Gabby Logan
BBC Sport presenter in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

What struck me when I arrived was seeing how much the Matildas have permeated every area of society.

The newspapers, the news programmes, people talking about them in the streets.

Australia is going football crazy!

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

The co-hosts of the tournament have carried the hopes of a nation, embracing the pressure and using it to their advantage to see off Olympic champions Canada and European giants France en route to the last four.

A hostile crowd will await England in the semi-finals and, while this is nothing they have not faced before - Colombia certainly did not make them feel welcome in Sydney - the impact of a sold-out home crowd is something Wiegman's side know only too well after reaping the benefit at Euro 2022.

Australia have not only built momentum on the pitch with their agonising dramatic penalty shootout win over France in the quarter-finals, but they are transforming support off it.

Free-to-air viewing figures have gone through the roof in Australia, its flagship Channel 7 pushed back its 6pm news bulletin on Saturday, and kick-off times for other sports events, including Aussie rules, have been moved to avoid fixture clashes with the Matildas.

Fan festivals and large outdoor screens have popped up across Sydney city centre and now a nation which obsessed in a cricket rivalry with England in the Ashes this summer are set to embrace the latest battle between the countries in football.

Last time out, Australia sneaked through to the last four in dramatic fashion.

They edged France after a lengthy penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw. The whole of Australia now believes.

Anon: Boss has scheduled two all-day meetings today ): was going to work from home but now have to be in the office so I’m going to miss the game. Send thoughts my way- these meetings better change the world!! - Need to be kept anon lol

Had they finished second in Group B, Australia could have met England in the last 16.

Instead they faced Denmark, who they clinically beat 2-0.

Nick: So pleased I moved jobs in March. Now work from home full-time and my manager has actively encouraged us to take a long lunch to watch the game (if we want to). Started earlier today, but I’m sure it will be well worth it!

Ultimately though, Australia cruised into the last 16, topping their group by thrashing Olympic champions Canada 4-0.

But Australia were left with it all to do in Group B after Nigeria came from behind to beat the hosts 3-2 in matchday two.

Incidentally, England beat Nigeria on penalties in the last 16.

Stand-in captain Steph Catley's second-half penalty gave Australia a 1-0 victory over debutants the Republic of Ireland in their opening match in Sydney.

Keep your messages of support for the Lionesses coming in.

They do read our live text, I promise.

Right, shall we take a look at the Australia camp?

BBC Radio 5 Live

The build-up begins on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Nicky Campbell's show will have football guests across the next hour so it's worth getting on!

Download the BBC Sounds app now!

Ashley: Australian from New South Wales now living in Old North Wales. There's only one team for me. Come on, Australia.

Speaking of Lucy Bronze, the defender scored a worldie in England's quarter-final win over Canada in 2015.

That's the only time the Lionesses have faced the host nation at a Women's World Cup.

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Reaching semi-finals of major tournaments is what England "are known for", said defender Lucy Bronze this week.

As well as reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2015, 2019 and now 2023, England also made it to the last four of Euro 2017 and Euro 2022, which they went on to win on home soil.

Bronze, 31, has played a key role in reaching all three, having had a breakout tournament in 2015.

"People said England were the team that were going to flop," said Bronze.

"If we hadn't have got to the semi-finals, I would have said we would have underperformed. Our performances haven't been our best, granted, but the results have been there.

"We've got to the semi-final, which is what this England team is known for doing."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

England have answered every challenge they have faced at the Women's World Cup, but it will be nothing compared to what is likely to await them in the semi-finals.

Having seen off the tenacity and unpredictable skill of Colombia in the 2-1 quarter-final win, the Lionesses set up a showdown with co-hosts Australia, two games away from glory.

England had to come from behind on Saturday - the first team in the knockout stages of this year's competition to win despite conceding first - and did so in front of a crowd of 75,784 fans, the majority of whom were vociferously backing Colombia.

England beat Nigeria in a penalty shootout in the last 16, then dealt with the first game of a two-match suspension for top-scorer Lauren James.

Key midfielder Keira Walsh was also ruled out of the final group game through injury, adding to a list of big names nursing injuries back home.

Manager Sarina Wiegman said she had "never experienced so many problems" after the last-16 tie with Nigeria, but what has emerged is a hardened resilience and a relentless will to win which has carried England through to the semi-finals.

Now England face a fresh challenge against co-hosts Australia, who have gone further than they have before and will be spurred on by a passionate home crowd.

Everything is stacked in Australia's favour in terms of their form and having home advantage - but England have proven to have a knack for grinding out results. They have an underlying layer of character and belief that they can get through games and win them.

They lost to Australia in the friendly in April which broke the 30-game unbeaten record under Sarina Wiegman but maybe that was a little reality check and they will remember that.

It gives England an added incentive to go and beat them. It probably meant more to Australia as it was building towards a home tournament but it certainly would have jarred and would not have sat well with the England players.

Given England are meeting Australia in the semi-finals, that gives a clear reality of where the Matildas' level is currently at. But there's an added incentive for England to go and get that revenge.

My prediction? England to win 2-1!

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Stadium Australia

Image source, BBC Sport

These four women - two sisters among them - played football together in Redditch, just south of Birmingham.

They were fully dressed for the occasion and are pretty confident of an England victory.

Chloe Kelly, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood and Ella Toone are among their favourite players and were on the back of their shirts.

Justin: Dropping wife off at fracture clinic for an appointment at 10, will then park up and watch coverage on the BBC Sport app. Had to quickly download app on wife's phone so she can watch too, hope there is a good signal in the hospital!

Under Wiegman England have played 37 matches, winning 29, drawing seven and suffering that one loss to Australia back in April.

The 53-year-old manager has a stellar record leading her native Netherlands to a home European Championship win in 2017 and the 2019 World Cup final.

After taking the helm at England in September 2021 she helped the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 in the final of the Euros last year.

Wiegman's sides have never lost a semi-final in a major international tournament.

Australia boss Tony Gustavsson has won just 18 of his 38 matches in charge of the Matildas since 2020 but he did lead Australia to a fourth-place finish at the Olympics, their best ever run in the competition having beaten Great Britain in the last eight.

The Swede was also an assistant manager for the United States when they lifted the World Cup in 2015 and 2019.

Image source, Getty Images

Anita Asante
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

The match up is going to be really intriguing between [Sam Kerr] and Millie Bright. If we look at Australia, they’ve managed to get this far without really having to use Kerr so they know she’s an added bonus if she’s fit and available to play more minutes today.

You can see that in how young players like Mary Fowler have stepped up in the forward line as well. Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter, a real team cohesion you can see from Australia and that’s put them in good stead for this semi final.

My gut is telling me it’s going to be a finely balanced game. And it should be at this level. I really believe the Lionesses have all the components to get the results but it could go the long haul.