Author: Amrit Santlani
After winning the inaugural Women’s Finalissima, England will face the co-hosts of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia. However, Sarina Wiegman’s lionesses were given fair warning to pack winter clothes for the trip.
The England women’s team will face Australia in a friendly at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday. However, Matildas superstars Mary Fowler and Hayley Raso have warned their rivals about what to expect when they travel to Australia later this year.
While the World Cup is scheduled to take place between July 20 and August 20, the summer weather in the Northern Hemisphere is usually sunny and clear, but that’s not the case down south. Instead, the conditions in Australia and New Zealand could be “a bit of a shock” for England’s players.
The Australian duo of Fowler and Hayley are negotiating with Manchester City and could face their teammates, Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp, in the next friendly.
The Matildas stars warned their teammates in advance about the “freezing” weather, revealing that there is a lot of buzz among the players about the World Cup.
“Many girls have asked what it’s like. They’ve been asking about the weather and what the flight will be like” said Raso in an interview with BBC Sport.
“It’s funny because everyone thinks Australia will be nice and sunny in summer, but it’s winter there and freezing in New Zealand. It will be a bit shocking“, added Fowler.
The Australian duo also revealed that there is a lot of excitement at home, with the World Cup being held in the Southern Hemisphere, and they can’t wait to play in front of their friends and family on the biggest stage of all.
Meanwhile, England come into the friendly after an emphatic penalty shoot-out win over Brazil in the final match of the summit. They are still unbeaten under Wiegman, having won three trophies, while Tony Gustavsson’s Australia suffered a defeat against Scotland recently and will be looking to mount a comeback against England.