Derby, England – Two years after a heartbreaking defeat in the 2023 Women's World Cup semi-final, the Australian Matildas are set to face the Lionesses of England in a highly anticipated friendly match at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday, October 28. The sold-out stadium, with a capacity of 33,500, will host the eighth meeting between these two sides.
The last time these two teams met, England dashed Australia's hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil, securing a 3-1 victory in Sydney. Ella Toone's opening goal was followed by a stunning equalizer from Sam Kerr, but second-half goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo sealed the win for England. This defeat still stings for the Matildas, and the upcoming friendly provides an opportunity for them to exact revenge.
England, currently the reigning European champions after beating Spain in the Euro 2025 final, are coming off a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in their most recent friendly. Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses' manager, acknowledged that her team needs to start games with more physicality. Despite the recent loss, England will be looking to bounce back and maintain their dominance against Australia.
Australia, coached by Joe Montemurro, formerly of Arsenal Women, will be eager to avenge their World Cup loss. The Matildas have a strong contingent of players who play in the Women's Super League (WSL), giving them familiarity with their English opponents. Recently, they secured a 2-1 victory against Wales, building momentum heading into the match against England. The return of Sam Kerr from an ACL injury is a significant boost for the Matildas. However, Mary Fowler is still recovering from her ACL injury.
Several key players are missing for England, including Leah Williamson, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and Jess Park. Jess Carter has been removed from the squad with a concussion and replaced by Anouk Denton. However, there is positive news as Hannah Hampton is expected to be available after recovering from an elbow injury. Aggie Beever-Jones could also be in line for a start.
Both teams have shown a tendency for high-scoring games recently. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in ten of England's last 12 international matches. Similarly, many of the two teams' recent matches have produced at least three goals.
With both teams eager to prove themselves, a competitive and exciting match is expected. The game will be broadcast live on ITV4, with coverage beginning at 6:15 PM.
