composite: Daily Express/Mirror/The Daily Telegraph/West Australian/Sydney Morning Herald/The Age/The Courier Mail

Australia has been left heartbroken after the Matildas were defeated by England’s Lionesses in their Fifa Women’s World Cup semi-final.

As the tears dry, we take a look at what the newspapers in Australia and Britain made of the match.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph went strong on wordplay, with its front-page headline screaming “Heart breakerr”.

The puns continued over at the Australian, where dreams of glory were “Kerr-tailed”. But fear not, it wrote, for the “national love affair’s just begun”.

The Australian front page Thu 17 August after Matildas loss

The West Australian took a somber tone, with “It hurts … ” in bold typography hovering over a crouched and defeated Sam Kerr.

On the back page, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson is seen hugging his team’s captain.

The Sydney Morning Herald pointed to Kerr’s “brilliance” amid the loss. The words “Queens of hearts” were laid over an aerial shot of the Matildas huddled in the shape of a heart.

Sydney morning herald cover Thu 17 Aug after Matildas defeat

In Victoria, the Age paired an image of England’s Georgia Stanway aside a disappointed Kerr, with the headline: “Pride and pain.”

The Age front page Thu 17 Aug after Matildas defeat in WWC

Queensland’s Courier Mail opted for wholesomeness on their cover, with a photograph of the Matildas’ heart huddle and the words “Heart of a nation”.

The Courier Mail Thu 17 Aug front page after Matildas defeat

Meanwhile, British papers revelled in their team’s victory, with some looking ahead to what might be when Sunday comes.

Some made room on their front page for a “wilting Matildas” reference.

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