Australia v England LIVE: Women’s World Cup 2023 team news – Sam Kerr starts and Lionesses unchanged

Sam Kerr starts for Australia in the World Cup semifinals against England while the Matildas make two changes.

Kerr is making her debut at a World Cup after missing the group stage through injury and sitting on the bench in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. The striker replaces Emily van Egmond, who is on the bench.

The Matildas are without defense attorney Alanna Kennedy, who is out due to illness and is not even on the bench. She is replaced by the experienced Clare Polkinghorne.

Australia XI: Arnold; Zimmerman, Hunt, Polkinghorne, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Catley; Fowler, Kerr

The Lionesses have remained unchanged since their quarter-final win over Colombia.

Lauren James remains unavailable as the striker is serving the second game of her two-game ban, although she is now free to play in either the final or the third-place play-offs, depending on England’s result against Australia.

The Lionesses have a full squad elsewhere. Sarina Wiegman maintains her 3-5-2 formation and the back three of Jess Carter, Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood that outperformed goalkeeper Mary Earps. Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly continue to function as full-backs.

Keira Walsh will start at the base of midfield with Georgia Stanway alongside her. Ella Toone keeps her place despite some questions about her form.

Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp both scored against Colombia and are leading the team, while Chloe Kelly and Beth England are the other attacking options on the bench.

England XI: ears; Carter, Bright, Greenwood; Bronze, Walsh, Stanway, Daly; To a; Hemp, Russo

After Sarina Wiegman finished her press conference after defeating Colombia on Saturday, England’s Netherlands manager was so impressed by the volume of questions about England’s historic sporting rivalry with Australia that she immediately began questioning staff on the extent. She quickly realized that she had underestimated how much that meant.

The people at the England camp duly informed her, although one staff member laughed, “It’s not like we showed her old cuttings of the ashes.” Perhaps that wasn’t necessary.

A trip to the shop next to England’s otherwise quiet base of Terrigal would have revealed just how intense things are here. The front page of The Western Australian – the newspaper covering Australian player Sam Kerr’s hometown of Perth – read: “And you thought the Ashes were big!”

As England prepare to play Australia in the World Cup semifinals, Georgia Stanway is also crucial. After appearing in five games of the tournament with a yellow card and facing a one-game ban, the Lionesses’ fighting midfielder successfully walked the tightrope to reach the point where the yellow cards were booked.

A younger Stanway might not have been so careful and failed in her instinct to fight for balls that could not be won. Admittedly, there was a nervous moment during the heated battle against Colombia in the quarterfinals, when Stanway thought she’d taken her aggression too far after a false tackle. Overall, however, the midfielder has shown restraint and control to reach the semi-finals clearly. “I’m very, very grateful for that,” laughs Stanway, and so does England.

To achieve that, Stanway had to become the “disciplined Georgia,” a shift in mental approach worked on with the help of an influential mentor whose identity has come as a surprise to those gathered at England’s Terrigal training base.

How many games will Lauren James miss after being sent off at the Women’s World Cup?

Lauren James has been banned for two games by FIFA after being sent off in England’s round of 16 win over Nigeria.

The Chelsea star sat out England’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals and will now play her second and final game in the semi-finals against Australia.

This means James will play for England again at the Women’s World Cup, either in the final when England defeat the Matildas on Sunday 20 August or in the third-place play-off on Saturday 19 August .

James received the red card after standing on Nigeria defender Michelle Alozie in the knockout game, which England won on penalties.

The FA said it was “disappointed” after World Cup semi-final tickets reserved specifically for England fans were reportedly bought by Australian fans.

A unique fan code was reportedly leaked on social media ahead of the Lionesses’ crucial game against the Matildas on Wednesday – with a number of Australian fans saying they bought tickets.

The additional 1,970 tickets were released over the weekend and around 8,000 England fans are expected to attend the Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Commenting on the ticket code leak, an FA spokesman said: “We have worked with Fifa to secure an additional ticket quota for England’s World Cup semi-final against Australia.”

“The details of how to purchase these tickets were shared directly with our fans on our England football channel and we are disappointed at reports that a limited number of these tickets have been accessed by other fans.”

“We are working with Fifa to review this ticket sales process going forward.”

England midfielder Keira Walsh on how the Lionesses will try to ‘calm down the crowd at Stadium Australia’:

“No matter what game I play, I want to win. It doesn’t matter who you play against. As for us, I wouldn’t say we’re thinking of spoiling the party.

“I think it’s just another game and a massive game at that. We’re just totally focused on reaching a World Cup final, no matter who we’re playing against. I think, of course, that with Australia’s support it will be a little different for them in that regard.

“(The audience) was huge for us at the European Championship, especially in the final. There are moments when your opponent can score and that sometimes changes the dynamic when you’re playing and gives you an extra boost knowing the crowd has your back.

“But even if you can calm the crowd, that’s a very nice feeling. I think it will be important for us to take the momentum out of the game. There are pros and cons to both. We have experienced both.”

It was the moment Australia stopped. In Sydney, thousands gathered outside the Olympic Stadium, huddled together in the crisp winter air. In Melbourne on Saturday night at the MCG, viewers forgot the Aussie Rules match they had paid for tickets for and rushed to find a TV or phone screen to catch the drama. Even several miles in the air, rows of passengers on a scheduled flight were all gripped by the same tension That meant reuniting a country locally.

And when Cortnee Vine scored the penalty that propelled Australia to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup in Brisbane, all eyes were on her. After a nerve-racking 120 goalless minutes against France, the penalty shoot-out produced an unimaginable level of drama, the longest ever at a men’s or women’s World Cup. Australia had already missed two chances to win before needing to score to keep their World Cup hopes alive. When Vicki Becho hit the post with France’s tenth penalty and gave Australia another chance, Vine stepped up and sent a nation into delirium.

That’s when Australia’s World Cup fever really hit home.

The Lionesses must defeat an entire nation in World Cup fever

England captain Millie Bright on handling the atmosphere the Lionesses will face at Australia Stadium:

“We always prepare for that, no matter what opponent it is. Your fans will always want your opponent to lose, that’s football. We know we will have fans there, yes there will be more, but we’ve had those moments before and as players we’ve embraced those moments.

“It’s about staying focused, executing the game plan and embracing the moment. It’s the semifinals of a World Cup, you want that atmosphere, you want it to be tense, you want it to be loud.

“It’s a proud moment in women’s football when people turn on the TV at home and see what an incredible atmosphere we’ve created. We thank Australia for selling out the stadium and creating this atmosphere because as we always know women’s football is still on a journey but what a place to be.”