Australia takes on England in their semi-final clash tonight at Stadium Australia, looking to advance to the FIFA Women's World Cup Final on Sunday against Spain.
We take a closer look and put the Lionesses under the microscope ahead of our clash.
Current FIFA Ranking: 4
FIFA Women's World Cup Appearances: 6 (1995 Sweden, 2007 USA, 2011 Germany, 2015 Canada, 2019 France, 2023 Australia & New Zealand)
Best Finish: Third Place (2015 Canada)
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Qualification Record
Played: 10
Wins: 10
Draws: 0
Losses: 0
Goals scored: 80
Goals conceded: 0
England cruised through qualification for the FIFA Women's World Cup, winning 10 games on the road to qualification, scoring 80 goals in the process, and conceding not one goal.
Some dominant performances in the qualification campaign, with a 10-0 and 20-0 win over Latvia, with Beth Mead leading the goalscoring with 13 goals, however, she will not feature at this tournament after rupturing her ACL with her WSL side Arsenal.
Key players
England has players to keep an eye out for all over the pitch, with four-time UEFA Women's Champions League winner Lucy Bronze the player with the most experience in the side, with over 100 international appearances to her name.
Bronze, a player who likes to make forward runs, featured the last time the two sides met back in April 2023. The defender has just finished her first season at FC Barcelona making the move after time in England with Manchester City and 3 years in France with Lyon.
Mary Earps, the side's number 1 for the tournament, will be one to watch. The Manchester United shot-stopper has recorded 3 clean sheets this tournament, with only Australia's Mackenzie Arnold (4) recording more than her.
The goalkeeper was named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper for 2022 after her heroics at the Euros, being named vice-captain for this tournament after the leadership she displayed last summer.
Leading the line will be Alessia Russo, with the recently signed Arsenal striker finding the net two times this tournament, once in the 6-1 win over China and then scoring the matchwinner against Colombia. With the likes of Lauren James still suspended for this fixture following a red card in England's game against Nigeria, players like Russo have been stepping up in the goalscoring department in her absence.
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Head Coach
Sarina Wiegman took over the side in September 2021, making the move from coaching her home nation, Netherlands, where she helped the side to a FIFA Women's World Cup Final in 2019 and to European glory in 2017.
Her time with England got off to a more than ideal start, helping the side lift their first-ever UEFA Women's Championship on home soil in 2022. Wiegman's side then claimed the inaugural Women's Finalissima, an intercontinental women's football super cup contested by the winners of the Copa América and Euros.
She was awarded The Best FIFA Women's Coach in 2022 after leading England to European glory, the third time she has claimed this award.
Previous Meeting
Australia and England's last meeting was in April 2023, with goals to Sam Kerr and Charli Grant breaking the reigning UEFA European Champions' 30-game unbeaten streak, recording a 2-0 victory in Brentford.
Kerr found the back of the net in the first half, with Clare Hunt sending a threatening ball over the top of the Lionesses' defensive line, with the side unable to clear and the skipper putting her chance past Mary Earps.
The CommBank Matildas doubled their advantage in the second half, with Grant making a late run into the box and connecting with a cross from Kerr and her header finding the back of the net, her first senior goal.
Recent Form
England has had a perfect run so far in the tournament, kicking off their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Haiti thanks to a Georgia Stanway penalty. Their next result would see them beat Denmark, with a first-half strike from Lauren James the difference between the two sides. A 6-1 win over China PR in their final group stage game saw the side take top spot in their group and advance to the knockout stages.
The Lionesses were pushed all the way in their Round of 16 clash against Nigeria, forced to go to penalties after no side could find the back of the net in the encounter. The side then travelled to Sydney to face Colombia in the quarter-finals, after going behind the side clawed back a goal through Lauren Hemp to send things into the break locked at 1-1. Alessia Russo scored the matchwinner to send England into the semi-finals.
FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ - Semi-Finals
Australia v England
Date: Wednesday, 16 August 2023
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Optus Sport and Channel 7
How to Watch