Tournament co-hosts, Australia meet England at Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia in a blockbuster semi-final at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Australia are bidding to become the first host nation to reach the final since USA achieved that feat in 1999 – which coincidentally saw them win that tournament overall on home soil.
England too are seeking to reach the final for the first time in their history, having fallen short at this stage in the last two tournaments.
Team News
Sam Kerr could start for Australia after she made substitute appearances in wins over Denmark and France, as she continues to rebuild her match fitness after a calf injury kept her out of their Group B matches.
Mackenzie Arnold, Katrian Gorry, Caitlin Foord and Emily van Egmond are all available after their yellow cards were wiped clean after the Quarter-Finals stage, in line with FIFA rules to ensure that no player misses out on a potential Final unless red carded in the semi-final.
England have no fresh injury concerns to report following their win over Colombia with Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp all available, after their yellow cards were all wiped following the Quarter-Finals.
Lauren James remains suspended as she serves the second of a two-match ban but is set to return for either the Final or Third-Place Play-Off match respectively, depending upon whether England win or lose this game.
When is Kick-Off?
Australia face England at Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday 16 August at 11am UK Time, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Australia’s first-ever meeting against England at a Women’s World Cup.
- England are unbeaten in four of six previous meetings against Australia in all competitions (W3, D1, L2), although the Aussies won their last meeting in April to end England’s 30-match unbeaten run.
- Australia are unbeaten in two matches at Stadium Australia in this tournament without conceding, having won 1-0 against Ireland in Group B then 2-0 against Denmark in Round of 16.
- Australia have kept four clean sheets in five matches at this tournament (W3, D1, L1), only conceding three goals in their 3-2 Group B loss to Nigeria.
- Defeat would see England become the first team in Women’s World Cup history to lose three consecutive semi-finals.
Prediction
Clinical end product and resilient defending have been to Australia’s run to this semi-final because they will once again need to raise the bar within both sides of their game, especially after a physical Quarter-Final win over France on penalties after some stubborn defensive moves.
England meanwhile have their own end product issues but showed excellent fighting spirit and guts to overcome Colombia with some ruthless attacking, whose loud fans provided a taste of what to expect from the Aussies in a sell-out crowd.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses however do have the experience at this stage with players like Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood, having fallen at this stage in the last two World Cups which only serve to motivate them and their teammates.
If further motivation wasn’t needed, these Lionesses will also be eager to spring revenge in the Aussies’ own backyard, having seen their unbeaten run ended by Australia in April so I do expect a physical contest which might suit England who experienced this pressure as Euros host last summer.
Prediction: Australia 1-2 England
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