Matildas v England: the match that launched a thousand memes

Matildas fever has taken hold across Australia, and now enthusiasm for the country’s beloved team is threatening to boil over into an international incident – over memes.

In the lead-up to their seismic World Cup semi-final against England, the US embassy in Australia made clear where its allegiance lies, tweeting an edited version of Emanuel Leutze’s painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.

The famous 1851 painting depicts George Washington during a turning point in the American revolutionary war which secured the US’s independence from the British – but the tweeted version has been updated to add Matildas gear, including the jersey of star Mary Fowler and a giant Matildas flag.

The tweet sparked raucous reactions online, with some describing it as “Kerr crossing the Parramatta” – a reference to a key river in Sydney – and others as “the most accurate thing published on the internet today”.

Others speculated that the tweet could be the “undoing” of Aukus, the trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US.

Social media has come alight with memes and tweets dedicated to the Matildas – and to Wednesday night’s semi-final.

As is customary with Australian online discourse, The Simpsons feature heavily, particularly a reference to an episode where a British flag can be seen burning.

There has also been a stab at the British royal family – customary for Australian online culture anytime the country faces England in a match.

In more heartwarming tributes, the comedian Tim Minchin posted a BBC video that interspersed parts of his play, Matilda, with interviews with British players on their journey to the World Cup.

Minchin was sure to add that he supported the Matildas though.

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Newspaper cartoons were also popular on social media in the lead-up to the match, with one from Matt Golding for the Age showing Wednesday’s world clocks:

Another, by John Shakespeare for the Sydney Morning Herald, showed the connection between two iconic Australian sporting moments:

And near Barwon Heads in Victoria, the Matildas have been drawn into the sand, complete with team numbers and names, with the tribute big enough to be seen from the sky:

Not to be left behind, Matildas tributes have flowed into the culinary world, with doughnuts a popular medium for showing support:

And finally, in arguably the most iconic tribute, a Vinnies store has decked its mannequins in the iconic green and gold: