By: Katelyn Wei
Australia has achieved its goal of reaching the World Cup semifinals after defeating France in a dramatic penalty shootout at Suncorp Stadium. The shootout was as tight as it could be after 120 minutes of play ended in a scoreless stalemate.
The 10-round shootout, which saw Australia prevail 7-6, was the longest in men’s or women’s World Cup history. The men’s shootout between West Germany and France in the 1982 semi-final and the one between Sweden and Romania in the 1994 quarterfinal were the longest men’s shootouts. The previous longest was the Sweden-USA shootout earlier in this World Cup, which went seven rounds.
It came down to Cortnee Vine putting in a goal that will unquestionably become part of Australian sporting lore* after Mackenzie Arnold stopped four shots, one of which was replayed. When informed that his goal had sent the Socceroos into their second-most epic penalty shootout in history, John Aloisi, who was on commentary for Channel 7, said: “I’m pleased to be relegated. We’ve reached the semifinals.
“This is what a World Cup on home soil accomplishes,” he said. “It unites everyone. The country. All eyes are on the Matildas. Everyone is behind them. Everyone has the belief that they can win the championship, and merely this winning penalty from Vine reinforces that idea.
David Basheer of Channel 7 called the outcome “unbelievable” and Arnold’s performance “spine-tingling.”
Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight said: “I’m speechless. What have we just witnessed? I don’t have words. How everyone just stood up right there, I don’t think I have seen a penalty shootout go to 10 penalty-takers at this level before.”
This outcome means that the Matildas will now play England in the semi-final, which will take place at Sydney’s Stadium Australia on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
It follows 120 minutes that nearly had everything – aside from goals. In the first half, each team had two excellent chances, although Australia’s Mary Fowler had the most. Late in the first half, as the Matildas were gaining momentum, French defender Elisa De Almeida made a last-ditch save at the goal line to save Fowler from effectively having an empty net.
Given that so many supporters watched the game in locations where attendance statistics are not kept, Channel 7’s coverage garnered over 4.2 million viewers, which is an incredible* number.
The free-to-air audience is expected to reach 3.8 million, with another 427,000 tuning in via streaming service 7plus. This statistic surpasses Barty’s Australian Open victory, which averaged 3.577 million viewers.