Football World Cup: Australia and England completed the semi-finals

After the “Matildas” scored 7:6 in the dramatic penalty shoot-out against France in Brisbane, the English team also beat Colombia 2:1 (1:1) in Sydney on Saturday. In the other semi-final, Spain and Sweden meet.

In front of 49,461 spectators in Brisbane on Saturday, Cortnee Vine converted the last penalty against the unfortunate “Équipe Tricolore”, who, like in 2019, failed in the quarter-finals. No goals were scored in regular time and extra time. For the team of head coach Tony Gustavsson it is the first World Cup semi-final ever.

A lackluster England took the lead against Colombia just before half-time with a goal from Leicy Santos (44′), but Lauren Hemp took advantage of the long stoppage time at the other end and equalized (45’+7′). In front of 75,784 spectators in the Australia Stadium, Alessia Russo (63rd) was responsible for the winning goal in the game.

The French were slightly superior in the first half of their semi-final and had their best chance with a low shot by Kadidiatou Diani (8′). Defender Elisa de Almeida made a spectacular move from going behind just before half-time when she blocked a close-range shot from Australia’s Mary Fowler on the goal-line. The “Matildas” massively increased the pressure in the second round. So Fowler failed after an hour to goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. France’s successful strike duo Diani/Eugénie Le Sommer hardly got a chance.

France coach Hervé Renard replaced goalkeeper Peyraud-Magnin with penalty specialist Solene Durand just before the end of extra time, but the move was to no avail. The penalty shoot-out then began bitterly for France, Selma Bacha’s shot being saved by Australia goalkeeper Mckenzie Arnold. Caitlin Foord scored against Durand. Diani kept France in the running with her goal, Steph Catley missed and everything was open again. Wendie Renard and Le Sommer converted, on the other side Sam Kerr and Fowler (3:3).

Eve Perisett and Arnold were unlucky. But then there were six converted penalties to make it 6:6. Kenza Dali’s missed penalty had to be repeated, but she failed again. But so did Clare Hunt, which started it all over again. After France’s Vicki Becho forgave, Cortnee Vine – the 20th penalty taker – redeemed Australia.

Gustavsson spoke of an “incredible evening” that made him “incredibly proud”. Something similar was also heard on the opposite side. “I’m incredibly proud, it’s hard to say who deserved it today, it’s gone back and forth,” said France team boss Herve Renard.