England manager Sarina Weigman is about to get an introduction into the nuances of the Australia-England sporting rivalry, according to the English media, as the Lionessess prepare to face the Matildas on Wednesday night.
The Dutch coach expressed an innocence about the rivalry – “I’ll talk to my players and staff and see what the rivalry is,” she said – but will be left in no uncertain terms about it by both her own press pack and the Australians.
“A subtle tonal and linguistic shift began to occur from the moment the final whistle blew at Stadium Australia, and the runes of Wednesday’s blockbuster World Cup semi-final began to take shape,” wrote Jonathan Liew in The Guardian.
” At that point Sarina Wiegman’s team stopped being the familiar faces in the draw, the mother country, the cultural brethren. They are the Poms. And if you’re unclear on the difference then clearly you haven’t watched much international sport between the two countries.
“England is the place you go on holiday. The Poms are the guys whose noses you want to crush into the dirt.”
In The Daily Mail, the obvious comparison was made.
“Today’s issue of The Australian lists some of the great moments between England and Australia — Bodyline, Jonny Bairstow’s stumping, the Gatting ball — which belong to the ‘sporting blood feud’ that has centred on cricket since 1877,” wrote Ian Herbert.
“Its headline encapsulates the national sentiment: ‘An old enemy. A new battle. And an adoring nation holds its breath.’”
The Sun turned the tables, saying Australia had to ‘enter the Lionesses’ den’.
:Australia will have virtually the entirety of the 80,000 fans inside the Sydney Olympic Stadium cheering on the tournament co-hosts,” they wrote.
“And there will be another 26million across the country baying for the Lionesses’ blood, with an electric atmosphere in Sydney in the raucous build-up to the biggest football match in the country’s history.
“Australia have well and truly captured the heart and the imagination of their adoring population.
“That was clear to see with the viral video taken from an aeroplane at the end of their quarter-final showdown with France – which showed everyone but one Lord of the Rings fan watching the finale on their screens.
“But while England may go into the game as underdogs – after all, Wiegman’s only loss as boss came against the Aussies – they will not be overawed despite the hostile reception awaiting them in Sydney.
“This is a team that has learned how to win tough – as demonstrated by coming from behind against Colombia and surviving with ten players against Nigeria in their last two matches to reach the final four.
“And their experiences in going all the way to Euros glory and World Cup heartache in previous tournaments could prove critical against the Matildas competing in their very first World Cup semi-final.”
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
OK - I'll support England then!
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Nah - The players will be too - they'll just be more internal and why not.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Well I will be off to the stadium tonight and although I will be supporting green and gold, I will be quite happy for Lionesses to make their way to the final. I guess I am going to be in a very small minority. I can’t wear “half and half” clothing so I suppose I should wear beige - no can’t do that!
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Most definitely a fan thing, if you ask any professional sports person do they go harder at their job just because they are playing England, I'd be surprised if they said yes and meant it. But ask any fan when it is a match, any match against the 'olde enemy', and we are into it.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
The England Australia cricket rivalry is far stronger than the rivalry with India - it’s only the BCCI that would want you to believe otherwise - away series against India are somewhat flawed due to the ridiculous nature of pitches in that country. The Ashes is Australia’s biggest sporting rivalry - I think the reason we have not seen a big rivalry in football is that the Brit’s regular rivals in this sport are the Germans, and as you say it’s probably more likely Italy would be a bigger rival for Australia. But, given the unique interest this tournament brings and a lot of non football fans jump on the bandwagon - it’s unsurprising that England, the traditional old enemy in all the commonwealth sports, plus in the Olympics as well, are now once again the big rivals here. Given the game is in Australia too it’s only made it bigger - It’s a great thing for Australian sport and I think building the rivalry up helps get more casual fans along for the ride.
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
There is quite a bit to contend with in this article. I probably shouldn’t bother but here are some thoughts without any digression. Personally, I think the England/Australia rivalry in cricket is from the last century. India vs Australia feels more intense to me these days. Where I live the number of people with Italian heritage would probably ensure an Australia vs Italy football match would be more keenly supported than Australia vs England. I think the English commentators are beating things up because they are quietly confident England will win. But then again, England are the underdogs even though they’re the European Champions!? For Australia to make the semi finals for the first time is extraordinary when you reflect that this also Spain’s first time in a semi final. “England is the place you going holidays”. Really?
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I was reading the UK media yesterday and the Lionesses that were interviewed had no feelings of huge rivalry akin to ashes or anything similar - maybe its a fan thing more than players but byuilt up by media over a period of time. After all we have to create news as well as make it.
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
Don't worry, by the time the game is played the media will have reminded everyone so much about the rivalry it will have become real.
ojp44
Roar Rookie
Nice sentiments and a terrific user name to boot; Caractacus, King of the Catuvellauni !!
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It doesn’t matter what the code is for me - there is nothing better than beating the Poms. I really hope Piers Morgan is watching when they lose!
pacman
Roar Rookie
Interesting comment Caractacus. I was in the UK whilst the 2014 WC was on, and found that Poms were barracking for Australia in the group matches. Couldn't see the point in bringing to their attention the fact that we Aussies were barracking for England's opponents. Thought it was a typically embarrassing bogan approach. You have proven me wrong.
TinRattler
Roar Rookie
A kiwi barrackimg for Australia has just put the death knell on the Matildas
TinRattler
Roar Rookie
The Olympic Games are lemons now a huge waste of money
sheek
Roar Guru
Rogue Estate, It'll be dumb fans & media doing the crowing, not the players themselves.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Personally, I can't believe there was an epl match on at the same tome as the English national women's team was playing. Can you imagine if the APL did that? There would have been a massive outcry of incompetence, lack of marketing expertise, no idea about when to schedule matches, there would have been asking for heads to roll like there was for the GF decision. Are Australian football fans just whingers?
Caractacus
Roar Rookie
I’m English and will always back whoever is playing Australia but that’s in men’s sports for the most part, if Australia beat England I’ll be fairly neutral for the final and it’ll be great to have a new winner on the trophy and what that will do for women’s football. It’ll also be a first for the southern hemisphere and a deserved win after hosting so well. I think that the game is pretty 50/50 and maybe home advantage will win out but England have shown plenty when up against the odds although I would be a lot more confident if they were at full strength which certainly isn’t the case. Whoever wins this match and the WC it marks a significant change from years of dominance by 2 or 3 countries, one in particular.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The Matildas candidate for a rival would be Brazil over the years. 2000 Olympics ,2004 Olympics, 2007 world cup, 2011 world cup,2015 world cup,2016 Olympics,2019 world cup. A lot of friendlies, nations cup matches as well. I think Australia have only played Great Britain at a major tournament .
itsme
Roar Rookie
amazing,exraordinary,unbelievable,incredible are the most overused & misused superlatives by journalists & commentators(in all sports,but this WWC is reaching new heights).trying to overhype something doesn't make it better.it's the same with faux rivalry.beating england in anything is good,but only ashes(male)is it the pinnacle. try this new drinking game we've been playing watching the WWC scull everytime 1 of the 4 superlatives are used during the coverage.it's given some a1 hangovers.mel mclaughlin & her cohorts usually gets us of to a great tart during pregame... there was so much overuse of the superlatives after the france match i almost gave up drinking.the match wasn't amazing,extraordinary,unbelievable or incredible it was 120 minutes of tense tedious football we were lucky enough to come out in front of in the football equivalent of a crap shoot.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
As a kiwi go the Matilda's - if they can beat England the crowing will be done for years. This is set up to be a good game - excited for Australia and Southern Hemisphere football. I have to hand it to the Australian coach - what a job making these players so cohesive.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
not just the stadium and the crowds, but the players. No one's harping on about where they're from, except a couple of States who don't have (m)any but whose journos are laying some dubious claims and making silly claims about the loudest noise, more wins here, closest to the game or other nonsense. The national sports media need to get out of Melbourne more often, it is not the sports capital. We grow as a team, in all sports, when all states get a fair go.