Ella Toone has declared that the Lionesses are ready for a revenge match against Australia, following their victory in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. The two teams are set to face off at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday, October 28th, at 7 pm.
Toone acknowledged the significance of the upcoming match for the Matildas, stating, "For Australia, we broke a lot of their hearts out there at the World Cup so, for them, it'll feel like a revenge game". She also emphasized the Lionesses' unwavering competitive spirit: "We're England, we want to win every game. These games are friendlies – but there are no friendlies in football".
England defeated Australia 3-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Sydney. This victory dashed the Matildas' hopes of winning the tournament on home soil. Overall, England has won four of their six previous matches against Australia. One match was a draw, and Australia won one.
Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses' coach, added Anouk Denton to the squad before the game against Australia. Wiegman mentioned that some players had "niggles" after their recent match. She also said that Lucy Bronze and Niamh Charles are still being built up.
Wiegman also commented on Hannah Hampton's fitness, saying, "She's progressing really well and has ticked all the boxes so far... if things go well, she will be available for tomorrow".
Looking back on their recent 2-1 defeat against Brazil, Wiegman stated that Brazil challenged them in unique ways. She wants the team to make decisions more quickly when they have the ball and to improve their technical execution. Wiegman enjoys the challenge that top-ranked teams like Brazil and Australia present.
The Lionesses are aiming to avoid losing consecutive matches for the first time under Sarina Wiegman. The last time they lost two in a row was in April 2021, before Wiegman's appointment. Australia, on the other hand, is coming off a 2-1 victory against Wales. It was their first win outside of Australia since October 2024.
This upcoming match marks the eighth time England and Australia have faced each other. The game will be broadcast on ITV4 in the UK and Ireland and will be available to stream on ITVX.
