Plus: Spain Gets Last Word, and Reaches First World Cup Final
ADVERTISEMENT |  | | | Aug. 15, 2023, 11:05 a.m. Eastern time |
 | | Pictured: Millie Bright, Sarina Wiegman and all the Australians who will be supporting them on Wednesday.Cameron Spencer/Getty Images |
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A little more than 24 hours before England's semifinal against Australia at the World Cup, its team walked out onto the grass inside an exceptionally quiet Stadium Australia. It was a cool evening in Sydney, and if you listened closely you could hear the sound of the blue FIFA flag flapping in the breeze. |
The Lionesses were going through their stadium familiarization protocol — a pregame ritual built marked by silence, selfies and, sometimes, bare feet. But as they strolled the field, they all knew the serene environment was nothing like the conditions they will play in on Wednesday night, when they face Australia in front of a supercharged Australian crowd. |
By almost every other indicator, England's Lionesses should be the heavy favorite to advance on Wednesday, and to play Spain in the final on Sunday. They are the reigning European champion. They sit comfortably above Australia in the FIFA world ranking. Even Australia's coach, Tony Gustavsson, pointed out that England has a roster full of starters from the world's best club teams, while many of his players sit on the bench or play in lower tiers. |
England Coach Sarina Wiegman would not be sandbagged, however. "I don't think they're the underdog," she said of Australia. "They're playing at home. The stadium will be really full." |
The Lionesses know something about the lift being the hometown team can provide: They won last year's European Championship in London, an experience their captain, Millie Bright, described as "incredible." Being on the other side of the noise, though, can offer a different kind of boost, she said. |
"We're just super excited to play in front of a really intense, full stadium for the women's game," Bright said. "That's what we want. That's what we expect now at these big tournaments, especially in the semifinals." |
This will be England's third straight World Cup semifinal appearance. In each of the last two, they lost. To clear that hurdle and reach their first World Cup final, they'll have to do so as the "away" team. After coming this far again, they wouldn't have it any other way. |
 | Hannah Mckay/Reuters | | |
| WEDNESDAY 6:00 A.M. EASTERN TIME | STADIUM AUSTRALIA |  | Australia |
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