Matildas report card: Mackenzie Arnold’s A+ performance steals the show against France

There were high-quality performances across the board for the Matildas, but one player’s perfect game was the key to victory against France. TILLY WERNER breaks down where the game was won.

Mackenzie Arnold had the game of her life. Picture: Chris Hyde - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

The Matildas have captured the nation’s hearts and a spot in the World Cup semi.

Here’s how they performed against France in Brisbane.

GOALKEEPER: A+

It looked early that Mackenzie Arnold would be called upon for the game of her life – and she answered with style. Arnold delivered two crucial stops, one with a strong left hand, another from a deflection. More was asked of Arnold by France than by any of Australia’s previous opponents and she was stoic for 120 minutes and stepped it up again in a penalty shootout that asked her to both retake a save and retake the line after hitting the upright in her own attempt.

Arnold was a deserved player of the match and will take plenty of confidence out of the match, on top of having already kept a clean sheet against the Lionesses in April.

Alanna Kennedy had a mixed night at the back. Picture: AFP

DEFENDERS: A-

Alanna Kennedy was lucky not to pick up a card early after a clumsy challenge as the last defender – and Australia were even luckier not to concede early moments later with miscommunication at the back granting Lakrar a free shot at an open goal. The Matildas could have again gone down after a misdirected Kennedy header found the goal before being overruled for a shirt pull – and from that moment Kennedy stood up. Clare Hunt continues to impress, with an incredibly composed demeanour under sustained pressure from Diani and Becho (who was phenomenal off the French bench). Her desire to control possession, fight back for the few balls that passed through her channel and her communication is second to none. The Matildas’ backline worked incredibly hard not to go behind in the first half. It wasn’t one of Ellie Carpenter’s better performances of the Cup, with a couple of poor decisions potentially costly, but on her opposite wing Stephanie Catley was as composed as ever in the captain’s armband.

Australia’s midfield struggles to make headway. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

MIDFIELDERS: B+

The bodywork of France’s defenders, led by the impassable Wendie Renard and Elise De Almeida, was almost too much for Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso, with Australia’s best chances coming through the centre. An early stud to the achilles looked to do Kyra Cooney-Cross more harm than she let on but she worked incredibly hard as a holding midfielder, giving Katrina Gorry more ability to feed Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr in the second half. Cooney-Cross continues to grow under the tutelage of Gorry, who was incredibly poised given her difficult time against Pernille Harder and Denmark, paired with the 48 hours leading up to the game after losing her father-in-law the day before.

Emily van Egmond worked hard for touches. Picture: Lachie Millard

FORWARDS: A-

While Emily van Egmond worked hard for her touches, she struggled to work the pressure needed for Gustavsson’s false 9 and France’s speed at the back made the Matildas’ preferred passages to goal on the wings difficult.

Mary Fowler wasn’t afforded the same space on the ball early that allowed her to show all her grace against Denmark. Yet somehow, she still managed to make it work. Australia’s most dangerous player for most of the match, Fowler is the Matildas’ answer to Lauren James for England.

Sam Kerr’s injection off the bench had an immediate impact. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

BENCH: A-

The immediate injection of energy with Sam Kerr’s 55” arrival began an incredible spell for the Matildas, which could have easily resulted in two goals. Kerr, while still not at her best, was an important addition for the collective heart of the team and with her on the pitch, they had more spirit going forward. Cortnee Vine was quick in recovery and though her touches are still wanting on occasion, her pace has game-changing x-factor and she’s played that role incredibly well over the past two games.

Tameka Yallop was important, adding more experience to the defensive line and keeping France out through extra time, and also – more importantly – adding big game experience to the penalty line-up.

Gustavsson again didn’t use creative options from his bench, opting for experience and safety in Yallop over Alex Chidiac but in a game like this, so tightly fought and bound in the midfield – it’s hard to fault.