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Tom Hamilton
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Tom Hamilton
Senior Writer
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• Joined ESPN in 2011
• Covered two Olympics, two Rugby World Cups, and two British & Irish Lions tours
• Previously rugby editor, became senior writer in 2018 -
Emily Keogh
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Emily Keogh
Correspondent
- Based in London, Emily Keogh serves as ESPN’s women’s soccer correspondent, focusing on the WSL and UWCL.
DERBY, England — England secured a dominant 3-0 victory against Australia, adding to the Matildas’ disappointment following their 2023 World Cup semifinal exit. However, the win was marred by an injury to Michelle Agyemang, hero of Euro 2025, who was stretchered off in the second half after collapsing and clutching her knee.
Prior to the injury, the evening seemed to be going perfectly for the Lionesses. Australian defender Alanna Kennedy received a red card in the 19th minute for an immature foul, leading to a goal from Aggie Beever-Jones. Lucy Bronze, England’s player of the year, scored a second before Georgia Stanway capped the scoring with a penalty deep in stoppage time. This performance was a strong reply to England’s recent 2-1 loss to South American champions Brazil. Manager Sarina Wiegman described the match against Australia as an opportunity to “right the wrongs” from that defeat, and her team delivered convincingly.
Australia’s struggles were evident, and new head coach Joe Montemurro must address the issues swiftly. A lackadaisical and ineffective offense failed to challenge the European champions, revealing the gap between the Matildas and their peak performance. — Emily Keogh
Injury Overshadows England’s Successful Night
What began as a flawless evening for the Lionesses turned somber in the 73rd minute when Agyemang collapsed on the pitch. Teammates looked on with concern as she appeared to be in significant pain. Soon after, Beever-Jones exited due to injury, resulting in a 10 vs. 10 standoff, which overshadowed the earlier goals and victories.
For the first 73 minutes, the match was unfolding as Wiegman had envisioned, showcasing the depth of England’s squad. With Maya Le Tissier starting at center back despite being typically a right back, and Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds receiving their debuts, the Lionesses dominated proceedings. Beever-Jones, usually a striker for Chelsea, performed well on the left wing while Hannah Hampton returned in goal. The changes appeared to be effective, restoring confidence after the Brazil match.
Everywhere echoes the triumph of Euro 2025: pre-match montages and appearances from injured duo Lauren Hemp and Grace Clinton. However, Wiegman’s decision to play Le Tissier in the center and test Hinds and Kendall hints at her focus on preparing for the 2027 World Cup.
While England struggled for fluidity against Brazil, they showed far more urgency in front of the goal this time, although the match’s dynamic shifted after Australia’s Kennedy was sent off in the 19th minute. This red card dismantled Australia’s game plan, minimizing their offensive threat.
With increased time on the ball, Kendall excelled in midfield, providing a great option for Wiegman and enhancing competition for a spot alongside Stanway. Hinds impressed at left back, preventing Ellie Carpenter from finding space for Sam Kerr. Beever-Jones scored England’s opener with a powerful strike but also demonstrated her elusive playmaking ability despite some finishing woes. Hampton was steady in goal, and fans must have been thrilled to see Le Tissier back at her preferred position in central defense.
The discussions around Le Tissier’s positioning have been a notable subplot of the internationals, with her club Manchester United highlighting her center back stats while Wiegman insists she sees her as a right back. She appeared much more comfortable in the center alongside Esme Morgan, often acting as a playmaker to reinitiate England’s offensive pressure. Bronze, celebrating her 142nd cap and her birthday, scored England’s second goal.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, England made further substitutions while Australia posed little threat in front of a sold-out crowd. Wiegman took the opportunity to experiment with new-player combinations as the match progressed smoothly. Agyemang, receiving a loud welcome after her Euro heroics, entered in the 62nd minute, but her night ended abruptly when she fell to the ground a few minutes later. Shortly after, Beever-Jones also had to leave the match due to injury.
Now the team awaits news regarding their injuries. Stanway netted a late penalty, but the thoughts remained with Agyemang. England has reclaimed their winning form, albeit with concerns about player fitness. — Tom Hamilton
Decline in Australia’s Fierce Rivalry
England has once again caused heartache for Matildas fans, following their victory in the 2023 World Cup semifinal with another successful outing, this time facilitated by Australia’s own shortcomings. The Lionesses’ 3-1 triumph in Sydney had previously dashed the Matildas’ hopes of reaching the World Cup final on home turf, fueling emotions heading into this clash. The Australians were eager to demonstrate their prowess against the reigning European champions, but it ended in familiar disappointment once more.
With Kennedy’s red card and a lackluster, sometimes invisible attack, Australia succumbed to their second consecutive defeat against England. The performance was underwhelming, with only three attempts on goal and just one on target.
The return of star striker Kerr, who made her long-awaited international comeback following a 725-day absence in a respectable win against Wales, failed to ignite the Matildas. Kerr and her teammates found themselves isolated as Australia completed only 40 successful passes into the attacking third, with a mere 14 touches in England’s box. Defensive responsibilities left little room for counterattacks. In stark contrast, England completed 250 passes and had 47 touches in the Aussie penalty area.
Once Australia managed possession, they struggled to maintain control, becoming outplayed and outclassed by England’s relentless press. Their halftime strategies focused merely on limiting damage rather than proactively creating scoring opportunities. This passive approach is atypical, but with Montemurro at the helm, there’s hope for more assertive tactics in the future.
Montemurro, who took charge in June after a stint with Lyon, has overseen six matches, yielding a mixed bag of results with two wins, one draw, and two losses. While it’s still early in his tenure, the evident deficiencies in creativity and composure under pressure demand immediate attention as the team prepares for World Cup qualifiers in 2026, alongside the Asian Cup on home ground that same year.
Furthermore, despite the match being officially deemed a friendly, contests between England and Australia are always heated and charged with emotion. Following this latest defeat, the scars of last year’s World Cup frustration will cut even deeper. — Emily Keogh