World Cup 2023: How Matildas can inflict triple heartache on Poms after Ashes and World Cup victories

Australia has already claimed English scalps with victories in the Ashes and Netball World Cup in 2023. Can the Matildas make it a triple crown on Wednesday?

There’s only one thing better than beating England in cricket – that’s beating them in soccer … er, sorry, football.

Toppling England in the sport they invented is one thing but it’s quite another to beat them in the one that – oh, hang on, they invented that one too.

Where the rich heritage of English cricket traces back to 1597, modern soccer also started in the same country around 1860.

Therein lies the merit of Australia’s exceptional effort to go head to head with England in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final.

For crying out loud, they invented the thing.

Resource wise – England dwarfs Australia.

Women’s football in England has seen significant investment increases over the last four years. Picture: Mark Metcalfe – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

England have a prosperous FA Women’s Premier League (which features Australian players such as Sam Kerr at Chelsea) and six divisions below it which makes Australia’s A League positively chicken nugget sized by comparison to England’s big feast.

The English don’t just play soccer. They ARE soccer. Or at least a huge part of it.

And yet, when they stand toe to toe against Australia there is a distinct feeling that, for all their heritage, there is a distinct feeling there will be no discernible gap between them.

The bookies have England a slight favourite but that suits the Matildas underdog narrative very nicely and there is no sense of inferiority given Australia beat England in London in April.

The Matildas last did battle against the Lionesses in April, winning 2-0. Picture: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

A week ago the bookies had the Matildas the same odds to win the Cup as Geelong was at that stage ($18) to win the AFL premiership. Then they became the same odds as Port Adelaide ($7). Now they are the same odds as Melbourne ($4.50).

It’s getting serious.

In Sydney it would be a momentous occasion if Australia was playing against the Galapagos Islands.

But, poetically, it’s England who recently could not get their hands on the Ashes or the women’s netball World Cup where they played Australia in the final.

Anyone for a triple treat?

Will we have our very own Jonny Bairstow style incident where Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold again moves a centimetre or two forward and there is a reset?

Australia has triumphed on the sporting field over England in 2023. Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

Imagine the drama if England kicks a penalty with a ball that curls more than expected?

Already there seems no chance of a drink afterwards because one side is finals bound and the other going home.

Women’s football has had a fascinating presence on the England’s at time cringingly conservative sporting landscape.

It was mysteriously banned by The English Football Association in 1921 and even when the ban was lifted decades later there were clauses in the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 that limited the advancement of women’s rights in professional football.

It’s been quite the journey but – as big as they are – England have never won the women’s World Cup so the pressure on them will be incredible.

And they have one giant obstacle standing in their way.

Originally published as World Cup 2023: How Matildas can inflict triple heartache on Poms after Ashes and World Cup victories