Australia needed a breather to reset against a dangerous Denmark side. Cue Steph Catley’s impeccably timed tumble and a pitchside meeting of the minds.
Sam Kerr climbed off the bench to finally play,Caitlin Foord was the star of the show and Mary Fowler produced a moment for the ages. Here’s how the Matildas rated in Sydney.
Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso scored magnificent goals as Australia brushed past Denmark 2-0 to set up a quarter-final clash with either France or Morocco on Saturday night. Oh,yeah – Sam Kerr’s back,too.
The small matter of Sam Kerr (again),the potential for a penalty shootout and which Denmark star Australia will need to keep their eyes on.
Eli Mengem has documented soccer cultures around the globe for British media company Copa90. He believes the success of the Matildas could be a game-changer for soccer in Australia.
What makes a marquee player worth the money?
Sam Kerr appears to be on track for her long-awaited World Cup return - but even if she’s not fit to face Denmark,her Matildas teammates have shown their attack does not depend on her.
The expression has been a motif long embedded in a national team that not only performs when under pressure but also thrives on it.
Australia soared into the knockout stages with a thrilling 4-0 rout of Olympic champions Canada. So who are the players chasing World Cup glory on home soil?
Sam Kerr told her teammates before their stunning 4-0 victory over Canada to win without her,so she would have more time to recover from her calf injury - and that’s exactly what they did.
A night that started with worry ended with wow for all involved,and supporting,Australia’s women’s team.