Key Points
- Preliminary television ratings show an average of about 4.17 million people were watching the Matildas take on France.
- Matildas winger Cortnee Vine scored the winning penalty that sealed their semifinal berth.
- Coach Tony Gustavsson paid tribute to the brave women who helped get the Matildas to where they are today.
More than four million Australians were likely watching as Matildas winger Cortnee Vine stepped up to .
Preliminary television ratings show an average of about 4.17 million people were watching the Matildas take on France in what is understood to be one of the most-watched sporting events across Australia in the past two decades.
The Seven Network, the tournament's free-to-air broadcaster, said a peak audience of 7.2 million people tuned in for Australia's 7-6 penalty shootout win over the French in Brisbane on Saturday.
Those figures do not reflect fans watching in public places or viewers who watched the match on Optus Sport.
Cathy Freeman's iconic 400-metre final at the Sydney Olympics reportedly attracted a record 8.8 million viewers, although data was not tracked in 2000.
In 2022 it was reported that Ash Barty’s Australian Open win against Danielle Collins from the United States attracted a peak of 4.2 million viewers and an average of 3.6 million.
These audience numbers and even those from the Matildas' previous game - their Monday night match against Denmark - are each higher than those of last year's AFL grand final or the State of Origin.
As the team looks to its next match against England, Australians are celebrating the players who are fast becoming household names and looking toward what they may bring to Wednesday night's match in Sydney.
Super-sub Cortnee Vine delivers iconic Matildas win
Matildas' winger Cortnee Vine stepped up to score the winning penalty in Australia's shootout with France that sealed their semi-final berth.
Vine came off the bench in the 104th minute in a goalless game that went into extra time.
The 25-year-old was the 10th penalty taker on coach Tony Gustavsson's list when the match went down to a shootout.
After France's Vicki Becho hit the post at 6-6, with goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold having previously made three saves, Vine stepped up.
She coolly drilled her penalty into the bottom corner to end the longest shootout in Women's World Cup history.
"I just knew where I was going to put my pen," Vine told reporters.
"In those moments, you just need to be confident in what you've practised and in that moment I feel like Macca (Matilda’s Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold) did the job before I had to.
Australia’s coach draws on past greats in triumph
Matilda’s Coach Tony Gustavsson's tenure may have been questioned in the past and he would have been entitled to feel vindicated after Saturday night's triumph.
But instead of taking a victory lap, Gustavsson turned the focus elsewhere, giving credit to those who walked before him.
He admitted to tearing up on the field after the win.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson applauded fans after the team’s victory at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday night. Source: Getty / Justin Setterfield
"And then I'm just a small part of this.
Unwell Mackenzie Arnold pulls through for Matildas
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold who made three saves in the penalty shootout revealed post-match that she'd been unwell.
She said she'd been unwell for both the round-of-16 win over Denmark and Saturday night - but was "never" going to miss either.
"I haven't been too well in the last couple of weeks. So I'm still getting over that,” she said.
For Arnold, who only became first-choice goalkeeper in February, it capped off her incredible rise from third choice at the Tokyo Olympics to Matildas hero.
Arnold said Saturday night was one she would remember for the rest of her life.
"I definitely haven't processed it,” she said.
Arnold made several clutch saves during regular and extra time to ensure Australia reached a penalty shootout.
But then she really made her mark, denying Selma Bacha, Eve Perriset and Kenza Dali.
"I think I do have an instinct, and I tend to just trust my gut," she said.
Australia's goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold's efforts in the penalty shootout are being celebrated by Matildas fans, new and old. Source: Getty / WILLIAM WEST/AFP
Will Sam Kerr play against England?
Captain Sam Kerr played 65 minutes as a substitute and converted her spot-kick in the penalty shootout of the game.
But neither she nor her coach have declared whether she will start against England on Wednesday or be on the bench again as a sub.
Kerr said she could have started on the field on Saturday but said she was confident in her team on the field.
"So I could have started but who knows what could have happened? The girls have been smashing it and absolutely dominating, so I think the plan went pretty well."
Kerr injured her calf on the eve of the Matildas World Cup opener but her teammates performance in her absence, allowed Kerr time to recover then play a short cameo against Denmark, before facing France.
What to expect in the Matildas' England clash?
England manager Sarina Wiegman's side survived a dogged battle with Colombia on the same night the Matilda's won their game.
They emerged with a 2-1 win at Sydney's Stadium Australia, to pass through to the last four.
The European champions' 30-game unbeaten streak was ended by the Matildas in their last meeting in April.
England proved on Saturday that they could withstand the pressure.
Playing against a hostile, largely pro-Colombia crowd they became the first side to come from behind to win at the knockout stages of this tournament.
In England's quarter final match they took on Colombia at Stadium Australia in front of a lively crowd. Source: Getty / Eurasia Sport Images
"We've had a taste of it tonight because Colombia's fans are incredible.
"It's another test but it's exciting to be facing the hosts in a World Cup semi-final."
Wiegman, who will be without her side's still-suspended creative linchpin Lauren James, added: "That's one of our strengths, we don't panic, we speed things up and try and score goals - and I hope we keep that up."
The England boss also played down fears over Rachel Daly after the wing-back received an assessment on her knee in the dying stages of Saturday's victory.
They will return to the same venue on Wednesday for their game against the Matildas which is set to kickoff at 6pm AEST.
The winner of the match will go on to face the winner of the Spain vs Sweden match in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final on August 20.
