Matildas v France FIFA World Cup 2023: All the reaction from dramatic penalty shootout win

Some fans noticed that the Matildas were wearing black armbands for their quarter-final clash with France. A family tragedy just hours before kick-off was the reason.

Katrina Gorry of Australia celebrates with her daughter

Matildas’ midfielder Katrina Gorry has revealed she was playing with a broken heart and a fuzzy head when she produced the most important strike of her life.

Gorry took to the field just 48 hours after her father-in-law passed away.

Stepping up to convert her penalty Gorry kept the Matildas in the hunt for glory after the game ended 0-0 after extra time.

Her fiancee Clara Markstedt had flown back to Sweden last week to be with him.

Gorry was heartbroken she wasn’t able to be by Markstedt’s side.

In honour of his passing the Matildas’ donned black armbands for the match.

“My fiancee’s dad passed away a couple of nights ago,” Gorry said post match while fighting back tears,” Gorry said.

“It’s been a tough 48 hours for me.

“My head’s been a bit everywhere tonight but I know that I have the full support not just here but you know, the family in Sweden too and tonight, I just wanted to play a game and they can be proud of.”

Katrina Gorry celebrates the Matildas victory. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Gorry said she found a place of peace when she ran out in front of 49,000 people in her hometown.

“Football is my happy place,” Gorry said.

“You know, everybody, everything just leaves when you get on the field.

“And tonight when you have the girls backing you every step of the way you have so much belief.”

The Matildas, who lost their Round of 16 World Cup clash against Norway in 2019 in a penalty shoot out, have practised penalties every training session this tournament.

“It’s been a lot of practice, every day, every session, we take 10 minutes to practise,” Gorry said.

The order was set well before the starting whistle was blown.

“We know these games are so close,” Gorry said. “We know they can come down to the wire so everyone needed to be prepared, it went for a lot longer than we probably expected.”

Gorry revealed some devastating family news after the game. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Before the penalties though it was a tight, tough tussle between two world class teams.

Gorry said it really was a team effort to get through the gruelling extended match.

“Every moment we looked at each other and locked eyes with our teammates, we just knew that we had to believe that if it came to it, we’re gonna go right to the end,” Gorry said.

“I think we had the belief in ourselves, you know, we could get through the pens and we could win and I think you could see it, you know, we’re standing together, as a group.”

Matildas have until Wednesday night to prepare for their semi-final. But Gorry said after a good night sleep and with the help of their world class medical staff they would all be ready to go again.

After the match, Sam Kerr, who came on in the 54th minute was almost lost for words.

“After the game when everyone was celebrating I took a moment to myself on the bench,” the Chelsea striker said.

“We have grown up together and the fact that we have got to a semifinal we are all so shocked and can’t believe it.

“Weirdly it was super calm (in the circle) of course it’s stressful on the outside but we have faith in Macca. The processes we go through - we were calm.

“It’s always the plan (to come on when I did). We always had a plan, if needed I could have come on at half time and I think the plan worked pretty well in the end, It doesn’t matter how or when or anything, we won.

“I think we need to enjoy this, then we refocus. After the Nigeria game it’s been all guns blazing so it’s all the same.”

Australia now go to Sydney on Wednesday to face the winners of the final last-eight tie between England and Colombia.

Cortnee Vine scored the winning penalty to end a remarkable shoot-out that saw both teams take 10 spot-kicks, the quarter-final having ended 0-0 after 120 nerve-shredding minutes.

Vine held her nerve to send the crowd into raptures and keep the Matildas’ dream of winning the World Cup on home soil alive.

Gorry in action wearing a black armband. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold had missed a chance to win the shoot-out when her kick hit the post, but then saved twice from Kenza Dali after the VAR spotted she had both feet off her line the first time.

“I am overwhelmed,” Arnold said. “I don’t know what is going on in my head. I am a proud Queenslander tonight that’s for sure.

“I wanted to do my job for the team and I didn’t (missed penalty) I had to keep going and get the team over the line

“After I missed it I wanted to get it back and I could do that, at the end of the day I kept my head in the game.

“It’s gonna take me a couple of days (to let this sink in). We have a quick turnaround now. We have tonight to celebrate and tomorrow we review and get on with it.”

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.”

Former Matilda Heather Garriock could not contain her emotions.

“I was watching with tears,” she said. “All the former Matildas up there. We were just so emotional. I can’t hold my tears back. I’m so proud of this team.

Australia win after a very tense penalty shootout during the FIFA WomenÕs World Cup quarter final between Australia and France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Pics Adam Head

“So proud of what we’ve achieved. We missed it. We went through obstacles.

“Clare Hunt could’ve won the penalty shoot-out. She didn’t. Then who would’ve thought, Cortnee Vine would be the John Aloisi! Of the Matildas!

“It’s not that we couldn’t believe or anyone couldn’t believe it. We all believed! It was a matter of, could we overcome the French? And gee that was a tough game.

“It was tight. But this man just here, Tony Gustavsson, he’s believed all along.

“We love his animation. His charisma. He’ done such a great job with this team, and wow, I can’t believe we’ve created history.”

John Aloisi said that while it was an incredible achievement, there is still work to do.

“We have to recover,” he said. “It’s hard to get the girls down now, from this high, you can imagine what they’re feeling right now.

“You let them enjoy it but then you have to recover from this. Because we have a game in three days’ time.

“We have a game in three days’ time. We have a game against potentially England or Colombia.

“You think that England are favourites to win that one. And you can just imagine what Stadium Australia will be like. So recover, enjoy the moment, but let’s go get the next one!

French coach Herve Renard said Arnold and destiny were the difference for Australia on a night that will be remembered forever.

“We faced a Goliath of a goalie … what a game,” Renard said.

“This evening it was 50-50 but the destiny choose Australia.

“I think they can win the World Cup.”

Originally published as Matildas v France FIFA World Cup 2023: All the reaction from dramatic penalty shootout win