AAP Soccer

Broken-hearted Matildas after revenge against England

Oct 28, 2025

Ella Toone's goal was the first in England's 3-1 Women's World Cup semi-final win over Australia. -AP

One of the England players whose goals knocked Australia out of their home-hosted World Cup has said she knows the Matildas will be out for "revenge" when the teams meet in Derby.

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The friendly on Tuesday night (Wednesday 0600 AEDT) is the first meeting between the two sides since the 2023 Women's World Cup semi-final in Sydney, won by England 3-1.

England coach Sarina Wiegman said she didn't think about the World Cup when approaching this match as "we have moved on and they have moved on."

But Ella Toone, who scored England's opening goal that night, said: "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."

Will it? Steph Catley admitted it would "sit in the back of your head".

"It does become a little bit of a revenge game," she added on Monday. "I think that's probably one of the most heartbroken I've been after a game. So you do think about that a little bit, but it's a completely new team, new coach, new players."

England, having lost at home to Brazil at the weekend, in their first outing since winning the European Championships in July, will also have plenty of motivation.

"We're England, we want to win every game," said Toone. "These games are friendlies - but there are no friendlies in football.

"It's difficult when you lose a game but there's a game right round the corner to put things right and we're going to go out there, put on a big performance and hopefully go out there and get the win."

The match will certainly have a familiar feel despite the intervening two years.

The majority of the Matildas beaten in the semi-final could feature at Pride Park. Clare Polkinghorne has retired and Mary Fowler is injured but the rest of the starting XI, plus two of the substitutes used in Sydney, are in Joe Montemurro's squad.

Three of the England players involved have also retired from international football: Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Rachel Daly. Lauren Hemp is injured. But the rest of the starting XI are likely to feature.

There will also be the familiarity and edge engendered by 11 of the Australian squad playing in England's Women's Super League.

"I think it gives you more of an insight of what those players bring on the pitch.," said Manchester United's Toone. "You know the strengths and weaknesses of each player,.