So are you a Lioness lover or a Matilda maniac? The ‘half Brits, half Aussies’ whose loyalties are torn over who to back at the World Cup semi-finals
- Families with ties to England and Australia are still mulling over who they’ll back
- England’s Lionesses will clash with Australia’s Matildas on Wednesday morning
An Englishman living ‘Down Under’ with his Australian wife says they plan to ‘sit at opposite ends of the couch’ as they watch England face Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
Alex Finlayson, who is originally from Redcar in Middlesborough and now lives in Jimboomba, Queensland, Australia, said watching the clash with his wife Kelly will create an ‘odd atmosphere’, but he will continue to root for the Lionesses.
Mr Finlayson, 41, will be outnumbered on match day as he and his wife will watch the game with their daughter Charli, 14, son Samson, 12, and their Australian friends who will all be supporting the Matildas.
The religious education teacher is one of a number of ‘half Brit, half Aussies’ who will be torn over who to back in Wednesday’s grudge match – but insists he will be firmly behind England’s Lionesses.
‘It’s going to be interesting and it’s going to be fun, but we’ll be at opposite ends of the couch for a while,’ he said. ‘I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but it will be fun to find out.’
Samantha Mawdsley, 37, is from Brisbane, Australia, but owing to her Liverpool-born father she often supports England. Now living in London and is torn over who to back for Wednesday’s clash (she is pictured watching an England game)
Meika Wallace, 39, was born in Queensland, Australia and moved to Newcastle when she was eight because of her racing driver father’s job. Now living in London, she is torn over who she wants to win
Alex Finlayson (left) with his daughter, Charli, son, Samson, and wife Kelly. They live in Australia and will be split over who they are supporting at Wednesday’s match
Meika Wallace, 39, was born in Queensland, Australia and moved to Newcastle when she was eight because of her racing driver father’s job with vintage cars.
She now lives in Kidbrooke, London, and is torn over who she wants to go through in tomorrow’s crunch match. Meika, a teaching assistant, will be cheering on Australia – while on holiday at Butlins in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.
She said: ‘I have mixed feelings but I’m rooting for Australia but am happy with either team going through.
‘I think it might go to penalties, and if it does, I think Australia will go through. Plus, Sam Kerr should be back playing, and she’s one of the best in the world.’
Football mad Samantha Mawdsley, 37, is from Brisbane, Australia, but owing to her Liverpool-born father she often supports England.
She has been going to both the England and Australia games, and has both teams’ kits – but can’t decide who to support, or what kit to wear on Wednesday.
She even managed to get tickets for England round 16 game against Nigeria, who they narrowly beat on penalties.
She said: ‘Football is my life. Australia never used to be in the world cup because they always got beaten by South American teams in qualifying.
Samantha Mawdsley has been going to both the England and Australia games, and has both teams’ kits – but can’t decide who to support, or what kit to wear on Wednesday
Torn over who to support: Football mad Samantha Mawdsley, 37, is from Brisbane, Australia, but owing to her Liverpool-born father she often supports England
‘I always supported England, and grew up loving David Beckham and Michael Owen.
‘I’m also a die-hard Liverpool fan, so have to stay up late to watch their premier league games.
‘I think Australia might just get through, just because of home advantage but I really don’t know who I’d prefer to go through.’
She will be watching the game, which takes place at the Stadium Australia in Sydney, at her local football club in Brisbane after training.
She also has tickets to the third-place play-off.
‘At least I will get to see one of my teams play, whatever happens,’ she said.
She added that Australia was full of Matildas mania as her country continues to rally to support its national side.
‘Everyone here has been totally swept up in the football. There’s talk of having a public holiday if Australia win it.
England will be hoping to book their place in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday against Spain, who were victorious in their semi with Sweden on Tuesday (England players are pictured celebrating their quarter final win against Colombia)
But Australia will be looking to continue their historic run in the competition, which has seen the whole country rally behind the Aussie’s national side, the Matildas
‘We’ve had watch parties for every game. It makes a nice change football being in Australia so it’s actually at reasonable time to watch for us Aussies.’
Mr Finlayson he would feel disappointed if England lose, but would remain excited for Australia if they win through.
He said: ‘I’ll be gutted if England lose. But I think relatively quickly I’ll also be excited to see Australia play in the final.
‘Obviously, I’d be much happier to see England play in the final. Either way, I will be respectful regardless of what happens.
‘If both teams played fair and really well, I think that would be easier to handle England losing.’
The teacher said he is a fan of England goalie Mary Earps in particular, but noted that Australian forward Mary Fowler might be a bother for England in the semi-final after her performance in the previous round.
He also hopes the Lionesses will avoid another altercation following Lauren James’s two-game ban after she stamped on Nigerian player Michelle Alozie during the team’s last-16 clash.
He said: ‘I was a little bit disappointed with the whole Lauren James stamp incident – bit of a rush of the blood to the head there – but she’s only a kid, isn’t she?
‘She’ll be kicking herself now missing out on a semi-final, but she’ll learn from it.
‘I’d like to come out of (the semi-final match) without that happening.’
The winner of Wednesday’s game will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
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