Australia will face England at Stadium Australia on Wednesday in the 2023 World Cup semifinals after the European champions came from behind to beat Colombia 2-1 and book a place against the Matildas, who earlier Saturday won a penalty shootout against France. Leica Santos gave Colombia the lead close to half-time, only for Lauren Hemp to equalise in the sixth minute of added time right before the break. England striker Alessia Russo, who had so many questions asked of her during the tournament as her struggle for goals embodied those of her team as a whole, then struck midway through the second half with a clinical finish that ultimately decided the tie. And so, for the first time, one of the biggest international sporting rivalries will have a match in a competitive football fixture. And the stakes are about almost as high as they could be, with a place in a World Cup final on the line. In the context of the rivalry as a whole, it's a game on a scale rarely matched. The Anglo-Australian struggle is one that has been defined by meetings on the cricket pitch or the rugby field, on the track or with a racquet, or with stick or oar in hand. The rivalry is mostly contested in sports that are popular in Britain and its former colonies, but where global reach is otherwise limited. On Wednesday, though, they will meet in the world's biggest and most popular sport, with the eyes of the world watching on. For Australia, there can be no sweeter opponent to vanquish to reach the final of a home World Cup than England, to be the upstart that beats them at the game they invented. And for England, there's the chance to deny the Aussies this, to forever tar the happy memories the home fans will have of hosting this with the tune of Sweet Caroline ringing in their ears. The rivalry between Australia and England is one defined by paradox. On the one hand, it is an amicable affair between two nations with deep bonds of language, history and culture; two friends on the global stage, engaging in spirited competition in the arena before wounds are healed over banter and beers off it. They are two sports-obsessed nations who know the importance of not just victory, but what earning victory in the right way brings. Yet at the same time, it is a feud that is deeply antagonistic and characterised by hostile collision, where that same familiarity that brings congenial competition also breeds the most vicious form of contempt. The United Kingdom's flag resides in the top corner of Australia's flag and King Charles III is its head of state -- Sam Kerr even marched with the Australian flag at his coronation. The two nations have met in a major sporting final before -- in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup, when England beat Australia with the last kick of the game in Sydney -- while the latest instalment of Test cricket's biggest rivalry, The Ashes, recently concluded with Australia leaving England with a 2-2 draw in the series and the little urn still in their possession. Now, on the football field, Australia have another chance to beat England at their own game.
