Women’s World Cup 2023

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      David Beckham sends good luck message to England Lionesses ahead of crunch World Cup semi-final against Australia

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      DAVID BECKHAM has sent a good luck message to England’s Lionesses ahead of their Women’s World Cup semi-final.Sarina Wiegman’s side are set to face Australia in the last four of the tournament as they aim for a spot in the final.
      David Beckham has sent a good luck message to the LionessesCredit: Twitter @england
      The England legend wants them to keep inspiringCredit: Twitter @england
      Beckham was joined by his daughter HarperCredit: Twitter @england
      England face Australia in the semi-finals of the Women’s World CupCredit: Getty
      And they have now received a message from England legend Beckham, 48, ahead of the crunch match.
      The video was shared by England’s Twitter account and features Beckham filming himself from MLS outfit Inter Miami’s ground
      He said: “Hey girls. I just wanted to say wow. What a tournament it’s been so far.
      “It’s been so much fun to watch.
      READ MORE ON THE LIONESSES
      “And we’re all so proud as a nation of what you’ve achieved already.
      “But seeing you girls play as a team. It’s been really incredible. So continue to do so.
      “Good luck in this next game and just know that our whole nation is behind you. As Always.”
      Becks then panned the camera around to daughter Harper Beckham, 12, who was also wishing the team good luck.
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      He added: “Keep inspiring these girls because it’s incredible to watch.
      “And I’m very, very happy that you’re doing it for this one, good luck girls.”
      The Lionesses reached the semi-final after defeating Colombia in the quarter-final.
      They came from a goal behind to win the tie thanks to strikes from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
      The Aussies got the better of England when the sides last met in April – but that was a friendly.
      However, England are yet to lose a competitive match under Wiegman.
      And the Lionesses have continued to prove that they can produce a result when it matters, no matter the circumstances even if they are facing the host nation.
      Beckham never reached a semi-final with the Men’s team during his playing career.
      The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and PSG ace was part of the golden generation that never reached its full potential.
      England have never lost a competitive match under Sarina WiegmanCredit: Getty More

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      Sam Kerr injury worry as Australia star is spotted with ICE PACK in potential World Cup boost to Lionesses

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      AUSTRALIA star Sam Kerr has been spotted with an ice pack on her calf ahead of the Matildas’ World Cup semi-final with England.Chelsea ace Kerr, 29, has been managing a calf injury throughout the tournament.
      Sam Kerr was spotted wearing an ice pack on her calfCredit: 9 News
      Kerr, 29, trained with her team-mates on TuesdayCredit: Getty
      The forward sustained the injury on the eve of Australia’s first group game against the Republic of Ireland.
      Kerr’s calf issue forced her to miss the entire group stage, although her team-mates were able to see the Matildas through.
      The Aussie star returned for the final ten minutes of her side’s 2-0 win over Denmark in the round of 16.
      She then came on in the 55th minute of Australia’s quarter-final penalties triumph over France, scoring in the dramatic shoot-out.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      After training earlier today, Kerr was spotted walking to the team hotel with an ice pack wrapped around her calf.
      Australia take on the Lionesses tomorrow morning for a place in the World Cup final.
      Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson was optimistic when asked if Kerr would start against the reigning European champions.
      He said: “She [Kerr] pushed through more minutes than we hoped for to be honest.
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      “One of the reasons why we kept her on the bench was that we were uncertain how many minutes she had coming back from that calf injury but also the limited training minutes she had.
      “The way she pushed through was fantastic and impressive both from a mental and physical aspect.
      “She recovered well, she trained today so she’s available.”
      After the France match, skipper Kerr claimed that she could have started against Les Bleues.
      ‘I FEEL READY TO GO’
      She said: “When I hurt my calf, the plan was to always to [try to] be ready for a semi-final, the final.
      “So I could have [started vs France], but who knows what could have happened?
      “The girls have been smashing it and absolutely dominating.
      “I was ready to go, but we’ve had a plan this whole tournament and we just had to stick to it.
      “That was part of the plan, to get 20 minutes against Denmark to make me feel better for this game and now with another, what, 65 minutes, I feel better for it and I’ll have more training under my belt.
      “So I feel ready to go. I think with everything that’s been going on, the best thing for [the France game] was the plan we did and the plan we followed.”
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      Kerr is the Matildas’ all-time leading goalscorer with 63 goals for her country.
      Australia are aiming to win their first ever World Cup, having advanced to the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
      Kerr was in action against France in the quarter-finalsCredit: EPA More

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      England’s Lionesses’ embarrassingly low wages compared to men revealed including bonuses if they win Women’s World Cup

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      ENGLAND’S Lionesses will get paid a fraction of the money their male counterparts received for their World Cup exploits – even if they lift the trophy.Sarina Wiegman’s side face Australia in tomorrow’s Women’s World Cup semi-final.
      England will pocket £3.38m if they win the Women’s World CupCredit: Getty
      The men’s team received £13.38m for reaching the quarter-finals at Qatar 2022Credit: Getty
      It is the third time in a row England have reached the final four, losing on their two previous appearances.
      But Fifa figures expose the huge discrepancy between the pay for the men’s and women’s tournaments.
      All countries across the two events were given a £1.18million fee for qualifying for the group stages.
      However, the overall prize pot for the women’s edition stands at just a quarter of the men’s.

      Fifa boosted the women’s fund by 226 per cent to £86m for Australia-New Zealand 2023 while the Qatar 2022 number was £346m.
      As for the winners, Argentina landed a cool £33m but the nation that wins Sunday’s final in Sydney will receive just £3.38m.
      The beaten finalists will get £2.37m while England are guaranteed at least £1.93m for reaching the semis.
      By comparison, Gareth Southgate’s men earned England a whopping £13.38m – despite getting knocked out in the quarter-finals.
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      And teams that went home after the group stages collected more than £7m – double that of the Women’s World Cup champions.
      The USA, who won it 2015 and 2019, crashed out in the last 16 this time around.
      But the total money won by the women’s team and the men in Qatar, around £12.79m, will be divvied up evenly among the 49 players after an equal-pay agreement was reached.
      It means, once ten per cent is sliced off for US Soccer, the footballers will take home approximately £234,000 each.
      The average annual wage for female footballers globally is around £11,000 – although the BBC stated last year in England’s WSL it is around £47,000.
      However, that is a tiny proportion of the men in the Premier League, who earn an average of £60,000 per week which equates to £3.12m a year.
      That prompted Fifa to introduce bonuses for the individual players at the Women’s World Cup on top of the country’s prize money.
      It means all 23 members of the trophy-winning squad on Sunday will pocket £212,500.
      By reaching the last four, the Lionesses have already secured £129,000 as a personal bonus from Fifa – more than double the £55,000 they got for winning the Euros in 2022.
      ‘REAL AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT’
      The men received £300,000 each for reaching the Euro 2020 final the year before – and would have got £460,000 per player had they won the shootout against Italy at Wembley.
      England pay their Three Lions and Lionesses £2,000 every time they represent the national team, with the men’s match fees given straight to charity.
      But the disparity for FA bonuses triggered a public statement from the Lionesses blasting the national governing body on the eve of the World Cup.
      Fifa president Gianni Infantino hailed the “unprecedented new distribution model” for personal player bonuses at the Women’s World Cup, which sealed at least £23,600 for all 732 players at the tournament.
      He said: “Eeach individual player can now fully rely on remuneration for their efforts as they progress through the tournament.
      “The captain that ultimately lifts the iconic Fifa Women’s World Cup Trophy on August 20 in Sydney will receive $270,000 (£212,500), as will each of her 22 team-mates.
      Read More on The Sun
      “The global salary of women’s professional footballers is approximately $14,000 (£11,000) annually so the amounts allocated under this unprecedented new distribution model will have a real and meaningful impact on the lives and careers of these players.
      “Beyond this, all member associations will also receive a record financial distribution based on their performance, which they can use to reinvest back into football in their countries and which we believe will help to propel the women’s game even further.”
      Leah Williamson and the rest of the Lionesses got £55,000 each for winning the EurosCredit: PA
      Argentina landed £33m – ten times the amount Sunday’s victorious nation will getCredit: Getty
      Fifa World Cup prize money per country
      MEN’S – QATAR 2022
      Group stage: £7.08m
      Round of 16: £10.23m
      Quarter-finals: £13.38m
      Fourth place: £19.68m
      Third place: £21.25m
      Runner-up: £23.61m
      Winner: £33.06m
      WOMEN’S – AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2023
      Group stage: £1.18m
      Round of 16: £1.47m
      Quarter-finals: £1.72m
      Fourth place: £1.93m
      Third place: £2m
      Runner-up: £2.37m
      Winner: £3.38m More

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      Who is Sam Kerr and what is her salary?

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      SAM Kerr is captain of the Australian Women’s Football team and is playing her fourth world cup in 2023. She’s had some ups and downs in her career. Here’s what we know about her career.
      Sam Kerr plays for Chelsea and her national side Australia
      Who is Sam Kerr?
      Sam was born in East Fremantale, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.
      Her parents are Roxanne and Roger Kerr.
      Sam comes from a sporty family with her father being a professional Australian rules football player.
      As of August 2023, she is in a relationship with her girlfriend, American soccer player Kristie Mews.

      Sam played Australian rules football when she was a child, but switched to association football when she was 12, mostly due to gender restrictions.
      Sam faced some struggles during the transition but was spotted by Perth Glory striker Bobby Despotovski.
      He described her athleticism and raw talent as “exceptional”.
      In 2009, at the age of 15, Sam debuted with the Matildas as a substitute in a match against Italy.
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      A year later she played in her first major tournament, the Asian Cup, in China.
      She helped the team secure their first-ever title by scoring the opening goal in the team’s victory against North Korea during the final.
      She played in her first Women’s World Cup in 2011 at the age of 17.
      Despite a series of injuries, Sam was picked for all five matches the Matildas played at the 2015 World Cup.
      She also represented her nation at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
      Sam helped the team advance to the quarterfinals before they were eliminated by Brazil.
      In 2018, Sam was also a driving force for the team during their run to the Asian Cup final but they lost the title match to Japan.
      Sam was chosen as Australia’s captain ahead of the Women’s World Cup in 2019.
      During the tournament she scored her first World Cup goal claiming four in total in a victory against Jamaica.
      She was one goal short of the Women’s World Cup individual single-game scoring record which is shared by Michelle Akers and Alex Morgan.
      The team then progressed into the round of 16 but were eliminated by Norway during penalty kicks.
      Sam, however, maintained her scoring streak by securing six of the 11 goals scored by the Australian team at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
      Australia were later eliminated by the United States in the bronze medal match.
      Sam was selected for the 2023 World Cup in her home nation, despite recovering from a calf injury she sustained earlier in 2023.
      In the quarter finals she played for 65 minutes against France, and scored in the penalty shoot-out, sending the Aussie team into the semi-finals against England.
      The forward holds the all-time record for the most goals scored for the Matildas – 63.
      What is Sam Kerr’s salary?
      It’s reported Sam earns a hefty £417,000 annually.
      Sam is reportedly the highest paid player in women’s football.
      She is also considered to be one of the best strikers in the world and in 2022 was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
      However, Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest paid male footballer earns £173 million per year, over £172 million more than Sam.
      Who has Sam Kerr played for?
      Sam made her debut for Chelsea FC on January 5 2020 against Reading.
      She started her career at Perth Glory in 2008, leaving in 2011.
      She returned for the 2014/2015 season after playing for Sydney FC and Western New York Flash.
      Sam then joined Sky Blue FC and Chicago Red Stars before her move to the west London club.
      She won the League Cup and Women’s Super League title in her first and second season at Stamford Bridge, and helped Chelsea make it to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, although they lost to Barcelona.
      In the 2020/2021 season, she scored 21 goals in 22 games, claiming the Golden Boot.
      She is first player to win this accolade in three different leagues.
      With her help, the Blues secured three consecutive FA Cup wins from 2021-2023, and two more Super League titles in 2022 and 2023.
      Is Sam Kerr on Instagram?
      Sam is on Instagram and can be found at @samanthakerr20.
      Read More on The Sun
      As of August 2023 she boasts 1.4 million followers.
      She regularly posts photos of her life and football. More

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      BBC Women’s World Cup host Gabby Logan shows off incredible figure at 50 in sexy leotards for gymnastics shoot

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      GABBY LOGAN has shown that her physique defies her age in her latest photoshoot. The BBC Women’s World Cup host has returned to her gymnastics leotards in a cover shoot for Women’s Health UK.
      Gabby Logan has shown off her figure in a recent photoshootCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK
      She posed for the camera whilst wearing a whole host of different gymnastics gearCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK
      Gabby is a former competitive rhythmic gymnastCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK
      She placed 11th whilst representing Wales in rhythmic gymnastics during the 1990 Commonwealth Games in AuklandCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK
      Fans of Gabby are used to seeing her on their TV screens hosting major sporting events, but are seeing a different side of her in these latest pictures.
      She can be seen posing in an array of different leotards whilst showing she still has the gymnastics skills of her past.
      The 50-year-old is currently covering the Women’s World Cup out in Australia and New Zealand as The Lionesses hope to go all the way to become World Champions.
      England are gearing up to face off against hosts Australia in the semi-final after progressing past Colombia with a 2-1 win the in the quarters.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      As well as being such a familiar face in the sports broadcasting world, Gabby has now been branching out and taking different opportunities.
      The former competitive rhythmic gymnast is now the host of her own podcast, The Mid Point.
      And she told Women’s Health UK about how it has helped her broaden her audience and the people that she speaks to.
      She said: “I feel like I talk to more women now. Because doing sport for so long, especially in my thirties, I think women were probably a bit suspicious of me because I was always with men.
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      “I’m now able to have conversations that women are listening to. It’s women who come up to me – or men who talk to me and say, ‘My wife loves your podcast’, and I’m just like, ‘Oh, that’s so nice!’”
      The full Gabby Logan interview can be read in the September issue of Women’s Health UK, on sale now.
      Gabby is on the cover of the latest issue of Women’s Health UKCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK
      She is best known for her TV sports broadcastingCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK
      Gabby is married to former Scotland international rugby player Kenny LoganCredit: Mark Cant/Women’s Health UK More

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      Spain 2 Sweden 1 – Women’s World Cup semi-final LIVE RESULT: La Roja book final spot after epic clash with Swedes

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      SPAIN have beaten Sweden to book their place at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.It was a dramatic last ten minutes in New Zealand with La Roja scoring late on to snatch the win.
      Sweden equalised late on and the tie looked to be heading for extra time before Olga Carmona netted to put Spain in the final.

      Match result: Spain 2-1 Sweden
      TV channel: BBC One
      FREE stream: BBC iPlayer
      Spain team: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona, Bonmati, Abelleira, Putellas, Redondo, Hermoso, Caldentey
      Sweden team: Musovic, Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson, Angeldahl, Rubensson, Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo, Blackstenius

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      Stay up to date with all the action from Eden Park…
      That’s all from Eden Park
      Spain book their spot in the Women’s World Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 win over Sweden.
      La Roja will now face either Australia or England in the final, which will take place on Sunday in Sydney.
      Thanks for reading!
      Paralluelo wins Player of the Match
      Salma Paralluelo was named as Player of the Match at full time, despite only being introduced in the 57th minute.
      Credit: Getty
      Heartbreak for Sweden again
      Sweden have been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Women’s World Cup for the fourth time – the most of any team in the history of the tournament.
      Credit: Getty
      Dramatic conclusion
      Spain vs Sweden was the first match in FIFA Women’s World Cup history to see the first goal scored in the final 10 minutes of the match, but finish with at least three goals scored in total. (Opta)
      Spain reach World Cup final for the first time
      La Roja have reached the Women’s World Cup final for the first time in their history.
      They will now face either Australia or England on Sunday.
      Paralluelo the hero
      Super-sub Salma Paralluelo scored the winning goal for Spain in their quarter-final clash with Netherlands last week.
      And the 19-year-old netted again in another decisive moment today.
      It may not have been the winner, but it was crucial for La Roja nonetheless.
      Credit: AP
      The winning moment
      Carmona’s dramatic 89th-minute strike fired Spain to the World Cup final.
      Credit: Reuters
      Full Time – Spain 2-1 Sweden
      A heartbreaking end to the match for Sweden.
      The Yellow and Blues thought they got themselves back into the game following Blomqvist’s 88th-minute goal.
      But just a matter of seconds later, Carmona delivered an almighty blow with an excellent strike.
      The Spaniards leave the pitch in tears of joy, while Peter Gerhardsson and his players are left in disbelief.
      Full Time – Spain 2-1 Sweden
      Spain are World Cup finalists!
      Credit: Reuters
      90+5. Spain 2-1 Sweden
      Another change for Spain.
      Caldentey is replaced by Gonzalez.
      90+1. Spain 2-1 Sweden
      And… breathe.
      Wow!
      Sweden thought they’d got themselves back into the game with an excellent strike from Blomqvist, but Carmona fired Spain back into the lead with an even better finish.
      The Spaniard receives the ball just outside the box and unleashes an audacious strike.
      It rattles the bar before bouncing down and over the line!
      Musovic could’ve arguably done a bit better in goal there, but what an end to this game!
      Seven minutes have been added on…
      Credit: Reuters
      89. GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL SPAIN!!!!
      Late drama alert!
      Carmona restores the lead for Spain after a matter of seconds!
      88. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL SWEDEN!!!!
      Blomqvist fires Sweden level!
      Wow! Incredible scenes at Eden Park!
      87. Spain 1-0 Sweden
      Another change for Sweden.
      Rubensson is replaced by Hurtig.
      82. Spain 1-0 Sweden
      La Rojas make their way into Sweden’s penalty area and the ball is squared to Paralluelo following a weak clearance from Andersson.
      The striker then gets a shot away while on the turn and her effort rolls past Musovic and into the bottom-right corner!
      Credit: Reuters
      81. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL SPAIN!!!!!!
      Super-sub Paralluelo breaks the deadlock with 10 minutes to play!
      78. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Sweden make two changes.
      Schough is on to replace Kaneryd.
      Blomqvist is on to replace Blackstenius.
      76. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Chance for Sweden as Kaneryd breaks through on the right before crossing the ball to Blackstenius in the box.
      The striker just mis-times her run as the ball flies over her head and out of the box.
      73. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Another substitution for Spain.
      Redondo makes way for Navarro.
      70. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Huge chance for Spain!
      A cross is sent into Redondo on the edge of the six-yard box, but she loses control of the ball.
      Paralluelo then does well to square it back across to the goal line to the winger, but Redondo somehow MISSES the target from around four yards out.
      How have Spain not scored?!
      Credit: Reuters
      68. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Spain have a free kick in a dangerous position.
      Caldentey steps up to take it and goes for goal, but her effort hits the wall and runs behind for a corner.
      Nothing comes of the set piece and Sweden can clear the danger with ease.
      64. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Another chance for Spain as Redondo crosses the ball into Paralluelo, but the striker can’t direct her shot on target.
      61. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Chance for Spain now as Bonmati is sent through on goal.
      She tees up a shot, but Rubensson does well to track back and make the tackle.
      57. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Spain make their first substitution.
      Putellas is replaced by Paralluelo.
      Credit: Getty
      55. Spain 0-0 Sweden
      Blackstenius makes a run into the box and latches onto the end of a through-ball.
      She goes for goal, but there is not enough power in her shot and Cata Coll can collect.
      Load more entries… More

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      Spain vs Sweden – Women’s World Cup: La Roja and Swedes face off in an epic semi-final – stream FREE, TV channel

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      SPAIN and Sweden face off in a thrilling Women’s World Cup semi-final – and the action unfolds TOMORROW.La Roja has emerged as one of the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy after holders USA went crashing out of the tournament.
      Salma Paralluelo scored the winner for Spain against the NetherlandsCredit: Getty
      Sweden beat Japan to progress to the semi-finalsCredit: Rex
      And Salma Paralluelo’s 111th minute strike against Netherlands in the quarter-finals proved that the Spaniards have the capability to dig deep when needs must.
      However, the Swedes were the ones to send USA home and they followed that up by knocking out a high-scoring Japan side.
      Furthermore, this is the fourth consecutive time Sweden have reached the semi-final, so they are loaded with experience.
      When is Spain vs Sweden?

      Spain’s huge Women’s World Cup semi-final match against Sweden will take place TOMORROW – Tuesday, August 15.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 9am BST
      Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand is the allocated arena and it can host approximately 50,000 fans.
      Nothing could separate the sides when they faced each other in a 2022 friendly.

      Read more on Women’s World Cup
      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Spain vs Sweden will be broadcast LIVE on BBC One in the UK
      Coverage is expected to commence from 8:30am BST – 30 minutes before kick-off.
      Fans also have the option to live stream the match via the BBC iPlayer app or BBC Sport website.
      Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the entire game through our live blog which includes build-up and post-match reaction.

      Can I watch it for FREE?
      Yes!
      BBC One and BBC Sport will be showing the match for FREE as long as you have a valid TV license in the UK.
      Team news
      Spanish star Laila Codina is a doubt for the huge semi-final tie after being forced off in the Netherlands win.
      Most read in Football
      However, Aitana Bonmati is expected to be fit despite also picking up a knock.
      And Paralluelo, who dropped out of the side on Friday, could reclaim her spot up top.
      Elsewhere, Sweden gaffer Peter Gerhardsson has no fresh injury concerns so he could be tempted into selecting the same side that edged past Japan. More

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      England vs Australia – Women’s World Cup: Lionesses look to shatter Aussie dreams in huge semi-final – stream FREE, TV

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      ENGLAND are two Women’s World Cup wins away from creating history – but hosts Australia stand in their way.Alessia Russo’s superb second-half strike sent giant killers Colombia crashing out at the quarter-final stage.
      England beat Colombia in a superb quarter-final clashCredit: Getty
      And many labelled England’s performance as heroic having had to fight from 1-0 down after Santos’ incredible effort.
      However, Sarina Wiegman’s women are set to enter a cauldron for the semi-final as they take on Australia in their own backyard.
      The Aussies got the better of England when the sides last met in April – but that was a friendly.
      England are yet to lose a competitive match under Wiegman.
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      And the Lionesses have continued to prove that they can produce a result when it matters, no matter the circumstances.
      For that reason, they are approaching the game with confidence and some cautious optimism.
      What is their form like?
      England are undefeated so far at this Women’s World Cup, having secured wins over Haiti, Denmark, China, Nigeria (on penalties) and Colombia.
      Meanwhile, Australia have suffered one defeat – to Nigeria.
      Most read in Football
      The Matildas suffered a 3-2 loss to the Super Falcons in the group stages before sealing a 4-0 win over Canada to top Group B.
      Australia saw off France in the quarter-finals, winning 7-6 on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
      Who will be the star players?
      Alex Greenwood has been an unsung hero for the Lionesses so far at the Women’s World Cup.
      Her performances in defence have been faultless and she is a real leader among the team.
      Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp are also ones to watch.
      Both strikers were excellent in Saturday’s game against Colombia and were rewarded with a goal each.
      Hemp and Russo both scored against ColombiaCredit: Getty
      Kerr is Australia’s star playerCredit: EPA
      For Australia, Sam Kerr is most certainly the player to watch.
      Although she has missed a chunk of the tournament so far due to an injury, the striker is likely to start against England.
      Kerr scored against the Lionesses when the Matildas earned a 2-0 win over them in a friendly in April.
      What has been said?
      England boss Wiegman does not fear the Matildas. In fact, she is excited about Wednesday’s clash.
      Speaking to the media on Saturday, she said: “It is going to be really big. I’ve had a couple of questions about the rivalry, so it’s going to be bigger than I thought it was.
      “I really like the people here, but that doesn’t mean there’s no rivalry here.”
      SunSport’s prediction
      One thing is for sure – this’ll definitely be a tight game.
      But England have found a way to win when it matters on every occasion since Wiegman took over, no matter how good the opponent.
      So for that reason, we think England could progress on Wednesday.
      Prediction: England 2-1 Australia
      When is England vs Australia?

      England’s huge semi-final contest against Australia will take place on Wednesday, August 16.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 11am BST.
      Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia is the allocated arena for this intriguing contest and it can host approximately 83,500 fans.
      Goals from Sam Kerr and Charlotte Grant saw Australia beat England in an April friendly.

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      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      England vs Australia will be broadcast LIVE on BBC One in the UK.
      Coverage is expected to commence from 10am BST – a whole hour before kick-off.
      Fans also have the option to live stream the match via the BBC iPlayer app or BBC Sport website.
      Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the entire game through our live blog which includes build-up and post-match reaction.

      Can I watch it for FREE?
      Yes!
      BBC One and BBC Sport will be showing the match for FREE as long as you have a valid TV license in the UK.
      Team news
      Sarina Wiegman reassured fans that Rachel Daly should be fit to face Australia despite appearing to twist her knee in the Colombia win.
      The England boss told talkSPORT: “I’m not worried at all. I think it’s fatigue.
      “But I haven’t spoken to [the team], I don’t think there are concerns.”
      As for Lauren James, the English star will continue to serve her suspension.
      Read More on The Sun
      The Chelsea ace picked up a two-game ban after stamping on Michelle Alozie during England’s round-of-16 match against Nigeria.
      She served part of the suspension against Colombia on Saturday, but should be back for the final if the Lionesses make it there.
      Rachel Daly appeared to be injured against ColombiaCredit: Getty More