Five down, two to go: Matildas face moment of truth in high-stakes World Cup semi-final game | Kieran Pender

There are just two peaks remaining for the team to scale their own Everest but every step forward raises the stakes for everyone else * How to watch the Matildas vs England semi-final * Every Matildas story; Golden Boot tracker; guide to all 736 players; full WWC coverage If the Matildas are overawed at going further than the team ever has before, they are doing a good job of concealing it. When veteran duo Tameka Yallop and Lydia Williams faced the press on Monday, it was business as usual – the content of their answers may have betrayed the significance of the moment, but there was nothing in its delivery that suggested anything out of the ordinary. Unimportant friendly or the biggest game in Matildas history? It was hard to say from the pair’s composure, body language and demeanour. It was more of the same 24 hours out from Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against England. Coach Tony Gustavsson was his usual affable self, ever-friendly, ever-willing to indulge questioning, eyes lighting up when a more tactical query was lobbed his way. Mackenzie Arnold, fresh from her starring role in the quarter-final win over France, was sticking to script and keeping her remarks brief – she is a woman of few words at the best of times. Continue reading...

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US owners understand profit but do they appreciate clubs’ tradition and values?

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‘Emotional’ Leah Williamson to make first England start in almost a year

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* Euro 2022-winning captain missed World Cup with ACL injury * Defender brings ‘flexibility in defence’, says Sarina Wiegman Sarina Wiegman has confirmed Leah Williamson will start for England against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night in their second Euro 2025 qualifying group game. Williamson, the Euro 2022-winning captain, said she would be emotional at the Aviva Stadium when she steps out with England for the first time in almost a year, after she was sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury last April. Continue reading...
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