CNN
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As Australia’s victorious players embarked on a lap of honor, home fans danced and cheered joyously inside a sold out Brisbane Stadium on Saturday. Neither players or supporters had experienced anything like it before.
The Matildas had beaten France in an extraordinary penalty shootout to reach the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time. That history was made on home soil made victory all the sweeter.
“I think before the World Cup that’s what we were dreaming about – changing the football in this nation forever,” said Australia’s star striker Sam Kerr to reporters, speaking about Australia’s co-hosting of the event.
“It makes us feel so good and gives us the energy to perform for 120 minutes, so we’re loving it and, hopefully, it can carry on for a couple more weeks.”
“We have so much belief,” she added. “We are riding the wave of excitement and we are playing some of our best football. The girls are smashing it and it’s a team effort … The country is going nuts. And we’re loving It …”
4-0 victory against Morocco in the Women’s World Cup. France will next play Australia in the quarterfinals.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1333″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Australia won 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1869″ width=”2803″ loading=’lazy’/>
The match went to a shootout after ending 0-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2462″ width=”3498″ loading=’lazy’/>
being eliminated by Sweden in a penalty shootout on Sunday, August 6. The United States won the last two tournaments.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2641″ width=”3962″ loading=’lazy’/>
The two teams drew 0-0, but it was Jamaica that advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament. This was the last World Cup for Marta, the tournament’s record scorer and veteran of six tournaments.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1334″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
3-2 win over Italy on August 2. It was South Africa’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup, and it helped them clinch a spot in the next round. Italy was eliminated with the loss.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1333″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Sweden won 2-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1333″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
England won 6-1 to advance to the tournament’s round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
The win, coupled with China’s defeat against England, meant Denmark would advance to the knockout stage and face co-host Australia.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
goalless draw against Portugal on August 1. The result meant that the Americans, the two-time defending champions, would advance to the round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Australia won 4-0 to book a spot in the round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1731″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
4-0 victory over Spain on July 31. Both teams are advancing to the round of 16.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
clean stands after matches.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1667″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
2-1 victory.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup, is shown a yellow card by referee Edina Alves Batista. ” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1110″ width=”1600″ loading=’lazy’/>
Jamaica won 1-0. It was Jamaica’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1928″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
2-1 win against Brazil on July 29.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
China won 1-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
England won 1-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2035″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
received criticism for her Cristiano Ronaldo tattoo, the rival of Argentina star Lionel Messi.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1334″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Nigeria defeated Australia 3-2 on July 27. The stunning result means Nigeria has a one-point lead going into its final group game against already eliminated Ireland, while co-host Australia faces a must-win match against Canada.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Canada won 2-1.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
lifted her country to a 1-0 victory — its first win ever at a Women’s World Cup.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2028″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Brazil won 4-0.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Germany dominated Morocco 6-0 in what was the biggest scoreline of the tournament so far.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
youngest player to represent Italy in the competition’s history. ” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
single-game attendance record for a women’s soccer match in Australia, with 75,784 fans watching.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1909″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
The roughly 10-minute opening ceremony celebrated both New Zealand and Australia’s indigenous heritage and culture, with Māori and First Nations dancers and singers taking to the center of the field.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1548″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
The best photos of the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Kerr started the match on the bench as her recovery from a calf injury continues. Her 55th-minute introduction against France added impetus to Australia’s attack, however, though France’s defense could not be beaten.
After 120 minutes, the quarterfinal remained goalless and had to be decided on penalties – but the scoreline didn’t mean it wasn’t an entertaining match, or that there weren’t any opportunities created. Both teams, in fact, had chances to take the lead in regulation time.
But it was Cortnee Vine, the 20th penalty taker in the shootout, who sealed victory for Australia, securing a 7-6 win on penalties and a semifinal against England.
Kerr said she was going to enjoy the moment before focusing on the semifinal. “My calves are great – every day I feel better, obviously, with more training, more recovery, but I can’t even think about the next game. I’m just gonna enjoy tonight,” she said.
Co-host Australia will be confident in the semifinal despite England’s higher placing in the world rankings. In April, it was Australia which ended England’s unbeaten 30-match run with a 2-0 win, the Lionesses’ first loss under manager Sarina Wiegman.
But a lot of energy and emotion would have been exerted in creating history in Brisbane on Saturday.
A “spent” Steph Catley told reporters that the Matildas “put their heart, their soul, their body – everything into playing for this team in a game like that.”
While forward Emily van Egmond told reporters after the match that it would take “a good 24 hours” for the Matildas to come down off the high of reaching the semifinals.
“We deserve to enjoy it, and we will because, at the end of the day, we’ve made history,” she said.
It was a sell-out near-50,000 crowd at the Brisbane Stadium, while Monday night’s last-16 clash with Denmark broke viewing records in Australia, drawing an average 3.56 million viewers on free-to-air TV across the country, not including paid subscription packages.
Australians have taken the team to their hearts and with the next match against England – a country Aussies love to beat in sport – the next few days promise to be a time of wild excitement Down Under.
