On Saturday, Sam Kerr and Australia had one more chance to capture medals in the first World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere.

But the Malitdas fell in the third-place game to Sweden, 2-0. Even in defeat, Kerr, considered by many the greatest striker in the world, found a silver lining.

“Although it’s disappointing, we’ll think back to this in a couple of weeks and be really proud of how we did,” Kerr told reporters after the contest.

Australia has co-hosted this World Cup along with New Zealand, and the Matildas’ run to the tournament semifinal has proved to be one of the most intoxicating storylines for fans. Kerr played sparingly early in the tournament, because of a calf injury, before finally starting her team’s semifinal match against England.

Kerr scored in the 63rd minute of that contest, tying the game at 1, but England scored twice in the final 20 minutes to win. The third-place match provided one last opportunity for the Matildas to end the tournament on a positive note, but it wasn’t to be.

Still, Kerr believes the run was a positive showcase for Australia.

“The way the fans have got behind us, the way girls have carried themselves, I think we’ve proven to the world we are a footballing nation,” Kerr said. “We couldn’t get it done tonight, but hopefully we’ve inspired people for many years to come.”

She added: “It’s sad that it’s come to an end. This has been the best four weeks of our careers.”

Sam Kerr did all she could for Australia at the 2023 World Cup. And while the Matildas ultimately came up short, they still made their deepest run ever.

Nearly half the country watched the 3-1 loss to England in the World Cup — and the magnificent goal from Kerr. But that did not stop the disappointment from seeping in for the 29-year-old captain.

“All I can feel is disappointment right now,” Kerr told the Associated Press. “After we scored, it felt like it would have been a great match to watch, actually.”

Of course, one cannot mention Kerr’s World Cup without noting her limited minutes while dealing with a left calf injury. After missing the entirety of the group stage, she was used sparingly in the first two matches of the knockout rounds. But she made her first start of the tournament and played a full 90 minutes against England.

“I think I did everything that I could to be back in this tournament,” she said. Referring to a missed shot on goal late in the match, she added: “I would normally sink that, but I’ve trained maybe three or four times this whole World Cup. That obviously for me is normally my bread and butter, but unfortunately this World Cup hasn’t gone as planned for me.”

Her teammates kept her going during her absence from the pitch, she said. And it’s been amazing getting to watch women’s soccer in Australia rise to new heights as the Matildas have hosted the World Cup.

“That’s kind of the only thing keeping me smiling right now, the fact that we inspired a nation, everyone’s gotten behind us, the tournament has been amazing,” Kerr said. “I think for us, hopefully this has been life-changing for women’s football in Australia.

“I don’t think this was once in a lifetime. If you bring the product to the show, we’ve proven people will come out and support it. Hopefully we’ll get a few new fans that will stick around. Now it is time for funding and all of that stuff to be invested in the game because we’ve shown we can play the game.”

Sam Kerr leapt in the air and pumped her fist, celebrating her long-range, right-footed goal to tie the World Cup semifinal for Australia.

Then Kerr and her team came back down to earth. England scored twice in the second half, defeating the host Matildas, 3-1, to advance to Sunday’s championship match. Kerr sank to the pitch, wearing an expression of defeat as the Lionesses celebrated.

The Australian legend’s magic had run out.

Kerr missed the group stage of the World Cup with a calf injury, before finally entering late in Australia’s 2-0 win over Denmark in the Round of 16. She was subbed in early in the second half of the quarterfinal before converting a penalty kick to help the Matildas edge France in a dramatic shootout win.

The striker started for the first time of the tournament in the England game, and her 63rd minute goal breathed new life into the Australian side. But just eight minutes later, England’s Lauren Hemp scored to put the Lionesses ahead once again, and Alessia Russo’s 86th minute goal – seconds after Kerr’s missed shot off a corner kick – iced the game.

The defeat marks the end of the run for one of the most beloved international players.

Her goal against the Lionesses was a tour de force. After receiving the ball at midfield, Kerr dribbled toward two defenders, with a third on her back, and fired from several feet above the penalty arc. The ball curved around both defenders and screamed into the top right corner of the net, just past the outstretched arm of England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

England’s comeback was minutes away, but for a few brief moments Kerr soaked in the love from her home fans, a soccer queen assuming her throne.

Former U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis thinks Australia’s Tony Gustavsson should be a “strong candidate” for the USWNT job should Vlatko Andonovski be relieved of his duties.

Gustavsson served as an assistant coach for the USWNT under Ellis during the 2015 and 2019 World Cup title runs. And now he has led Australia to its first-ever World Cup semifinal, though the Matildas fell 3-1 to England in the match. His success is unsurprising for Ellis, who told ESPN that she always believed Australia had what it takes to make a “deep run.”

“I watched them play against France in the warm-up game, and I remember going, ‘This is a well-oiled machine. They’re going to make a deep run in this tournament,'” Ellis said. “You could just see it — the way they stepped together and moved together. It just reminded me a lot of our team in 2019. We were a very well-oiled machine, prepared for any situation.”

Gustavsson has credited his time with the USWNT as being helpful as he’s navigated through this year’s World Cup.

“Those experiences were extremely valuable in learning tournament football — it’s very different than week in, week out in a league,” Gustavsson said. “I’ve been a club coach as well, but playing tournaments is completely different. It’s about finding a way to win in the game right in front of you.

“If I look back from 2019 to where I am now, my mantra is I want to get better every day, not just one day older. I sit here one day older, but hopefully one day better as well.”

Gustavsson was a big part of the USWNT’s rebuilding process after the disappointment of the 2016 Olympics. And Ellis told ESPN that she has seen similarities in Australia, with Gustavsson following a similar playbook to guide the Matildas.

While nothing has been announced yet about Andonovski’s future with the USWNT, his contract expires at the end of the year. And Ellis thinks U.S. Soccer should consider Gustavsson for the position.

“He should definitely be a strong candidate for the job,” she said.

England has advanced to their first Women’s World Cup final with a 3-1 win over host nation Australia in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Australia appeared on the verge of a comeback after Sam Kerr tied the game 1-1 with a long-distance strike in the 63rd minute. But England quieted the crowd with a response eight minutes later, as Lauren Hemp got on the end of a long ball and took advantage of miscommunication along Australia’s backline to restore England’s lead.

Alessia Russo, who scored the game-winner in England’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals, put the game away with another goal of her own in the 86th minute.

Ella Toone, who replaced suspended forward Lauren James in the starting lineup, opened the scoring for the Lionesses with a one-time strike into the top right corner in the first half.

Kerr ignited the home crowd in the second half with a stunning individual scoring effort. Australia’s star striker received the ball at midfield and dribbled all the way to the top of the 18-yard box before curling a shot past the outstretched hands of England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Kerr was starting in her first game at this World Cup since injuring her calf in training before the tournament began. After missing Australia’s first two games, she had been on a minutes restriction leading up to the semifinal.

Kerr had multiple chances throughout the second half to give Australia the lead, but she couldn’t convert and England took advantage.

James will be available for the World Cup final after serving a two-game red-card suspension for stepping on the back of Nigerian player Michelle Alozie in the Round of 16. James emerged as England’s breakout star in the group stage, leading the team with three goals and three assists in the tournament.

England is moving onto another final of a major tournament after winning the Euros in their home country last year. Head coach Sarina Wiegman leads her second national team into a World Cup final after coaching the Netherlands in the 2019 final, which the Dutch lost to the United States. She is the first coach to do so with two different countries.

England will meet Spain in the championship game on Sunday (6 a.m. ET, FOX) after La Roja defeated Sweden 2-1 in a dramatic finish to the other semifinal game. Both teams are playing for their first-ever World Cup title.

The 2023 World Cup is down to two teams, with England and Spain set to face off in the championship match. Both teams are competing in their first World Cup final, so a first-time champion will be crowned in Sydney on Aug. 20.

Check out the complete schedule and knockout stage results below, and catch up on the semifinals with our coverage of La Roja’s 2-1 win against Sweden and the Lionesses’ 3-1 victory over Australia.

2023 World Cup: Schedule and how to watch

All remaining World Cup matches are available to watch on Fox, Telemundo and Universo. They can be streamed on the Fox Sports app and on Peacock.

Third place

  • Saturday, Aug. 19
    • 4 a.m. — Sweden vs. Australia (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)

Championship match

  • Sunday, Aug. 20
    • 6 a.m. — Spain vs. England (Stadium Australia, Sydney)

Kristie Mewis is still dealing with the sting of defeat after the U.S. women’s national team’s World Cup exit. But that hasn’t stopped her from supporting girlfriend Sam Kerr as she makes a run with Australia.

Mewis’ first World Cup touch came in the USWNT’s penalty shootout against Sweden in the Round of 16, and she scored on her attempt. But it wasn’t enough to send the team through, though Mewis isn’t “ready for it to be real yet,” she said of the elimination.

“My teammates — you guys are incredible players but even better people. My family and friends – I am so lucky to have you I love you with all my heart. And to our fans – thank you for always believing in us,” she wrote. “This team has meant the world to me since I was five years old. It will always be the biggest honor pulling this uniform over my head. This team WILL be back.”

The 32-year-old midfielder also took the time to shout out Kerr, her best friend and girlfriend. Since the USWNT’s elimination, Mewis has been spotted in the stands at Australia’s last two matches and embracing Kerr after the Matildas’ wins. Australia is set to play against England at 6 a.m. ET Wednesday with a spot in the World Cup final on the line.

“It’s also pretty cool getting to watch my best friend live her dream,” Mewis wrote. “Thank you babe for always being my everything every step of the way and I’m so proud of you and thankful for you.”

On Wednesday, a new chapter in the England-Australia rivalry will unfold. Ahead of the Women’s World Cup semifinal showdown between the two teams, anticipation is building among national media, fans, players and coaches.

An Australian newspaper printed photos from a closed-door England training session on Tuesday after spying on the team from a helicopter. The English Football Association declined comment on the Daily Telegraph’s article, and players and coaches have attempted to play down the rivalry.

“Obviously there’s a massive rivalry between Australia and England in sports all over the place,” Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said. “That will be no different tomorrow, but at the same time we have a lot of rivalries in football. It will just be another game, and we will try to focus on our game plan and not get caught up in the rivalry.”

England coach Sarina Wiegman studied up on the countries’ long-standing sports rivalries this past week, which have centered primarily on cricket, netball and rugby. The 2022 Euros-winning coach said her team is focused more on the competitiveness of the upcoming game than the history.

“With the cricket and the netball, I understand why everyone else feels like that, but for us, it’s a semifinal regardless of who you are playing it is a massive game,” England midfielder Keira Walsh said. “I wouldn’t say this is a major rivalry in football. They are a great team and it is a semifinal. Whoever you’re playing, it is going to be an intense game. So for us, [the rivalry] is one of the last things we’re thinking of.”

England and Australia have played each other six times in the past. England has won three of those games, the sides have drawn one, and Australia has defeated England twice. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Australia eliminated England in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 win in extra time. And in April, Australia ended England’s 30-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory.

This time, Australia is playing in the World Cup at home and both teams are looking to make history. Australia has already advanced further than ever before at a World Cup, while England’s best result was a third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup.

On Wednesday, the Lionesses hope to play spoiler in Sydney and move on to compete for their first World Cup trophy.

“[Home support] was massive for us at the Euros, especially in the final,” Walsh said. “There are those moments where the opposition could score and it shifts momentum sometimes when you’re playing. It gives you an extra push when you know the crowd is behind you.

“But also though, when you can quiet the crowd, it is a very nice feeling. I think for us trying to take the momentum out of the game is going to be important. … We’ll have to bring our best game, as I’ve said. They have great players. They are playing really well.”

Plenty of players have electrified the pitch throughout the World Cup, from Colombia’s Linda Caicedo to Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala to the USWNT’s own Naomi Girma.

Yet with the World Cup semifinals arriving Tuesday, Just Women’s Sports is taking this moment to highlight four of the best from the the four remaining teams: Australia, England, Spain and Sweden. These players are worth watching as we wait to see who will play for the title.

Australia: Hayley Raso

Raso and Caitlin Foord have lessened the sting from the absence of Matildas star Sam Kerr in the group stage and her limited playing time in the knockout rounds. Raso in particular has been a big part of that, scoring a team-leading three goals – including one against Denmark to help push the team to the quarterfinals.

The World Cup run for the home team also stands as an amazing journey for Raso, who battled back from a broken back five years ago to lead the Matildas to Wednesday’s semifinal against England.

England: Alessia Russo

Despite battling injuries and a red card, England has pulled through to the semifinals for a second consecutive World Cup. But the Lionesses will be without breakout star Lauren James due to her red card suspension.

Instead, they’ll need to rely on other stars, including Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, both of whom who showed up on the scoresheet in the 2-1 quarterfinal win against Colombia. Russo is England’s second-highest scorer alongside Hemp, and she scored the game-winner against Colombia to seal her team’s spot in the semifinals. She will be needed once more against Australia. But she’s proved herself in big moments before, having scored a viral goal against Sweden in the Euros last summer. Now she’s showing up at the World Cup and is a vital piece in England’s run to a possible appearance in the championship match.

Sweden: Amanda Ilestedt

Amanda Illestedt is the top remaining scorer in the Golden Boot race with four goals, although Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa exited the tournament with five. For Ilestedt, who is playing as a central defender, to sit in the best position among the semifinalists has surprised even her own teammates.

“I don’t think so many of us were expecting her to be top scorer in our team,” forward Fridolina Rolfö said. “But she’s an amazing player, especially with her head, and I am so happy for her.”

Defensively, Ilestedt has helped Sweden to three shutouts and held opponents to just two goals scored in competition.

Spain: Salma Paralluelo

While Alba Ferrer, Aitana Bonmati and Jennifer Hermoso have all made their mark on this tournament with three goals apiece, it’s Salma Paralluelo who has made a bit of a name for herself for Spain. She’s scored just one goal this tournament, but it’s arguably the biggest of her career as the game-winner in the team’s quarterfinal match against the Netherlands. She came off the bench to create one of the biggest moments of the quarterfinals.

“We have succeeded. We have fought until the end. We have believed,” Paralluelo said after the match. “It was a unique moment. Great euphoria to have lived through that.”

Those who know soccer, though, should not be surprised at her rise. She helped Spain’s U-20 team lift the trophy at the U-20 World Cup in 2022, scoring two goals in the final to help the team to the trophy for the first time.

Leah Williamson is proud of everything England has accomplished so far at the 2023 World Cup.

While the Lionesses’ captain and star defender is missing the tournament due to an ACL tear, she has kept a close eye on the squad during its run to the semifinal round, she told Christen Press and Tobin Heath on their World Cup podcast “The RE-CAP Show.”

“When I look, I’m proud of the environment that’s been created there,” she said. And even though she knows that she has had a hand in it, there is a small part of her that feels as though the team’s run has “nothing to do” with her.

“Obviously I know that I’ll have played a part in that however small or large that be,” she said. “But also I feel it’s weird, it’s like I’m watching … It has nothing to do with me. If they win, it will have absolutely nothing to do with me. It’s that group of players that have found a way.”

That doesn’t stop Williamson from feeling “so proud” of her teammates.

“I want them to win,” she said. “Like I said before the tournament, I’d give my other ACL if it meant winning.”

Still, she would still love to see more goals being scored by the Lionesses, who have scored 10 goals in five matches so far — but six of those in one match against China in the group stage. That’s the last tweak she would like to see from the Lionesses as they head into the final stretch of the tournament.

“But the resilience, I think our stability as a team and how we’ve adapted,” she said, noting that despite losing players to injury before and during the tournament, the team has remained “rock solid.”

“It fills me with, ‘OK, let’s go and win!'” she continued. “But yeah, I just want to see them being closer together, a bit higher up and figuring out with a change of formation.”

The stakes get higher as the World Cup progresses, and she’s excited to watch the team play Australia.

“[Australia is] arguably the toughest test because I think it’ll bring out the best in our girls as well,” she said. “I know they’re sort of on fire and I do believe it’s one of those games you beat the horse in a semifinal you get a major lift going into a final.”