The Matildas take on England for a spot in the final of the Women’s World Cup at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Follow along for all the key updates from 8pm AEST!
MATCH CENTRE: Teams, live stats, and more!
KERR HANDED FIRST START AS MATILDAS MAKE BOLD CHANGES
Sam Kerr has been named to start in the Matildas’ semi-final clash against England as coach Tony Gustavsson made two changes.
Kerr comes into the lineup in place of Emily van Egmond who had deputised as a false nine in the superstar striker’s absence.
The other change is at centre back, as veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne replaces Alanna Kennedy who is unwell.
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Kennedy had formed a strong partnership at the heart of the backline alongside Clare Hunt, but will not be in attendance at all due to illness, which Football Australia have confirmed is not Covid.
Meanwhile, England coach Sarina Wiegman has opted to stick with the same team that emerged 2-1 victors over Colombia in their quarter final.
Australia (4-4-2): Arnold; Catley, Polkinghorne, Hunt, Carpenter; Foord, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Raso; Fowler, Kerr
England (3-5-2): Earps; Greenwood, Bright, Carter; Daly, Toone, Walsh, Stanway, Bronze; Hemp, Russo
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PREVIEW
‘CHEAT’ STORM ERUPTS OVER WORLD CUP BUILD-UP
England accusing Australia of cheating? Surely not!
But the English media is at it again, complaining after The Daily Telegraph sent a helicopter over the Poms’ final training session on Tuesday.
“The cheating Aussies were up to their old tricks when a helicopter was caught spying on England,” The Sun wrote.
“Manager Sarina Weigman was running her Lionesses through their final training session before today’s big match when it was spotted.”
The Guardian claimed the team had been “on the end of a spying controversy”.
Meanwhile the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards wrote: “The underhand methods deployed by a prominent Australian newspaper will anger players and supporters alike”.
TIMELY REMINDER OF POMS’ ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ SNUB
Australian football fans have been given a timely reminder of when England’s FA opted to vote for Colombia as their preferred hosts for the 2023 Women’s World Cup to add even more fuel to the fire.
AAP journalist Ben McKay reposted a tweet that displayed how the 35 votes for hosting rights played out, with Australia and New Zealand winning with 22 while Colombia received 13 votes.
One of the 13 to vote for the South American nation was former FA chairman Greg Clarke.
Another old post from The Guardian’s Suzy Wrack confirmed Clarke even declined to take a call from former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her efforts to win his vote.
Back in 2020, Football Australia CEO James Johnson stated he was “disappointed” with Clarke’s decision to vote for Colombia.
“I actually don’t find it very funny,” Johnson said at the time.
“I think that was quite disrespectful to be perfectly honest with you.
“It was a process that was, I think, run very well by FIFA … we scored very highly on a report that was an objective report.
“We know now what the voting was like, and I must say we are disappointed with the way that the FA voted.”
Clarke was eventually forced to stand down from his FA role in November 2020 for his description of “coloured footballers” which caused significant outrage in the football community.