FIFA Women’s World Cup: Robbie Slater’s take on Matildas v France quarter-final

Mackenzie Arnold, take a bow. ROBBIE SLATER hails Australia’s newest sporting hero after her shootout brilliance against France.

Selma Bacha gets over the top of Hayley Raso. Picture: Adam Head.

What an extraordinary night for the Matildas.

That was one of the best and most dramatic games I have ever seen in my life. The Matildas are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

This is why we love football.

We have just witnessed two very good teams absolutely going at each other, refusing to back down, refusing to give an inch for 120 breathless minutes and then for Australia to win it in a penalty shootout. You simply could not script it any better.

People say the nil-nil result is what kills football in Australia. What a myth. You tell me anyone who has walked away from that contest complaining about that game tonight.

The drama, the euphoria, the opportunity. This is a moment we will all talk about for the rest of our lives. A moment football in Australia has dreamed about for many many years.

I am emotionally spent.

Mackenzie Arnold climbs high to take possession. Picture: Adam Head.

THE HERO

Mackenzie Arnold was simply unbelievable.

Not just in the penalty shootout, but the saves she made throughout the game itself were out of this world.

She set the standard for Australia in the penalty shootout with that first save.

A message to her teammates that we can do this and bury the ghosts of the 2019 World Cup when we were eliminated on penalties.

But how about her mental strength as a goalkeeper to save their fifth attempt, then step up herself to take the fifth kick to win it for Australia, miss the shot and then recover her focus.

I don’t think people truly understand how much pressure and how mentally tough she had to be in that single moment to regather her composure and not dwell on the missed opportunity.

It was just an extraordinary performance and incredible mental toughness by an Australian sportsperson that we will talk about for many years to come.

Matildas players go wild after the winning penalty. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

THE OTHER HERO

How ironic that an A-League women’s player in Cortnee Vine scored the final penalty.

What a moment for the domestic game in Australia.

Proof that our competition is producing players who not only go on to bigger and more professional leagues around the world, but can stand up on the biggest stage under the most intense pressure and with nerves of steel slot it home.

Matildas players celebrate. Picture: WILLIAM WEST / AFP.

THE MATCH

The penalty shootout echoed the game, it seesawed. Real heart in the mouth football.

France started the match better, but the Matildas ended the first half on top and probably created the better opportunities.

The second half it looked like the Matildas were running all over the top of France but we just could not find the back of the net.

Football is a heartbreaking game. I think we all had those fears that some of those missed chances would come back to haunt us.

France, they were gallant. They never gave up and they came right back into it and were probably the better side in extra time.

Hayley Raso works hard to keep the ball alive. Picture: Adam Head.

But our defence was resolute. Clare Hunt and Alanna Kennedy have been superb this tournament and again they hardly put a foot wrong all night.

It was just extraordinary. Just the fight from the Matildas and the will to not succumb to what France were doing in that extra time period.

I wouldn’t say we hung on, but in some respects the Matildas did because France was just coming at us with everything they had.

Even when France had chances to win it, you just had the feeling something special was going to happen for Australia. A one-handed save by Arnold, or Steph Catley clearing it off the line when France looked certain to score.

So many moments we can look back upon as truly game-defining efforts.

The game, like the penalty shootout, was just one for the ages.

Tony Gustavsson urges the Matildas on. Picture: Adam Head.

WHAT’S NEXT

As a host nation you can just feel this wave of momentum everywhere, this feeling of the nation coming together behind the Matildas.

The semi-finals in Sydney are next on Wednesday against either England or Colombia. I don’t think we truly realise just how big this will be.

One thing we know for certain is that Sam Kerr will start that match.

She is back. She is at full speed and now she’s got through even more minutes there is no way Tony Gustavsson holds her back for the final four.

This is Australia’s moment. Our time to show the world who we are as a football nation.

I’ve still got this feeling that they’re going to go all the way.

This euphoria, this wave – get behind it Australia.