World Cup Daily: England Face Colombia In Huge Quarter-Final Clash

The Lionesses aim to reach the semi-finals
18:00, 11 Aug 2023

After more epic Women's World Cup action on Friday in the opening quarter-finals, there are two more last-four encounters to come on Saturday including a huge fixture for England's Lionesses. Here is all you need to know about Saturday's crucial action.

Australia v France

Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 

When: 8am (BST)/5pm (AEST)

TV: ITV1, STV, ITVX, STV Player

Referee: Maria Carvajal (Chile)

Last meeting: Australia 1-0 France (Friendly, 2023)

Australia’s round of 16 result: 2-0 win v Denmark

France's round of 16 result: 4-0 win v Morocco

Australia have made it this far without having to rely on the injured Sam Kerr. The Chelsea striker's return from a calf injury for a 15-minute run-out in the 2-0 win over Denmark in the round of 16 gives them the opportunity to call upon easily their biggest superstar just when the tournament is getting tasty. But Tony Gustavsson now has to make the decision whether to drop one of the players who have led his side this far or leave Kerr in his pocket as a late option given her lack of match sharpness.

France battered Morocco in the last 16, with Eugenie Le Sommer and Kadidiatou Diani both on the scoresheet as Les Bleus begin to click into gear. Diani now has four goals in the tournament, having netted a hat-trick in the manic 6-3 win over Panama which saw France confirm top spot in Group F. Only once before have they reached the last four at the Women's World Cup.

Betfred odds: Australia 13/5, France 23/20, Draw 11/5

Sportsman stat: The Matildas are looking to buck the recent trend of hosts being eliminated at the quarter-final stage, with Canada in 2015 and France in 2019 both having exited at this point.

ENGLAND ARE MISSING THE SUSPENDED LAUREN JAMES
ENGLAND ARE MISSING THE SUSPENDED LAUREN JAMES

England v Colombia

Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney

When: 11:30am (BST)/8:30pm (AEST)

TV: ITV1, STV, ITVX, STV Player

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)

Last meeting: England 2-1 Colombia (World Cup, 2015)

England’s round of 16  result: 4-2 win on penalties v Nigeria (0-0 AET)

Colombia’s round of 16 result: 1-0 win v Jamaica

England need to prove a point after their regressive performance against Nigeria, in which star player Lauren James was sent off late on in normal time for treading on the Super Falcons' Michelle Alozie. Following on from the 6-1 group win over China there was great confidence in Sarina Wiegman's side but now they need a bounce-back performance to make a third straight World Cup semi-final.

Colombia edged Jamaica by a single goal from Catalina Usme in their previous knockout fixture, and at the Accor Stadium they will be playing their first ever quarter-final match. They are second favourites by some distance, but head coach Nelson Abadia might have seen holes to pick in England's last showing. 

Betfred odds: England 8/15, Colombia 13/2, Draw 13/5

Sportsman stat: Colombia have scored only nine goals in World Cup tournament history, just one more than England's eight so far in the 2023 event and fewer than the Lionesses' hauls in 2015 and 2019 (10 and 13 respectively).

*18+ | BeGambleAware 

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