Unyielding Australian Squad Proves they're No Underdogs, According to England Manager Sarina Wiegman
England boss Sarina Wiegman dismisses Australia's underdog status ahead of their Women's World Cup semi-final clash She emphasizes that Australia is not solely dependent on star striker Sam Kerr Meanwhile, Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson concedes that England is the favorite to progress
Sarina Wiegman disagrees with Tony Gustavsson's claim that Australia are the underdogs in their Women's World Cup semi-final against England. The match will take place on Wednesday at the sold-out 75,000 Seater Stadium Australia in Sydney, with kick-off scheduled for 11am UK time.
Wiegman's team is currently ranked fourth globally, and they hold the title of European champions. They have also reached the semi-finals in the last two World Cups. On the other hand, Australia, ranked tenth, has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals in any major global tournament before.
Before Wiegman's pre-match press conference, opposing coach Gustavsson predicted that England would be the favorites to win the semi-final based on the rankings. However, the England head coach promptly denied his claims with her initial response.
She expressed her opinion, "To begin with, I don't believe they are the underdogs. The fact that they are playing on their home turf adds to their advantage. The stadium will be packed with enthusiastic fans, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Both teams are highly skilled, powerful, and have showcased remarkable growth throughout the tournament."
She anticipated, "The match will be fiercely contested and intensely competitive. We approach it with the same mindset as any other game, focusing on preparing and executing our game plan."
We have thoroughly analyzed our opponent, allowing us to potentially capitalize on their strengths and expose their weaknesses. This victory against England in April, where Australia secured a 2-0 friendly win at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, brought an end to England's 30-game unbeaten run under Wiegman.
Wiegman is now confident that her team can leverage their previous defeat to their advantage in order to make it to the World Cup final for the first time.
"We gained valuable insights from that game, which we have taken on board," she stated.
We now possess the knowledge and experience that will prove beneficial for us tomorrow. Moreover, we have thoroughly analyzed Australia throughout the tournament, ensuring that we are well-prepared for their strategies and playing style. We are fully equipped to face them confidently.
Could Kerr start for Australia?
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Sam Kerr missed the start of the World Cup with a calf injury
Sam Kerr, who scored the initial goal in Australia's victory against England earlier this year, experienced a setback in her World Cup journey due to a calf injury. However, even after sitting out the group stages, Kerr made her comeback as a substitute during the last 16 match and went on to play over 60 minutes in the quarter-final against France.
Gustavsson confirmed that the Chelsea forward is "indeed" eligible to play against England, but he wasn't sure if she would start her first game of the tournament.
"To be honest, she exceeded our expectations by playing more minutes," he stated. "We kept her on the bench because we were unsure about her recovery from the calf injury and her limited training time."
"The way she pushed through was fantastic and impressive, both from a mental and physical aspect."
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Could Kerr make her first start of this year's World Cup?
Regarding the line-up, we will once again engage in a discussion about playing time. The crucial elements for achieving success in tournaments are consistency and team chemistry.
I am faced with difficult choices since there are many players to consider. Our approach will be to prioritize starting with a powerful lineup and ensuring that we finish even stronger.
Wiegman: Australia not just Sam Kerr
Tough calls and lengthy discussions lie ahead as we navigate through this. Numerous players have proven themselves worthy of a starting position, while an equal number have demonstrated the expertise needed to conclude matches and secure victories on our behalf.
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Kerr has made a comeback in Australia's knockout stages.
Wiegman, on the other hand, acknowledges that "Australia consists of more than just Sam Kerr," while also recognizing the immense pressure placed on the country's leading scorer of all time.
The 53-year-old acknowledged that she is indeed a threat, as she is an exceptional player deserving of immense respect. However, it must be recognized that the success of a team ultimately enhances the performance of individuals. Therefore, while Sam Kerr is exceptional, there are others who contribute to the team's achievements.
"There's a lot of pressure on her because everyone expects things from her and for the team.
"I think Australia have grown in the tournament too. We expect a very strong Australia [on Wednesday]."
Aussie boss explains why England are favourites
When questioned about the possibility of Kerr starting, her reply was, "Australia's team consists of more than just Sam Kerr. We have strategized and prepared accordingly. She might be a part of the starting lineup or she could begin as a substitute. That is the current scenario."
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Australia boss Tony Gustavsson says England are favourites
Before Wiegman's press conference, her opposite number Gustavsson outlined why England are favourites for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final.
"If you look at rankings they [England] are favourites," he said.
"If you look at where their players play, they have starting players in top clubs in top leagues all over the world.
"Not only the starting 11, but also the players on the bench, outnumbering 15 or 16 in total. Additionally, we have players performing in mid-table Swedish teams. Taking all of this into consideration, along with the financial resources available to them, it is evident that they are the clear favorites for this game."
"But the one thing that we have that they don't have is the support and belief from the fans. That in itself is going to be massive tomorrow."
Essential Football podcast: Australia vs England preview
Anton Toloui and Charlotte Marsh, the dynamic duo, are back to provide a sneak peek into the thrilling upcoming semi-finals of the Women's World Cup.
Get ready as they provide a detailed preview of the highly anticipated clash between England and the co-hosts Australia. Brace yourself for the possible comeback of the sensational Sam Kerr.
They also discuss why Mary Earps is the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment and where the key battles could be.
