2023-08-12 10:37:59
Head coach Tony Gustavsson’s team made it into a World Cup semi-final for the first time following beating France 7-6 on penalties. In front of 49,461 spectators in Brisbane on Saturday, Cortnee Vine converted the last penalty once morest the unfortunate “Équipe Tricolore”, who, like in 2019, failed in the quarter-finals. No goals were scored in regular time and extra time.
Australia will now fight next Wednesday once morest the winners of the game between European champions England and Colombia (12.30 p.m.) for a place in the final. In the other semi-final, Spain and Sweden meet on Tuesday in Auckland (10 a.m. CEST).
France coach Hervé Renard replaced goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin with penalty specialist Solene Durand just before the end of extra time, but the move was of no use in the end. Superstar Sam Kerr came on as a wild card following 55 minutes and strengthened their Australian selection. The 29-year-old Chelsea striker missed the preliminary round with a calf injury and came on for the first time as a substitute in the round of 16 once morest Denmark (2-0).
The French were slightly superior in the first half and had their best chance with a low shot by Kadidiatou Diani (8th). Defender Elisa de Almeida made a spectacular move from going behind just before half-time when she blocked a close-range shot from Australia’s Mary Fowler on the goal-line. The “Matildas” massively increased the pressure in the second round. So Fowler failed following an hour to goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. France’s successful strike duo Diani/Eugénie Le Sommer hardly got a chance.
The penalty shoot-out started bitterly for France, Selma Bacha’s shot being saved by Australia goalkeeper Mckenzie Arnold. Caitlin Foord scored once morest Durand. Diani kept France in the running with her goal, Steph Catley missed and everything was open once more. Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer converted, on the other side Kerr and Mary Fowler (3:3).
Eve Perisett and Arnold were unlucky. But then there were six converted penalties to make it 6:6. Kenza Dali’s missed penalty had to be repeated and she failed once more. But so did Clare Hunt, which started it all over once more. After France’s Vicki Becho forgave, Cortnee Vine – the 20th penalty taker – redeemed Australia.
Gustavsson spoke of an “incredible evening” that made him “incredibly proud”. Something similar was also heard on the opposite side. “I’m incredibly proud, it’s hard to say who deserved it today, it’s gone back and forth,” said France team boss Herve Renard.
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