England Lionesses v Australia’s Matildas. A Sofa Drama
Wednesday 17 August, 2023
A sofa saga as England’s Lionesses face up against Australia’s Matildas in the quarterfinal of Football’s World Cup. Matildas after the famous Ozzie folk song Waltzing Matilda.
It seems that in Australia, Matilda Mania has its grip on that sport-loving country.
All is ready in my solitary fanzone. My phone is on silent ring. Lunch has been pre- preprepared. Beverage to hand. A water bottle. It is, after all, 11am in England.
It is 8pm in Sidney, Australia A raucous national stadium greets the national heroes. No, maybe heroines. Let me know what’s the correct term.
Australia as the home team is playing in the same mellow yellow favoured by their other international teams. England has a sky blue with blotches strip which was close enough to be familiar to the sizeable Chelsea contingent in the starting line up.
Australia has been strengthened by the return of their superstar and captain Sam Kerr, another In the first minute she is greeted by a less than friendly piece of GBH from Keira Walsh, who usually plays with Kerr for Chelsea.
The game starts as it was to continue in an uncompromising fashion. As in the men’s game, the most innocent-looking players possess lethal concealed weapons deployed in illegal ways. “It’s the ball hits her in the face not the player’s boot” the commentator explains helpfully, after one close encounter.
England are using long passes to discombobulate the yellow defensive wall. They look the more dangerous team in attack ...
