Australia vs France: FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Highlights | The Matildas keep the World Cup dream alive after a thrilling victory over France

Suncorp Stadium hosted Australia vs France Quarter Final clash in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 on Saturday. Australia are through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 after Courtney Vine scored the decisive penalty in a thrilling shootout in Brisbane. The Matildas can now look forward to a semi-final against England or Colombia. The Matildas were second-best for the bulk of the match but somehow grinded out a huge result at Brisbane. Arnold kept the Aussies alive in the game with brilliant saves and then also saved 4 spot kicks during the penalties. This is the first time ever in the history of football that a male or female Australian team has reached the Semi-Final of the Global Final.

Mackenzie Arnold, take a bow 👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/BvN8U4kYlK

— Shanna Crossman🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@anna_awfc) August 12, 2023

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"This feeling is something I've never felt before. I'm just so proud of the girls. But I feel like I don't know what to say - I'm overwhelmed. I didn't feel I had too much to do for long periods of time but there were a couple of saves I needed to make and I'm glad I was able to do my job and help the team. I'll be dwelling on the penalty I missed for a while but I just wanted to keep doing my job. Of course!"

- Mackenzie Arnold, Australia goalkeeper

"I'm so proud. The bravery and the heart this team showed is unbelievable. To the crowd, I can only say thank you. Thanks for supporting this team and believing in them. This team belongs to every single person in this country."

- Tony Gustavsson, Australian coach

"It's not easy. We have a remarkable, wonderful squad. I'm proud of my team-mates tonight, proud of everyone - the staff, the players. In the end, it was a close call. But we've had two incredible months and we need to keep building."

- Wendie Renard, France captain

"You have to be proud of the girls tonight. They played an exceptional match. It went from one end to the other and it's hard to say who deserved it more. Congratulations to Australia. Congratulations to all of our staff, who did a magnificent job. We have to keep our heads up and think about the Olympic Games. You have to persevere and be proud of what they've done. It's football, it's destiny that has been chosen. Good luck to Australia."

- Herve Renard, France coach

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Australia vs France - Live Blog

Lineups

Australia XI: Arnold, Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley, Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Fowler, Van Egmond

France XI: Peyraud-Magnin, Lakrar, Renard, De Almeida, Karchaouli, Dali, Geyoro, Toletti, Bacha, Le Sommer, Diani

Referee: María Carvajal

National Anthems | 12:25 P.M (IST)

Two sets of players taking their places for the national anthems.

Australia vs France | 12:30 P.M (IST) | Kick Off

Here We Go!!!...

2': France settle quickly and immediately look to exploit the space.

5': France are looking to pass the ball around calmly along their back four, waiting for Wendie Renard to pick a pass further forward.

10': Australia are still failing to link play through midfield. France have the upper hand early on.

14': Finally, the Matildas get some joy down the left with Van Egmond and Foord linking up well.

19': France are defending in a mid-block, happy to allow Australia's back four as much of the ball as they like.

23': France try to play their way out of defence but Toletti passes the ball out of play.

26': France again concede possession coming out of defence.

30': After a structured 26 minutes, the match has burst into life with the ball heading in both directions at speed.

33': France will be disappointed now if they fail to score after the first-half dominance.

38': Bacha with a dangerous cross from the left but Diani is well covered in the box.

41': Brilliant save .de Almeida somehow manages to deflect a shot from point-blank range over the bar off her left thigh.

45': Peyraud-Magnin played through magnificently by Gorry with a delightful floated pass. Fowler had the time to take a touch and take a shot away but Peyraud-Magnin was swiftly off her line.

Australia (0) vs France (0) | Half Time

France have controlled the half but Mary Fowler had the two best opportunities.

Australia vs France | 46' | Second Half Kick Off

The teams are back out after half-time. Here we go again!!!!...

50': Peyraud-Magnin has not looked comfortable all night and this time she fluffs a clearance under pressure from Raso straight to Fowler on the edge of the box.

55': Sam Kerr on for van Egmond.

63': France make a change with 19-year-old Becho coming on for Toletti.

66': The Matildas looking to set the tempo.

70': Australia defending high up the pitch and inviting France to come at them.

74': Good pressing from France to force a turnover on halfway, but Australia soon win the ball back.

76': Bacha takes the set piece but it results in a goal-kick for Arnold.

80': Dali concedes a foul by going through the back of Gorry.

83': Bacha leads the counter through the middle, looking for de Almeida on the right.

87': Peyraud-Magnin punches but only as far as Fowler but her snapshot is blocked off the boot.

90': Four minutes of added time to be played.

Australia (0) vs France (0) | Full Time

To extra-time.

91': The first period of extra time is underway.

95': de Almeida can't find the target with a good leaping header from near the penalty spot.

98': Australia haven't done much with the ball since the final whistle.

100': The corner from the right is deflected into her own net by Alanna Kennedy.

104': Becho forces Catley into a desperate challenge at ground level.

Australia (0) vs France (0) | Half-time Extra-time

 It's still goalless in Brisbane.

106': 15 minutes remaining before the penalty shootout.

111': There's now a pause as Kennedy is assessed for a head knock.

116': Australia are enjoying a minute. Foord does well to deny France an easy-out ball in the corner.

120': Foord wins a corner on the left. Into the final seconds.

120'+1: Becho continues to impress, skipping inside Carpenter on the left, but her low right-footed shot is saved by the impressive Arnold.

120'+4: There's still time for France to break and find Le Sommer who turns inside then out at the retreating Australian defence and finds a shot that Arnold has to parry behind for a corner.

Australia (0) vs France (0) | Full-time Extra-time

Time for the penalty shootout.

Australia vs France | Penalties

Selma Bacha missed. Arnold guessed it right. (Australia 0-0 France)
Caitlin Foord scores. (Australia 1-0 France)
Beautiful penalty, Diani scores. (Australia 1-1 France)
Steph Catley missed. (Australia 1-1 France)
Renard scores. (Australia 1-2 France)
Sam Kerr scores (Australia 2-2 France)
Le Sommer scores (Australia 2-3 France)
Mary Fowler scores (Australia 3-3 France)
Perisset missed. Arnold with another great save. (Australia 3-3 France)
Arnold hits the bar (Australia 3-3 France)

Onto sudden death.

Geyoro scores for France (Australia 3-4 France)
Gorry scores for the Matildas. (Australia 4-4 France)
Karchaoui gives the lead again to France (Australia 4-5 France)
Yallop didn't disappoint the home fans. (Australia 5-5 France)
Lakrar scores and it's France's lead again. (Australia 5-6 France)
Carpenter with a lucky spot kick. (Australia 6-6 France)
Dali missed.
Retake: VAR adjudges Arnold was off her line and Dali gets another shot.
Dali is saved again by Arnold. A perfect save from the Matildas' keeper. (Australia 6-6 France)
Hunt missed the opportunity. (Australia 6-6 France)
Becho missed. This is the third time now in the penalty shootout, Matildas have the clean opportunity to win it.
Cortnee Vine scores and wins it for the hosts.

Australia vs France | Penalties: 7-6 Final scoreline

The Matildas are in the Semi-Final of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. This is the first time, they are through from the Quarter-Finals stage. A special moment for the nation.