‘Bodyline in boots’: Aussie newspaper compares ‘crude and grim’ Lionesses to Douglas Jardine’s Ashes team and claims ‘cynical, cowardly’ England tried to injure Sam Kerr in World Cup semi-final win

An Australian newspaper has accused the Lionesses of ‘resorting to cheating’ in their historic World Cup semi-final victory against the Matildas, dismissing their approach as ‘Bodyline in boots’.

A stunning goal from Sam Kerr wasn’t enough to secure Australia’s place in the World Cup final against Spain, with Tony Gustavsson’s side losing 3-1 to England on Wednesday in Sydney.

However, Will Swanton, writing in The Australian on Friday, was in no mood to compliment Sarina Wiegman’s side.

The lionesses’ victory, he wrote, was “a very dirty victory.” England had ‘resorted to trickery’ in an attempt to stop Kerr, following the approach of Douglas Jardine in the famous ‘Bodyline’ Ashes series.

A crass, stark and unimaginative team degraded itself and lost respect by employing a desperate football version of the unsavory tactics used by Douglas Jardine’s Ashes side during the infamous Australian summer of 1932-33.

In The Australian, Will Swanton described England as ‘cynical and cowardly’

The other term for Bodyline is even more appropriate for the Matildas’ 3-1 defeat in Sydney. leg theory.

“Leg theory, ankle theory, shin theory, stomp-on-Kerr’s foot theory, almost-kick-her-in-the-face theory … take your pick.”

England committed 11 fouls against Australia’s three on Wednesday, nine of them in the first 45 minutes.

In his column, Swanton accuses England defender Alex Greenwood of deliberately trying to injure Kerr, who made her first start of the tournament after recovering from a calf injury.

“You would never see a more blatant and pathetic demonstration of a player trying to injure another,” he wrote.

‘It was worthless. Cynical. Shameful. Cowardly. Unworthy. Greenwood knew exactly who she was dealing with. In fact, she knew how she wanted to do it.’

From the early exchanges, England seemed determined to hold off Australia as high as possible to upset their rhythm, much to the chagrin of Matildas fans on social media.

Their tactical plan worked like a treat as the Lionesses dictated the pace of play for much of the game, apart from a brief spell after Kerr’s equalizer when momentum appeared to swing towards Australia.

Swanton accused the Lionesses of deliberately trying to injure Sam Kerr, who tied Australia with a stunning blow on her first start of the tournament

England gave away 11 offenses to Australia’s three during the semi-final

The Matildas had the upper hand for just seven minutes before that Lauren Hemp restored England’s lead and Alessia Russo sealed victory late on.

While Swanton dismissed England as a ‘crude and unimaginative team’, the numbers paint a different picture.

The Lionesses had 54 per cent possession to Australia’s 46, led the number of shots from nine to six, five of which were on target to Matildas’ four.

And so far England has scored more goals at this World Cup – 13 to 10 – and fewer than Australia – three to six.

However reluctantly, Swanton accepted that England deserved some credit.

‘Thanks to the Lionesses in areas due. They did what they wanted to do,” he wrote.

“Play rough. To win. The semi-finals of the World Cup are result-oriented.’