2023-08-13 14:34:45
“Women’s World Cup”: The completion of the semi-finals will leave a “legacy” in Australia
Australia, the hospitality partner with its neighbor New Zealand, was on a date with history, Saturday, following reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Football World Cup for the first time in its history, in an achievement that will leave a “legacy” in the country; According to the Swedish national team coach Tony Gustafsson.
According to Agence France-Presse, the Australian team achieved the achievement by defeating its French counterpart, Saturday, in Brisbane, with a dramatic penalty shootout, 7-6, following they tied in the regular and extra time without goals.
The French women missed 4 penalties once morest 3 for Australia, who meet in the semi-finals with European champions England, who ended Colombia’s adventure.
Courtney Fine scored the final kick, keeping the Matildas dreaming of winning the title for the first time in their history and on their land.
The players celebrated their victory for the first time in the history of women’s football (Archyde.com)
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was able to take the shot; But her shot bounced off the post, amid a terrible tension on the field line and the stands, which were crowded with more than 49,000 spectators. But she later blocked the ball of Kenza Daly twice, following the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened and controlled her feet moving on the line before executing the French.
The level of confidence among the Australian women has increased since the last round of the group stage, when they swept Olympic champion Canada 4-0, to put behind them a sudden fall in the second round once morest Nigeria (3-2).
“The nation has stopped”
Gustafsson’s team continued its good level in the final price, by defeating Denmark 2-0 in a meeting that witnessed the return of the star and captain Kerr following recovering from an injury, before Saturday overcame the French women’s hurdle in a breathtaking match, which ABC said “stopped the nation.” » Who stayed behind the TV screens to watch the meeting, whether it was in homes or bars.
Large screens were set up in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth to watch this historic achievement, led by Gustafsson, who was an assistant to US coach Jill Ellis, when she won the world title in 2015 and 2019.
“I really believe that this team is capable of making history in many ways, and not just by winning football matches,” Gustafsson said, explaining: “The way he can inspire the nation, how he can unite the nation, how he can leave a legacy much greater than 90 minutes of football.” soccer”.
He continued, “This is why I believe in them so much. When that drives you, it’s a powerful tool that’s very hard to stop, and I felt that from day one working with this team. The inner drive is what got them to where they are today.”
For the first time in the history of the finals, which began in 1991, the US team was absent from the quarter-finals, following it fell victim to a penalty shootout once morest Sweden in the final price (0-0 in the regular and extra time).
With the exit of the American team, the winner of the last two editions, and who was looking for the achievement of being the first to be crowned champion for the third time in a row, the door to competition opened wide, and the possibility of seeing a new champion rose, following Germany (2003 and 2007 champions) exited from the group stage, and Norway ( 1995 champion) from the final price by Japan.
Japan, crowned in 2011, remained the only defending champions in the quarter-finals; But her career also ended with a 2-1 loss to Sweden.
Thus, this version will witness the crowning of a new champion, who may be the Australian national team, if it benefits from the public support to overcome the hurdle of England, Wednesday, in Sydney, and face Spain or Sweden in the final also scheduled in Sydney next Sunday.
Do you play basic care?
Consistency was the key to Australia’s achievement, as Gustafsson played the last three matches with the same squad, with Kerr remaining on the bench.
However, this may change once morest the European champions, who beat Colombia 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with the intention of involving captain Kerr from the start, following she played 65 minutes (including the two extra periods) once morest the French women.
Gustafsson revealed that he was considering involving the English attacking Chelsea from the start once morest France, despite her incomplete physical fitness; But he believes he made the right decision by keeping her on the bench until the second half.
He said in this regard: «When Sam came in, she put them (the French women) in trouble. We really reached the (appropriate) momentum with the support of the fans as well, and we were very close to scoring two goals in that period.
It is true that Kerr made the difference, scoring her penalty attempt in the penalty shootout; But goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was the hero of achievement.
After her heroic role in the penalty shootout, she said: “Seeing the girls gather around me following I missed it (her penalty attempt)… and we got along, I think that really made us reach the (happy) end.” I can say it was among the best days of my life.
And she added, “But the greatest feeling is the great pride. I’m very proud right now to be Australian, whether it’s for the team or the fans.
1691945223
#moved #Bayern #win #Champions #League
