Women’s World Cup: Matildas’ belief sky-high for semi as hype builds

THE Matildas are taking the biggest moment in Australian football history firmly in their stride as anticipation builds ahead of their Women’s World Cup semi-final against England.

Tonight (Wednesday, August 16) at Stadium Australia, the Matildas face England’s Lionesses for a spot in the final against Spain.

The sellout game is tipped to smash TV records set earlier this tournament, live sites have popped up across the country, and pubs and restaurants showing the game have been booked out well ahead of time.

There have even been reports of Matildas fans taking advantage of a leaked access code to snap up tickets reserved for England supporters.

But it’s business as usual for the players, with a traditional game day walk in Sydney ahead of their huge night.

Midfielder Katrina Gorry will win her 100th cap on Wednesday, which is also her daughter Harper’s second birthday, celebrated with her teammates in camp.

Australia will feel primed to deliver, backed by a passionate crowd that has helped lift them through to the final four.

A run of friendly wins against fellow semi-finalists England, Spain and Sweden, as well as vanquished quarter-final opponents France, preceded Australia’s golden run on home soil – most of which has taken place without the services of skipper Sam Kerr.

It’s given the Matildas the belief they can go all the way.

“I remember coming in after the French game, the friendly before the World Cup, and we were all in the change room and Sam said, ‘I think this is a time now that we’re all really together and this is the time that we can really believe that we can go all the way’,” goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold told reporters.

“Because we’d just come off beating England, Spain, France and all these top teams that maybe we hadn’t done in the past.

“Everyone’s confidence radiated off each other and being together and believing in each other, no matter who’s starting, who’s coming on, whatever it is – that’s really gone a long way in (building) the confidence for everyone.”

Both teams have batted away talk of rivalry, but England have followed France in attempting to pile the pressure on Australia as the hosts.

“I’ve said it from day one: we don’t look at it as pressure. We look at it as a privilege that so many people believe in this team,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.

“And we feel the support – we’re filled with energy every time, whether it’s arriving at the hotel, or coming to an airport; going to the stadium, or when we play.

“It’s amazing to see how many people support and believe in this team and in that sense we’re looking at it more as fuel and energy than pressure.

“We don’t look at it as heavy, we look at it as we get carried from underneath and built up and feel the belief in us.”

The Lionesses have switched their tactical set up during the World Cup but whatever England throw at them, Gustavsson said the Matildas are ready.

“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?” he asked.

“We are prepped for both.”

 – WITH AAP