Matildas photo that will have fans concerned ahead of World Cup semi-final

Football fans around Australia will be holding their collective breath, with a number of Matildas stars showing the effects of a bruising World Cup campaign, ahead of Wednesday night's historic semi-final against England. The Aussies will take on their old rivals at a packed Stadium Australia in Sydney for a place in the World Cup final, with a number of players apparently nursing minor injuries and just a four-day turnaround from their quarter-final.

Kyra Cooney-Cross, who has played in just about every minute of the Matildas' World Cup campaign, was seen with ice on shins after coming off late in extra time during the penalty shootout victory over France. Perhaps even more worrying for Aussie fans will be the sight of Steph Catley sporting a compression bandage on her right leg after arriving with the squad at Sydney airport on Sunday.

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Catley has been a rock as Australia's stand-in captain, with regular skipper Sam Kerr battling her own highly publicised injury concern, which will undoubtedly remain a hot topic of discussion in the lead-up to the England semi-final. Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has repeatedly stated after Australia's exhausting quarter-final triumph over France that recovery is the key for his side ahead of Wednesday night.

“What is good is that we have continuity with what we are doing and clear playing styles,” Gustavsson said. “We don’t really need to train to be tactically prepared.

“It is more about making sure we are mentally and physically prepared for the semi-final coming up. These players are on a mission.”

Managing their various niggles after a taxing tournament to date, will be of vital importance for the Matildas player, with Catley among a number of Aussie players to have played at least 476 minutes out of a possible 480 at the tournament so far - the others being Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord. What is encouraging for Aussie fans is that Catley - despite the bandage on her leg - was all smiles as she greeted fans and signed autographs at the airport.

Recovery the key for Matildas before England semi-final

The 29-year-old says the Aussies have left no stone unturned when it comes to fitness and recovery, and trust the systems that have been in place for some time now. “It’s just using years of hard work, years and years of running and conditioning and everything that you know, you’ve put in the work and prepared for, it prepares you for moments like that,” she said.

“You can fall back on the work that you’ve done, and I’ve done plenty of it and so has every other girl out there and I think that’s what it comes down to. It’s the work you’ve put in and the understanding of each other and helping each other and if someone’s struggling someone else steps in and helps.

“So that’s where we are as a team right now and everyone’s there for each other - if one person falls down, the next steps up and it’s very, very special.” Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler and Emily van Egmond have also played big minutes, while Sam Kerr played 65 against France and will be pushing for her first start of the tournament, depending how her troublesome calf held up.

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The Matildas - having made history by winning through to a World Cup semi-final for the first time ever - now turn their attention to trying to topple European champions, England. The Aussies will battle their old enemy on Wednesday night at 8pm in front of a sold-out Stadium Australia in Sydney for a place in the final.

"I genuinely believe this team can create history in so many ways, not just winning football games but in the way they can inspire the next generation and unite the nation. That is why I believe in them so much," Gustavsson said after the France game.

The Matildas coach revealed Kerr would definitely start if she is fully fit to play 90 minutes against England but said his main focus is getting his players mentally prepared for the biggest game of their lives. "It is more about making sure we are mentally and physically prepared for the semi-final coming up. These players are on a mission."

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