Who will the Matildas play against in the semi-finals of the World Cup? When is the game on? And where is it played? All your questions answered
Who will the Matildas play against in the semi-finals of the World Cup? When is the game on? And where is it played? All your questions answered
- Australia defeated France on penalties in the World Cup quarter-final
- It means the Matildas have reached their first-ever semi-final
- Daily Mail Australia has all the information about the important collision
The Matildas are in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time after beating France (0-0) 7-6 on penalties.
Mackenzie Arnold made three saves before Cortnee Vine converted the winning penalty kick to win the quarterfinals in the longest ever shootout in tournament history in front of 49,461 screaming fans at Suncorp Stadium.
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was named player of the match after her heroics in the penalty shootout to make three saves.
A brilliant one-handed save in the 107th minute by Arnold from a drawn shot by 19-year-old French striker Vicki Becho was also crucial.
“I’ve been trying to get my mind together and sort of realized what just happened, and it’s still kind of sinking in,” Arnold told Channel 7.
“I think it’s going to take me a few days, but it’s a quick turnaround.
“I think maybe tonight we’ll have time to celebrate and then we’ll look at it tomorrow and move on to the next game.”
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was player of the match, while Sam Kerr made a huge impact coming off the bench while recovering from a calf injury.
The Matildas have reached the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time in history after beating France
The winner of Saturday’s match between England and Colombia will face Australia on Wednesday evening in Sydney
It was the third straight game the Matildas held to a draw and their 13th win in 15 games.
So what happens next for the historical Matildas?
The Matildas will face either England or Colombia, who meet later on Saturday, in next Wednesday’s semi-final at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Kick-off is at 8pm AEST, meaning viewers in South Australia and Northern Territory should tune in at 7.30pm and Western Australian fans can watch the match live from 6pm.
Regardless of their opposition, the Matildas can expect a tough challenge.
Colombia have been a true underdog story, advancing to the quarter-finals after beating Jamaica, with Catalina Usme scoring the only goal of the match.
The England Lionesses have already sent off an underdog and survived 120 minutes of football to finally end the Nigerian Super Falcons’ resistance on penalties.
The semi-final will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and its streaming service for Australian residents.
“For football in this country, it’s huge,” said former Matildas star Amy Chapman.
This year’s Women’s World Cup final will take place on Sunday, August 20.
Kick-off is set for 11am BST (8pm AEST/7.30pm ACST).
The final will take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney, which has a capacity of 70,000.