ENGLAND will take on Australia in their own backyard TODAY as the Lionesses aim to book their place in the Women's World Cup final.
The headline team news is that Australia captain Sam Kerr starts for the Matildas despite facing a battle with injury.
Alessia Russo leads the line for the Lionesses after her superb second-half strike sent giant killers Colombia crashing out at the quarter-final stage.
- Kick off time: 11am BST
- TV channel: BBC One
- FREE live stream: BBC iPlayer
- England team: Earps, Bronze, Walsh, Greenwood, Bright, Stanway, Daly, Toone, Hemp, Carter, Russo
- Australia team: Arnold, Polkinghorne, Catley, Foord, Fowler, Hunt, Raso, Gorry, Kerr, Carpenter, Cooney-Cross
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Stay up to date with all the action from the Stadium Australia in Sydney…
- By Emillia Hawkins
The stage is set
The teams are out.
The national anthems have been sung.
Kick Off is just a few minutes away!
Credit: Getty - By Emillia Hawkins
How England line up
Here's a reminder of how the Lionesses line up today…
- By Emillia Hawkins
Ones to watch – Sam Kerr
Kerr is Australia’s golden girl.
Although she has missed a large chunk of the tournament so far, the striker always turns up against England.
The 29-year-old scored for the Matildas during their 2-0 friendly win over England in April, which just so happened to be the first – and only – game the Lionesses have lost under the management of Sarina Wiegman.
Credit: Getty
- By Emillia Hawkins
Ones to watch – Alex Greenwood
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 has been a real leader among the England camp.
Not only has she been one of the most influential players in the England squad, but also the Women’s World Cup as a whole.
Greenwood has had more touches on the ball (579) than any other player at the tournament this year and she is currently topping the table for most interceptions.
Credit: Getty - By Emillia Hawkins
Countdown to Kick Off
Both England and Australia fans are out in full voice at Stadium Australia.
Credit: PA Credit: Reuters - By Emillia Hawkins
Beckham sends good luck message to Lionesses
The England legend 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.
"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."
Credit: Twitter @england - By Emillia Hawkins
Tony Gustavsson on today’s game
“When we played them last time we got a good transition game going but I also know England learned a lot from that game.
“You saw England play against Nigeria, for example, who are also a very good transition team, and England played much more direct than they normally do.
“I think they have evolved and adjusted their game plan a little bit so they are not just possession based.
“Are England going to stay true to their possession game or are they going to take away our transition game by playing a different style of football than they normally do and just adjusting in that sense? We are prepped for both.
“We are prepped for both systems, if they play 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. We have also played with three different systems in this World Cup, so we might be flexible and do something different as well.
“The one thing that I think is interesting is that are there some players, no matter what system they play, that have the very same tendencies and when we played them last time, we managed to target specifically two of those players and benefited from that tactically.
“So, we looked into those nuances and those individual behaviour a little bit more now instead of the system – and hope that we can target that as well.”
Credit: PA - By Emillia Hawkins
Sarina Wiegman on today’s game
“First of all, I don't think they are underdogs.
“They're playing at home. The stadium will be really full so it's two teams that are very good, very strong and have grown into the tournament.
“It's going to be very tight and very competitive. We approach the game as any other game, we just prepare how we want to play.
“We've analysed our opponent really well so hopefully we can take out the strengths and exploit some weaknesses, and take it from there.”
Credit: Alamy - By Emillia Hawkins
Australia’s journey to the semi-finals
The Matilda’s have won all-but one game so far in the tournament.
They suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in the group stages.
- Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland
- Australia 2-3 Nigeria
- Canada 0-4 Australia
- Australia 2-0 Denmark
- Australia 0-0 France (7-6 on penalties)
- By Emillia Hawkins
England’s journey to the semi-finals
The Lionesses are yet to lose a game at this year’s Women’s World Cup.
- England 1-0 Haiti
- England 1-0 Denmark
- China 6-1 England
- England 0-0 Nigeria (4-2 on penalties)
- England 2-1 Colombia
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.
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 then saw off France in the quarter-finals, winning 7-6 on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
Kennedy OUT for Australia
The Matildas will be without Alanna Kennedy today.
The defender has been ruled out of the match due to illness.
Kerr STARTS for Australia
Sam Kerr has been named in Australia's starting line-up ahead of today's game.
It will be the striker's first start at this year's Women's World Cup.
Australia substitutes
Lydia Williams, Cortnee Vine, Emily Van Egmond, Kyah Simon, Courtney Nevin, Teagan Micah, Charlotte Grant, Aivi Luik, Alex Chidiac, Tameka Yallop.
The Matildas are set to start in a 4-4-2 formation.
Australia starting line-up
Mackenzie Arnold starts in goal with Clare Polkinghorne, Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt and Steph Catley in defence.
Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord make up the midfield.
Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler lead the line.
- By Emillia Hawkins
England substitutes
Niamh Charles, Jordan Nobbs, Hannah Hampton, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Esme Morgan, Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly, Bethany England, Katie Zelem, Ellie Roebuck, Katie Robinson.
The Lionesses are set to start in a 3-5-2 formation.
- By Emillia Hawkins
England starting line-up
It's an unchanged XI for the Lionesses.
Mary Earps starts in goal with Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter in defence.
Rachel Daly and Lucy Bronze start as wing-backs.
Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone make up the midfield.
Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp lead the line.
Credit: Twitter / @Lionesses - By Emillia Hawkins
Kerr spotted with ice pack in training
Australia striker Sam Kerr was spotted with an ice pack on her calf after the Matildas' training session on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old has been managing a calf injury throughout the tournament.
She sustained the injury on the eve of Australia's first group game against the Republic of Ireland.
Kerr 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.
Credit: 9 News - By Emillia Hawkins
Australia team news
The Matildas are still sweating on the fitness of superstar striker Sam Kerr.
Kerr picked up a muscular injury just before the tournament and has since been used as a substitute in each of Australia’s last two games.
However, she could be named in the starting line-up today.
Australia have no other injury concerns.
- By Emillia Hawkins
England team news
The Lionesses are still without Lauren James, who is serving a suspension.
James picked up a two-game suspension after stamping on Michelle Alozie during England's round-of-16 match against Nigeria last week.
Should England make it through today, she WILL be available to play in the final.
Rachel Daly is also fit to play, despite concerns that she picked up a knee injury against Colombia.
- By Emillia Hawkins
Welcome to England vs Australia
Good Morning and welcome to SunSport’s coverage of England vs Australia.
The Lionesses are just one match away from their first-ever Women’s World Cup final.
They have made it this far in the tournament without losing a game, but co-hosts Australia will act as a huge hurdle to jump in the battle for that second space in Sunday’s final.
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.
And the Lionesses have continued to prove that they can produce a result when it matters, no matter the circumstances.
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