Australia are in a World Cup semi-final for the first time in their history. Now the “Matildas” dream of making themselves immortal.
Noah Platschko reports from Sydney
Exactly 19 minutes and three seconds separated the first and last shooter, between Selma Bacha’s missed shot and Cortnee Vine’s lucky shot. A total of 20 players took part in the epic penalty shoot-out between France and Australia, including the hosts’ keeper.
And as if this battle from eleven meters hadn’t already offered enough drama, the video referee also intervened when the French women scored, after Australia’s goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold had moved off the line too early.
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Arnold shows the silent middle finger
In modern football, even in the magical moments of a penalty shoot-out, you are not immune to the next point in the rules. All the more impressive how Arnold showed the dumb middle finger to the undoubtedly correct objection of the VAR only a few seconds later by also deactivating the repeated penalty Kenza Dali.
But the drama of the historic quarter-finals wasn’t enough, with two more shooters in Clare Hunt and Vicki Becho having to fail before Australia’s Vine put an end to the spectacle. The longest penalty shoot-out ever at a World Cup, including men and women.
For the first time in its history, Australia is in the semi-finals of a World Cup. Whether in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, incidentally the site of the historic failure of the Germans, at the public viewing, at the fan festivals or in front of the TV sets – the cheering knew no bounds. And lets the “Matildas”, who can be sure of the support of their fans in the semi-finals, now dream of more.
Trainer addresses the TV audience
Can new record quotas be achieved on Wednesday? More than four million people followed the thrilling duel with the French. Coach Tony Gustavsson’s team thus reached the largest TV audience this year – and at the same time achieved the best rating for a sporting event in the past decade. The charismatic coach of the semi-finalists had a message for his team’s fans just minutes after the big win.
“I’m so incredibly proud of my team. The courage they showed was incredible. I’ve won medals in my career. But I told my players that it’s not about the medal around your neck, it’s about the heart that beats behind it. The heart that beats in this team and in this country is unbelievable”, Gustavsson let his emotions run free after the final whistle before he broke through the fourth wall and addressed the audience in front of the screens.
“Thank you,” he called out to the people with glassy eyes. “Thank you for supporting our team. Thank you for believing in them. You are a part of this victory. We are a tight circle in our team, but every one of you, everyone in this country was part of this team tonight. Thank you for your support.” One can imagine national coach Hansi Flick or national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg looking straight into the camera and thanking the German people. The only thing missing is the imagination.
The whole Australian team will be hoping for the support of the fans against England if they want to take the penultimate step on the way to something really big: winning the World Cup.
2023-08-15 04:44:00
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