England Women's team sent three instructions by Stuart Broad ahead of Australia clash
England cricket icon Stuart Broad has sent a message ahead of Australia Women's World Cup clash
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Stuart Broad has told England Women's players to enjoy themselves, have fun and play with smiles on their faces in Wednesday's World Cup clash against Australia.
The former cricketer knows all about today's opponents, having regularly faced the Aussies in his sport.
Broad recently retired from cricket after helping England beat Australia in the fifth and final Ashes Test.
And now, via the Daily Mail, the 37-year-old has sent a message to the Lionesses as they look to make the final of the Women's World Cup this summer.
England are currently preparing ahead of Australia Women's World Cup clash
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"England v Australia, one of the great sporting rivalries - a World Cup semi-final in their own back yard, Sydney," he said.
"What an experience that will be.
"Enjoy every moment of it, have a lot of fun, play with a smile on your face, you are already inspiring a generation of football fans back home, so just look around and soak it all in.
"Bring it home!"
England are now just 90 minutes away from making the final for the first time.
They've experienced heartache at the semi-final stage in both of the previous two tournaments.
England finished fourth in France in 2019, with the Lionesses crashing out of the competition to the United States.
That came after they'd managed to secure third in Canada in 2015, though Japan prevented them from playing in the final.
England and Australia have a fierce sporting rivalry.
They've already battled twice this summer in the cricket and netball.
And Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman admitted she'd discussed the rivalry with her players and staff members ahead of the match.
"I asked players and I asked staff [about the rivalry] and for us and for them we don't feel that rivalry that much, the main thing is that there's a lot of rivalry in rugby and cricket and last week with the netball," the 53-year-old said.
"We just know it's going to be a very competitive game.
"Lots of players from Australia also play in the Women's Super League so they know each other really well.
"Of course they want to beat us but we want to beat them so that's the main competitiveness we will get in front of us tomorrow."
England star Millie Bright also opened up, admitting her side will do all they can to book their place in the final.
"Their fans are always going to want the opposition to lose, that's football," she said. "We know that we're going to have fans there, yes they're going to have more, but we've been in these moments before and as players we've embraced these moments.
"It's all about us sticking to task, executing the game plan and embracing the moment.
"It's the semi-final of a World Cup, you want that environment, you want it to be tense, you want it to be noisy.
"It's a proud moment in the women's game when people turn on the TV back home and they see what an incredible atmosphere we've created.
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"Credit to Australia for selling out the stadium and creating that atmosphere because like we always know, the women's game is still on a journey but what a place to be.
"We know as an England team, there's always pressure and it's something that you embrace and deal with and for us it's staying focused, staying on task and sticking to the game plan.
"And we've experienced moments like this tense environment, big stages, big crowds.
"We thrive in those moments and it gives us energy, but ultimately it's about sticking to tasks and executing the gameplan."
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