A whole nation against England and a Sweden-Spain clash

Brisbane’s bridges and buildings will be lit up at night in yellow and green from Saturday to Sunday after the “Matildas” made history in the semi-finals in a never-ending penalty shootout against the French.

Before that, in Brisbane, 50,000 Aussies booed their team to beat Les Bleus (0-0 AP, 7-6 Tab), once again eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the World Cup.

As the match progressed, icon Sam Kerr’s teammates held nothing back and clapped back on Saturday so they could be worn by their fans.

The World Cup has already been a success, especially in Australia, co-hosting country New Zealand, with stadiums and city streets overflowing with fans. A historic audience was recorded for Australian television, with almost 4.2 million viewers watching the free-to-air channel Channel 7.

More statistics than the 2022 Australian Open tennis final, which won another local star, Ashley Bardy.

Englishmen without James

In the half, the task becomes even more complicated for the Australians, who showed several weaknesses in Brisbane.

After France, the Australians will have to overcome a new wall, the talent and physicality of the English, who ended Colombia’s surprising and impressive streak with difficulty on Saturday (2-1).

After a scare against Nigeria in the Round of 16 (0-0 at, 4-2 Pens), the players of the same coach for the last four (and quarters), Sarina Wickman, who chained the formation changes, are still favorites for this one. Competition at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

This, despite two mixed performances in a row and the absence of their star striker Lauren James, who was suspended for a poor gesture against Nigeria.

The fourth-ranked nation in FIFA reached the last four for the third time in a row, but qualifying for the finals would be historic for the reigning European champions.

Spain and youth

Ahead of the nation-wide semi-final, the first clash between Sweden and Spain takes place in Auckland on Tuesday.

The Scandinavians have achieved the feat of being eliminated from the last two world champion selections, the double title of the USA in the eighth (0-0 after, 5-4 pens), then Japan, crowned in 2011. World Cup run in Oceania: A new nation must be crowned on Sunday.

Against Japan, who have been the most attractive side since July 20, goalkeeper Jezira Muzovic and defender scorer Amanda Illestedt’s team have worked their defenses to counter the Spaniards’ movement and passing game.

It is an opponent with a Japanese-like profile that awaits Sweden in the semi-finals: Spain, loaded with talented players.

One of the youngest selections in the competition, La Roja, a rising nation in women’s football, was able to rely on young nugget Salma Parallulo to deliver a last-four spot in extra time against 2019 finalists the Netherlands.

Although reigning double Ballon d’Or Alexia Butellas looks physically fragile after a knee injury, the Iberians are fully armed to face the Swedish power.