After triumphing over France last Saturday, Australia’s historic Women’s World Cup semi-final against England is finally here.

It’s the European champions against latter stage newcomers; it’s the ecstatic host nation against their fiercest rivals.

If she starts, the talismanic Sam Kerr will be hoping to get the better of England goalkeeper Mary Earps yet again: she’s blasted a whopping one goals past her Manchester United foe for Chelsea and Australia in less than three years.

England are depleted, a little jaded, but still present the sternest of challenges for the Matildas. England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, knows how to win at this stage of big tournaments, and she’ll be desperate to make her team European and World champions at the same time.

Waiting in the final is Spain, who overcame Sweden in dramatic fashion at Auckland’s Eden Park on Tuesday night. Left back Olga Carmona sensationally slammed in from the edge of the box just one minute after Sweden substitute Rebecka Blomqvist had equalised at the other end of the pitch.

It means that whichever country triumphs in the final on Sunday will become first-time winners – an impressive feat for Spain in just their third Women’s World Cup appearance.

Australia has been absorbed in World Cup action over the last few weeks, and the Matildas have captured the hearts of the nation, so we at The Brag have decided to provide live updates of all the semi-final clash tonight.

You can find out all the details you need to know about the game, including where to watch it, on Rolling Stone AU/NZ. More information about everything Matildas can be found here.

Follow all the Australia v England action, including social media reactions (and hopefully a few Matildas goals) below!

Australia v England

Venue: Stadium Australia
Kick-off: 8pm (AEST)
TV: Channel 7
Streaming: Optus

Australia 1-3 England

10:01pm – Thanks for joining The Brag tonight! We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve belittled England’s back three. Congratulations to the Matildas on a fantastic tournament run.

21:58 – Let’s end on a positive note: what a tournament it’s been for the Matildas. They’ve done so much for women’s football in this country. The impact of this World Cup will be felt for years to come.

21:57 – England advance to play Spain in what will be their first-ever Women’s World Cup final. Can they become World and European champions?

FULL-TIME – It’s all over. England win 3-1 on a disappointing night for Australia. England were just too composed and clinical for their opponents. 

93′ – Hemp does well to shield the ball and win a foul for her team. She’s been colossal tonight.

92′ – Australia appeal for a penalty but the referee is having none of it.

90′ – Six minutes are added on. Probably not enough time for the Matildas.

85′ – GOAL! That should be the game. England make it three. Russo slides in a low shot beyond Arnold, who should have perhaps done better. 

84′ – How did Kerr miss that! The ball falls to her kindly from a corner but she mishits her shot when wide open. That should have been the equaliser.

82′ – So close! van Egmond’s low strike is pushed out by Earps and Carpenter saves her team with a clearance.

81′ – Kerr is in at the back after a sublime cross from Fowler but she gets her header all wrong!

80′ – SUBSTITUTION! Polkinghorne is off for Emily van Egmond. Change of formation as a result. Australia are going to throw everything at England in these last ten minutes.

77′ – Greenwood’s corner hits Bright again but she’s off target with her header; Australia aren’t getting tight enough to Bright.

75′ – Stanway skies her shot after good English pressure.

71′ – SUBSTITUTION – Raso is removed for Cortnee Vine.

70′ –  GOAL! England go ahead and it’s a mess at the back. Kerr looks shocked. We’re all shocked. Hemp puts England in front after the Australian defenders get confused and let her slip through. 

69′ – And close for England again! Hemp’s cross meets Russo whose header scrapes the post.

68′ – Close for England! Bronze’s cross drifts over the head of Arnold but no one is waiting at the back post in an England shirt.

65′ – Cooney-Cross’s, um, cross is too high and comes to nothing. Australia retain possession and pressure.

64′ – Kerr means business now. She’s doing it all herself. Another run at the English defence draws a corner. A talismanic player.

64′ – That’s the type of goal that would light up any game. Goal of the tournament by a mile.

62′ – GOAL!! What a goal by Kerr! That’s sensational. No other player on the pitch could have done that! This is why she had to play. Kerr goes it alone down the middle, spots Earps off her line, and does the rest. Go Matildas!

60′ – Kerr really is an intelligent player. Two excellent crosses by the Chelsea striker enter the England box but there are no takers.

59′ – Fowler’s definitely finding her feet now. Some lovely dribbling down the left leads to a cross but the less said about the delivery, the better.

57′ – A great delivery reaches the towering Millie Bright in good space but she misdirects her header.

56′ – Arnold saves smartly from Hemp. Corner for England.

55′ – Free kick for Australia after a collision between Bronze and the wonderfully-named Clare Polkinghorne.

54′ – It’s all coming down this right hand side for the Matildas. Bronze has the frustrated Foord on lock on the other side. Attack the right!

53′ – So wasteful from Raso. Carpenter sprints down the right but Raso’s pass is so sloppy and drifts out for a goal kick.

49′ – Tonight’s referee is letting a lot of tough English tackles go unpunished. Get the cards out!

48′ – Unlucky! Fowler floats a cross to the back post but Foord is stretching to reach it and her header is tame. The crowd are in better voice now.

46′ – Kerr nearly gets to a lofted ball but Earps sweeps up. Good possession from Australia though.

45′ – And we’re back. No changes at the break, perhaps surprisingly. Can Fowler be the match winner?

8:58pm – If any Matildas players need some inspiration at the break, legendary Socceroo Tim Cahill has them cover-no, wait, he’s just hyping up himself.

8:56pm – Bad news, Australian fans: England have never lost a Women’s World Cup game when scoring first (W16 D2). Strong form.

8:52pm – Since it’s half-time, why not revisit the thrilling climax to Spain and Sweden’s semi-final one?

HALF-TIME – Breathe everyone. Not the first half Australia wanted at all. England look more composed currently. Expect changes at the break. Fowler is a supremely exciting talent but the big occasion has got the better of her. And England’s pesky back three are getting too much time and space. Push the Matildas up. Chase them, harass them!

45′ – A cross from the left is just too high for Kerr! That would have been the ideal time to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

44′ – And it comes to nothing again. A chaotic few headers ensue before the ball eventually reaches the grateful arms of Earps.

43′ – Corner for Australia! A lovely ball from Kyra Cooney-Cross is cleared by Bronze.

42′ – Another excellent cross from Rachel Daly reaches her intended target but Lauren Hemp clearly pushes the Australian defender before heading at goal.

40′ – Will England shut up shop and just pass it between their back three? You know they’d love to.

37′ – Australia looking to respond quickly. Katrina Gorry thunders a shot from distance but it’s too straight.

35′ – GOAL! What a goal by England. What a strike. Toone powers it into the top right hand corner of the Australian net first time.  The crowd are stunned.

33′ – Mary Fowler seems a little lost up top. She’s pulling too close to the middle of the pitch for Australia.

31′ – A waste of space down the right! A nice through ball finds Ellie Carpenter but she absolutely skies her cross.

30′ – Greenwood has a lovely left foot for England. She floats a delicate ball over the top again but there are no takers.

29′ – And it comes to nothing in the end. Bronze is briefly down injured but gets back to her feet.

29′ – Another corner! The ball went all the way to Raso, who gets her shot on target.

27′ – Australia are passing it about much more confidently now. Corner!

23′ – A floated ball lands on Hayley Raso’s head but she can only direct it into Earp’s hands.

22′ – The possession stats tell a lot – England dominating. Although most of those passes were between the bloody back three.

22′ – Another strong tackle from the English. Rambunctious lot.

20′ – England are passing crisply now. They almost get in behind twice. Australia need to tighten up at the back.

17′ – Foord is in the wars again. Lucy Bronze shoves her unceremoniously to the ground. No yellow, ref?

16′ – Into the side netting from Ella Toone down the right hand side. Tough angle for her.

15′ – Australia are troubling England on the break. Lots of counter-attacking purpose.

11′ – Kerr’s everywhere at the moment. Really making her presence felt up front.

9′ – The first yellow card of the night goes to Alex Greenwood for scything down Kerr. Dirty!

8‘ – And England respond in kind! A lovely ball over the top reaches Georgia Stanway who should do better. Mackenzie Arnold saves well at her near post.

6′ – First big change of the night falls to Sam Kerr but she’s offside anyway! Mary Earps did well to spread herself to block Kerr’s shot.

5′ – The English back three sure do love passing between each other. Other players are available.

4′ – Caitlin Foord is irate at not getting a throw in. Quite right, Caitlin.

1′ – The Italian referee blows the whistle and we’re off! Australia kicking from right to left.

7:56pm – It’s time for the national anthems. England first.

7:54pm – The teams are coming out of the tunnel. Some look nervous. Ok, everyone looks nervous.

7:43pm – Here’s how the English line up. They name an unchanged team.

7:30pm – The Matildas starting lineup is in!

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