Half a century later, British fans turn to ‘Lionesses’

British fans are preparing to cheer next Sunday in the Australian city of Sydney for the “Lionesses” in the final against Spain of the women’s World Cup, the first played by an English squad since the men’s team won the FIFA Cup in 1966.

“Don’t miss the final! England vs. Spain. Hurry up and get your tickets!” encouraged the office of the United Kingdom’s High Commission in Australia in a message published on Thursday on its account X (formerly Twitter).

British anger at Australia – which represents 33% of the overseas nation’s more than 26 million inhabitants – has been on the rise since the team led by Sarina Wiegman beat the World Cup co-hosts 3-1, in a clash in semifinals played on Wednesday in Sydney.

Under a bet, Australian Foreign Secretary Penny Wong, along with her British counterpart, James Cleverly, will root for the Lionesses by wearing white shirts with blue stripes with the number 8 and her surname in back.

The British commissioner to Australia, Vicki Treadell, was in charge of purchasing the shirt, according to a video and several photos posted on the British diplomatic delegation’s X account.

Despite the fury of British fans, who are scrambling to buy tickets for the final, as requested by The Gang account, many of them were disappointed by the absence of representatives of the British Crown from this historic meeting, as who is also the prime minister. , Rishi Sunak.

“You need to be at the game in Sydney on Sunday, (Prince) William,” fan Brian Seldom urged him in a tweet today, reminding him that “as president of the FA (acronym for the British Football Association) since 2006, this is your place to be in the biggest game England has played in over 57 years.”

For her part, Tessa Williams, speculated in a tweet that Prince William would go to support the English if “the England men’s soccer team reaches the final of the World Cup,” while Frankie Crisostomo says that “the Prince William and Rishi Sunak will remain in Britain to watch the World Cup final while Queen Letizia travels to watch Spain.”

Facing this historic rivalry, the coach of the women’s soccer team at the University of New South Wales, the Spanish Guillermo Rubio, believes that many Australians will also support “La Roja”, emerging as a favorite on betting platforms .

“Having lost against England…they’ll probably want a rematch and see them out,” said an official also from the Spanish consulate in Australia in statements on public channel ABC.

In a group of Spaniards on Facebook, Australian fan Blake Kagi admitted that he went to see La Roja in two games played in New Zealand, co-host of the 2023 World Cup.

“I’m Australian from Perth and I’m in Sydney for the game. I live in Spain and now that Australia is eliminated, I want you to win, without a doubt!” Spain fans.

For his part, Guillermo Roldán, a computer scientist and importer of Spanish gastronomic products, told EFE that he was going to a bar “with his ‘aussie’ friends (as Australians are known) who do not support England ” and his forecast is that “The dreamers” will beat Leonas 3-1.