England v Australia at FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Key storylines ahead of the semi-final clash
England and Australia come face to face on Wednesday (16 August) in Sydney for a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 final. Here are the key storylines.
Football
England and Australia will battle it out on Wednesday (16 August) for a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 final.
After a 2-1 win over Colombia, England find themselves up against co-hosts Australia who have never made a FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final round in their history.
The Matilda’s were forced to a penalty shootout after their quarter-final fixture with France ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of play.
After five penalties a piece, the sides were tied and the fixture was decided on sudden death penalties where Australia won 7-6.
England and Australia last came face to face for a friendly in April 2023, when Australia won 2-0.
It was the first time that Sarina Wiegman had lost a game as England manager, having previously gone 30 games unbeaten.
Since then, England have yet to lose another game.
Charlotte Grant and Sam Kerr both got on the scoresheet that day, two players that haven’t started a game for the Matildas so far at this FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Whoever emerges victorious from this fixture will go on to face the winner of Sweden v Spain in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final on Sunday 20 August, 2023.
The loser will come up against the unsuccessful side of either Sweden and Spain on Saturday 19 August, 2023 in a third place match.
Olympics.com looks at some of the key storylines ahead of this huge semi-final clash.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 12: Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates scoring her team's third penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Australia and France at Brisbane Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The return of Sam Kerr
Yet to start a game for the Matilda’s this competition is star striker and captain Sam Kerr.
The Chelsea forward was ruled out of Australia’s first two FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 fixtures due to injury, and has started the remainder of their games on the bench.
We first got a glimpse of her in Australia’s Round of 16 win over Denmark when she was substituted on towards the end of the game to get her first minutes of the tournament.
She also began the quarter-final clash against France on the bench, but came on around the 60 minute mark, proceeding to play an extra half an hour of extra-time as well as stepping up to score a penalty in the deciding shoot-out.
The 29-year-old told the press earlier this week that her “plan was always to be ready for a semi-final, the final,” indicating that Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson had prepared to be without the Chelsea striker until the very late stages of the tournament.
Australia’s semi-final battle against England is suspected to be the first time that we see Sam Kerr start a match in this tournament - a delight for Matilda’s fans, but a worry for Lionesses who have put on less than convincing performances against Nigeria, Denmark and Haiti.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Chloe Kelly of England celebrates with teammate Mary Earps after scoring her team's fifth and winning penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between England and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on August 07, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arnold vs Earps
This fixture sets the stage for a battle between two incredible shot stoppers of the tournament.
Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold and England’s Mary Earps have both produced impressive campaigns, strengthening their chances of winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023’s Golden Glove award.
There have been times in this tournament that Mary Earps has single handedly kept her side in the tournament, dealing with the terrific attacks of Colombia and Nigeria.
Arnold, on the other hand, superbly stopped four French penalties to send her nation through to their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
Earps has so far kept three clean sheets in five games, whereas Arnold just edges her with four clean sheets from the same amount of games.
With either of these goalkeepers yet to have an ‘off’ day this tournament, it will come down to the finest of margins as to who clinches that all-important place in the final.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 12: Lauren Hemp (1st L) of England celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between England and Colombia at Stadium Australia on August 12, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
England on the attack
Despite Lauren James’ two match ban following her red card against Nigeria, England found enough goals to get past Colombia.
The Lionesses are stacked in attacking talent, but we are yet to see them at their full force.
It was winger Lauren Hemp and forward Alessia Russo who clinched the two goals that saw their nation qualify for the semi-finals - both players also found the back of the net against China.
Alongside Russo and Hemp, the Lionesses have found goal scoring ability in Rachel Daly who often switches between playing as a sole striker and defender dependent on manager Sarina Wiegman’s setup.
Chloe Kelly has also emerged as a reliable matchwinner for England. From her European Championship winning goal against Germany last summer, to her winning penalty in the Round of 16 clash against Nigeria, the Manchester City forward often comes off the bench to inject energy into England’s play.
Despite a plethora of goal scoring talent, the Lionesses seem yet to click into gear this tournament, with the exception of their 6-1 win over China.
England undoubtedly possess the talent needed to win this tournament, it is whether or not they can apply it correctly when given the opportunity.