The one thing left that unites Australia

Aussies have often been divided but if there’s one thing we can get behind, it’s the Matildas.

The Matildas are riding a wave of momentum. Picture Lachie Millard

The Matildas have not only smashed TV rating records, but have united Australia in a green and gold frenzy.

Australians have often been at odds with each other when it comes to topics such as politics, religion and even the pronunciation of the classic chicken parmigiana.

When it comes to sports though, the University of Sydney’s Sports Studies Senior Lecturer Dr Steve Georgakis says there’s no greater way to unite the nation.

“If you look at our history, it’s always been sporting moments that [have] really united us. The 1956 Olympic Games, the 2000 Olympic Games, the Americas Cup win in 1983 … it is the only sport that can do this,” Dr Georgakis told news.com.au.

“Australia in recent years has been divided on a number of different issues. For example, there’s been quite a bit of division for example over issues associated with the Voice. So we’re in a period in our history where we seem to be divided on a number of issues.

Matildas players celebrate winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup Quarter final match. Picture Lachie Millard

“And along come the Matildas, they teach us once again what a great unifier of Australian society sport is and we’ve been taken along for the ride. They waltzed straight in as the song tells us and they’ve filled this great void.”

According to Dr Georgakis, the support of the Matildas has not only come from people from all backgrounds and walks of life but has crossed sporting genres.

“I was at the Sydney Swans match and at the end of that match last weekend, 10,000 Sydney Swans supporters in their red and white supported the Matildas,” he said.

Analysis from Brand Finance has calculated that a possible value of the Matildas brand could rise as far as $240 million after the tournament. The team has even shot up and become the nation’s fourth-most popular national team.

With how much focus is on the Matildas since their nail-biting match against France, one would imagine the mountainous pressure on the women. However, Dr Georgakis disagrees and told news.com.au that there is “no real pressure on these women.”

“This is a moment in their careers that they’ve dreamt about. They’re going to ride the momentum and they’ve already felt that in the environment in the last few weeks in Australia,” he said.

The Matildas are riding a wave of momentum. Picture:Lachie Millard

“There is no pressure on them. They’re now in the semi-finals, not the qualifiers. They’re at the second most important game of their lives, in front of a packed Australian crowd with a very fit Sam Kerr.”

When asked whether soccer could eclipse cricket and become Australia’s new national sport, Dr Georgakis says that the sport has a long way to go.

“It’s clear that Australian soccer has got a long way to go, for a range of issues but what is clear is that the Matildas are our national team,” he said.

“Because don’t forget, whether you like football, soccer-football or you don’t … it is the true world sport. And if we consider ourselves the best sporting nation in the world, well here it is.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the Matildas and the overall positive effect they have had on not only women in sport, but to the country itself.

“Thank you for uniting us and motivating the generation of next players to take up sporting activity,” he said.

Originally published as The one thing left that unites Australia