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2023 Women's World Cup

For Australia, England, the soccer rivalry is contrived but the stakes couldn’t be higher

As the public hypes a feud between nations largely based on other sports ahead of the World Cup semifinal, the Matildas and Lionesses point out that they have little history with each other

Keith McInnes/SPP

Reporting from Stadium Australia in Sydney.

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Inside the large but crammed media center at Stadium Australia in Sydney, England head coach Sarina Wiegman is staring wide-eyed with a smile. 

Her eyebrows are raised, in content astonishment, as if they might slowly launch beyond her forehead and end up in Woolloomooloo.

Lost for words, Wiegman pauses for another second.

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She makes what only can be described as a “pffftftt” sound. A shrug. And then, the gathered press core begins to laugh. The Dutchwoman points at the giddy media members and lets out a small chuckle of her own.

Finally, without answering the question, she states: “We’re basically focused on football and the game tomorrow. Let’s do everything to win the game tomorrow.”

The scene was a result of a question – one of many – regarding non-soccer matters, just over 24 hours before Wednesday’s 2023 World Cup semifinal against co-host Australia.

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