Key Events
17 mins: Australia successfully defends the resulting free-kick and finds Fowler in transition, but she chooses to retain possession instead of her trademark spin and through-ball to Foord.
15 mins: The intensity picks up! Raso collides with Karchaoui on the right (quickly protesting her innocence), and then Gorry delivers a strong tackle on Geyoro. The referee blows the whistle for one of these fouls, which could be the momentum Australia needs.
14 mins: Finally, the Matildas find some success down the left with Van Egmond and Foord linking up well, but France, aware of the danger posed by Foord, quickly shut her down and force the ball out of play.
12 mins: France has a golden opportunity to score, but they miss. Bacha’s second corner is not cleared, Le Sommer takes a shot from near the penalty spot, and it scuffs through to Lakrar who somehow manages to side-foot the ball over the bar from two meters out!
12 mins: France earns their first corner of the night on their right side. Bacha takes a left-footed in-swinger. Van Egmond clears the ball with a header, but Karchaoui’s second attempt is dangerous and forces Catley to concede another corner.
10 mins: Australia is struggling to connect plays through midfield. France has the upper hand early on, showing composure on the ball and matching the Matildas’ physicality. Maybe it’s time for another tactical time out? It worked against Denmark when Catley got injured, and now Cooney-Cross is clutching her left Achilles after a tackle.
8 mins: Close call! Alanna Kennedy gets lucky. She poorly clears the ball towards her own goal and then tries to bring down Diani, who is through on goal. But the French striker maintains her footing and shoots low and wide of the far post. If Diani had gone down, Kennedy could have been sent off.
7 mins: This is not the high-intensity, fast-paced Australia we saw against Canada or Denmark. The Matildas have yet to string passes together and are only gaining ground temporarily through Raso’s efforts on the right.
6 mins: France continues to attack down the left with Karchaoui overlapping effectively, but her cross is easily caught by Arnold.
5 mins: Australia’s first attack comes from a throw on the right, but Gorry’s lob to the far post is unsuccessful as Foord fails to connect despite Peyraud-Magnin’s struggles with the high ball.
4 mins: Similar to the Melbourne match, France is calmly passing the ball around their back four, waiting for Renard to make a forward pass. Australia’s press is not aggressive, allowing France to have the ball in non-threatening areas of the field.
2 mins: Unfazed, France settles quickly and looks to exploit the space left by Carpenter’s forward runs. Diani makes a run behind the defense to receive the ball, but Hunt heads away the resulting cross.
1 min: Eugenie Le Sommer starts the game, but van Egmond quickly charges through and blocks the first attempted long pass. The tempo is set by the Australian team.
Kick-off!
Spain and Sweden are already through, but who will join them in the 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-finals?
What a sight. Brisbane Stadium is packed. The evening light filters through the stands, creating a warm sunlit glow. This is as close to perfection as Australian football has ever been.
Both teams step onto the field for the national anthems, surrounded by a frenzied atmosphere in the stands.
The Welcome to Country ceremony begins, featuring a multilingual rendition of “Waltzing Matilda” accompanied by a didgeridoo.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in attendance.
“Watching the game from a boat on the River Saone in France,” emails a conflicted Tony Richardson. “Cheering for the Matildas, but if they lose, I will support France.”
France players warm up, preparing for the match.
Mary Fowler practices her shooting before kick-off.
Tactical Observations:
1. Quick vs. Slow: In the previous match, France focused on controlling possession at a slow tempo, while Australia capitalized on their pace in counterattacks. Since then, the Matildas have adjusted their tactics, opting for a high-energy, high-pressing game with emphasis on quick attacking transitions. Australia looks more well-rounded now.
2. Selma Bacha vs. Ellie Carpenter: The battle between Lyon teammates Bacha and Carpenter will be crucial. In the previous game, France targeted Australia’s left wing, aiming to exploit Bacha’s one-on-one skills against Carpenter. Carpenter tends to overlap Raso on the attack, so holding Bacha accountable will be important for Australia.
3. The Vital Opening Half-Hour: France has been dominant in the past three matches, often scoring early. However, they struggled to find the back of the net in the two matches before that. The same can be said for Australia. The first half-hour will set the tone for the rest of the match.
Australia has shown great respect for the past Matildas players who paved the way for the current team. This moment is what they have been waiting for. The current Matildas generation is incredibly talented and experienced, and for some, this may be their last chance to reach a World Cup semi-final.
Chris Paraskevas, who has followed the Matildas journey, is optimistic about their chances. “If the Matildas get through tonight, I reckon they’ll win the whole thing. France is a tough opponent, but I believe in our team.”
Welcome to the match! Kick-off is less than 30 minutes away.
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