Women’s World Cup: Best bets for the semi-finals

England have laboured through most of their matches Down Under, with a 6-1 triumph over China the one exception so far, but nobody can question the spirit of this squad.

Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses conceded for just the second time this tournament late in the first half of the quarter-final clash with Colombia at Sydney’s sold-out Stadium Australia, but they were level by the break thanks to Lauren Hemp’s alert stoppage-time effort and Alessia Russo completed the comeback after the break.

A large majority of the 75,784 supporters present were rooting for Colombia and England will have to hold their nerve in a hostile environment again at the same stadium, but that does not faze their captain.

Millie Bright said: “For me, no matter who the fans are, you’re actually quite proud of it as well, we want that in a World Cup, we want it to be people turning on the TV and saying ‘god, look at the crowd, it’s incredible’.

“As a player, you feel that and you use it to your advantage as well, it’s not a disadvantage that there might be a lot of Australia fans there.”

Australia are 10th in FIFA’s global rankings, six places below England, but can boast they are the only team to have beaten the Lionesses since Wiegman took the helm in September 2021.

That victory came in April, when Sam Kerr and Charlotte Grant both scored at Brentford, but talismanic captain Kerr has been held back by a calf injury during this tournament and that could count against the Matildas here.

Coral’s Lewis Knowles commented: “The nation have really gotten behind their team in Australia during this World Cup, and no doubt it will be an incredible atmosphere in Sydney on Wednesday.

“England are marginal favourites to make it through, but this will probably be the toughest task the Lionesses have faced so far, and they’ll have to be at their very best if they are to progress to Sunday’s final.”

However, we believe the Lionesses can come through a close encounter and 4/1 for Draw HT/England FT completes our Women’s World Cup betting tips.

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication