England beats Colombia 2-1 to reach semifinals as Australia makes history

A thrilling day of quarterfinals comes to an end with Australia and England victorious in their respective matches. The Matildas and the Lionesses will play each other in Sydney on Wednesday, adding another chapter to the storied sporting history between the two countries.

Co-host Australia will be confident despite England’s higher placing in the world rankings. After all, in April, it was Australia which ended England’s unbeaten 30-match run with a 2-0 win, the Lionesses’ first loss under manager Sarina Wiegman.

The Matildas will be buoyed by the epic penalty shootout victory over France which secured a place in the last four for Australia for the first time, but after 120 minutes of play and 20 penalty kicks, energy and emotion will have been exerted in creating history.

Australia will also have home advantage – tens of thousands cheering them on against a country the Australians love to beat, no matter which sport.

World No. 4 England, however, will be favorite to progress to the final despite the Lionesses not being at their best so far in the knockout stages of this tournament.

Colombia threatened in the last eight, but ultimately, the English did just enough to set up a mouthwatering semifinal.

Read about Australia’s incredible penalty shootout win here and England’s win over a spirited Colombia here.

England manager Sarina Wiegman called her team’s upcoming semifinal clash against Women’s World Cup co-host Australia “huge.”

The Lionesses set up the exciting match with their victory over Colombia, while Australia had dramatically beaten France on penalties earlier on Saturday.

Wiegman says she is looking forward to the match with the only team who has beaten England under her stewardship.

“That was a tough challenge, but we didn’t expect anything else,” she said after the victory over Colombia. “Again, we showed resilience.

“In the first half, we played pretty well, but whenever we were sloppy on the ball, Colombia were really dangerous on the counterattack. We know how dangerous they can be, but I’m very proud of the team for finding a way to win.

“The Australia match will be huge, but this was big too – and it also felt like an away game.”

The semifinal between England and Australia is set to take place on August 16 in Sydney.

England’s 2-1 victory over Colombia in the semifinals is “keeping the dream alive” of winning the Women’s World Cup, says striker Alessia Russo.

Russo, who scored the winning goal, said she and her teammates were “buzzing” to have reached the final four, but also acknowledged there was a lot of work still to do.

“We did (have to dig deep), absolutely. And I think we’ve had to dig deep from the first game. And that’s what it’s like, they have so many talented players that can cause you trouble within a second, but I thought our backline were brilliant tonight.”

The Lionesses set up a mouthwatering clash against co-host Australia in the semifinals and Russo expressed her anticipation at facing the Matildas.

“It’s exciting. What more do you want? You want to play against the best teams and, obviously, they’re the hosts. I think Colombia had a great fanbase out here tonight, so I think we’ve had a little taste, but I’m so excited.”

After 90 minutes of grueling action, England has beaten Colombia 2-1 to book its spot in the Women’s World Cup semifinals.

Goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo helped the Lionesses come from behind after Leicy Santos had given Colombia the lead with a piece of magic.

It now means that all four semifinal spots at the tournament are filled and we know the match-ups with the finish line in sight now.

Spain will face Sweden in Auckland in the first semifinal on August 15, before co-host Australia plays England in Sydney on August 16.

England goalkeeper Mary Earps has to be at her best to deny Colombia a stunning equalizer.

Lorena Bedoya Durango, from about 30 yards out, decides to have a shot at goal in the hopes of catching everyone off guard.

And it almost works, if not for a sprawling save from Earps to tip the ball over the bar.

The score remains 2-1 in England’s favor, but Colombia refuses to roll over.

England has come from behind to take a 2-1 lead against Colombia as Alessia Russo smashes it in to put the European champion ahead.

The Lionesses have looked much more organized after the half-time break, and their effort has eventually paid off.

A through-ball from Georgia Stanway isn’t dealt with properly by the Colombia defense, with the ball rolling perfectly into Russo’s path to allow her to blast it home.

England is now within touching distance of the semifinals.

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“Matilda” the koala was correct! At the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Matilda had picked an Australian scarf when predicting the winner of the quarterfinal between the co-host and France.

Can she follow the footsteps of other visionary animals like Paul the Octopus in the 2010 men’s World Cup in South Africa? Time for Matilda to do the lottery perhaps.

A big 45 minutes ahead for both Colombia and England as they both know that one goal could see them progress to the Women’s World Cup semifinals.

For Colombia, it would see its historic run at the competition continue, while for England, its aim for a World Cup and European championship double would go on.

All that being said, a lot on the line for both teams.

Australia’s talismanic striker Sam Kerr, who came off the bench and scored her spot-kick in the dramatic quarterfinal penalty shootout win over France, said the soccer fever which is sweeping the country is what her team hoped to inspire ahead of the tournament.

“I think before the World Cup that’s what we were dreaming about – changing the football in this nation forever,” she said, speaking about Australia’s co-hosting of the event.

Kerr and her team are hoping to use the growing enthusiasm in the nation to power them to a potential maiden World Cup triumph.

“It makes us feel so good and gives us the energy to perform for 120 minutes, so we’re loving it and, hopefully, it can carry on for a couple more weeks.”

Kerr started the match on the bench as her recovery from a calf injury continues, but she appeared confident that recovery was going well though she did not risk making a prediction regarding her fitness for the semifinal against either England or Colombia.

“My calves are great – every day I feel better, obviously, with more training, more recovery, but I can’t even think about the next game. I’m just gonna enjoy tonight.”

The first half has come to an end in Sydney and it’s 1-1 between the two sides.

Although it’s been a tactical battle between the two squads, they have both had opportunities throughout the first half.

Alessia Russo came closest for England early on, her physicality from crosses causing constant issues for the Colombian defense.

For the South Americans, Linda Caicedo has proven a constant thorn in England’s side, with the 18-year-old star showcasing her dribbling talent to manufacture openings against a resolute England defense.

A moment of magic from Leicy Santos in the closing minutes before the break gave Colombia the lead, leaving it 45 minutes from continuing its historic run through the tournament.

But, moments before half-time, England drew level with a stroke of luck after an error from Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Pérez, allowing Lauren Hemp to equalize.

England has been given a route back into the game thanks to a mistake from Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Pérez with Lauren Hemp the lucky beneficiary. It’s 1-1 in Sydney.

Pérez looked to be under little pressure from the England attackers but twice lost the ball from her grasp and, at the second time of asking, Hemp was able to stab the ball home.

It’s a sucker punch for Colombia with the equalizer coming just seconds before half-time but will lift the European champion after a sluggish opening frame.

All to play for in the last 45 minutes here in Sydney.

What a goal! Colombia has a 1-0 lead and Leicy Santos does it in style.

Las Cafeteras have really grown into this game in the last 10 minutes and now have a deserved lead.

Dribbling on the right hand side of the box, Santos chips an exquisite effort over the head of a despairing Mary Earps in the England goal.

Santos is mobbed by her teammates in celebration as the underdog side has the advantage.

A “spent” Steph Catley told reporters that the Matildas “put their heart, their soul, their body – everything into playing for this team in a game like that.”

Catley, who captained the team in superstar Sam Kerr’s absence, added: “We’ve been in situations where we’ve been in extra-time plenty of times in our career at major tournaments… And I think, by now, we’re in that perfect maturity level where we have that spark of youth that are almost too young to realize the gravity of the situation, but then we’ve got that maturity in the team where we’ve done it before and we know what it takes.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the World Cup, Catley said the team is taking it “one step at a time.”

“The whole tournament has been one step at a time… I couldn’t tell you who was next, I couldn’t tell you what the next game looked like. We’ve been very, very focused on one step at a time and exactly what we needed to do to get the job done.”

England continues to look like a renewed side against Colombia having looked so sluggish against Nigeria in the round-of-16.

This time, it’s Rachel Daly who comes closest to getting England on the board in Sydney, her header from close range though going straight into the grateful arms of Catalina Pérez.

Moments later, Daly once again tries her luck, choosing to shoot from long range with her effort just flying fractionally over the bar.

The pressure from the Lionesses is definitely building.

England may have had the more promising start to proceedings, but Colombia is just beginning to show why it’s in the quarterfinals.

Linda Caicedo is at the heart of most good things that Las Cafeteras are creating, showing her extraordinary dribbling and pace to keep her England counterparts on their toes.

25 minutes in and it’s still 0-0.

It will take “a good 24 hours” for the Matildas to come down off the high of reaching the World Cup semifinal for the first ever time, forward Emily van Egmond told reporters after the historic match.

“We deserve to enjoy it, and we will because, at the end of the day, we’ve made history.”

Van Egmond praised the home crowd, with almost 50,000 fans packed into the Brisbane Stadium.

“We heard every single one of them, it was amazing,” she said. “They definitely have helped us throughout this tournament so far, and we hope they continue to be as loud as they have been because it’s been amazing and, yeah, just an unbelievable feeling for us tonight.”

Although it was eventually ruled out for offside, how has the ball not ended up in the back of the net in this early going?

Alessia Russo has had multiple chances to smash the ball home in the opening 10 minutes, but there are Colombia defenders and the goalkeeper in the way to deny her.

Although the flag does go up for offside early in the match as Russo was beyond the last defender, it’s a warning for Colombia and a good sign for the Lionesses.

Minutes later, Russo once again is first to a cross, but her header flies straight into Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Pérez’s arms.

France head coach Hervé Renard told reporters that “fate chose” a winner after his team crashed out the Women’s World Cup in the quarterfinals following a dramatic penalty shootout loss against Australia.

“Tonight, we have to be proud of these girls who played an exceptional match,” he said. “It went from right to left, from left to right – to say who deserved it more is difficult.

“Congratulations to Australia, and congratulations to all the staff who have done a wonderful job.

After all the drama of Australia and France, we’ve got one last quarterfinal to feast our eyes on.

Both Colombia and England know a win will see them play co-host Australia in the final four.

The anthems are done, the players are ready… here we go!

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson told reporters that he is “so freaking proud” of his team after it reached the Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time in its history following a dramatic penalty shootout against France.

“And the heart beating tonight in this team and in this country – unbelievable.”

Gustavsson paid tribute to the raucous home crowd as well, adding: “You are part of this win… You belong to this team tonight, every single person in this country.”

After that dramatic quarterfinal in Brisbane, we head over to Sydney where the big news is that, with Lauren James suspended following her red card against Nigeria in England’s previous game, Ella Toone returns to the team in her place.

Colombia is spearheaded by its dynamic duo: Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramírez.

England starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Mary Earps

Defense: Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright (captain), Jessica Carter

Midfield: Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Rachel Daly 

Forwards: Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo

Colombia starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Catalina Pérez

Defense: Manuela Vanegas, Daniela Arias, Carolina Arias, Jorelyn Carabalí

Midfield: Diana Ospina García, Lorena Bedoya Durango, Leicy Santos

Forwards: Mayra Ramírez, Catalina Usme (captain), Linda Caicedo

There were roars in the stadium as co-host Australia won a dramatic penalty shootout and advanced to its first ever Women’s World Cup semifinal.

People are dancing, waving flags, singing and cheering as the Matildas do a lap of honor around the field.

The emotion is readily apparent and this Australia team is making the country proud in what has been a World Cup for the ages.

It took 90 minutes, extra time and lots of penalties, but Australia is into its first ever Women’s World Cup semifinal!

With Cortnee Vine’s final penalty, the Australia players, coaches and fans go wild in celebration as they book their place in the tournament’s final four.

A mammoth 20 penalty shootout was the decider – with misses, saves and retakes to keep everyone on the edge of their seats – but the World Cup’s co-host was finally able to find a way to progress.

A semifinal clash against either England or Colombia, who take to the field shortly, awaits the Matildas.

7-6 to Australia, which makes its first ever Women’s World Cup semifinal! What a finish! Cortnee Vine converts her penalty in this nail-biting, seemingly never-ending shootout to win it for Australia to prompt jubilant scenes in Brisbane.

Still 6-6 and Australia once again has a chance to win this quarterfinal.

Heartbreak for 19-year-old Vicki Bècho as her penalty strikes the post and once again gives Australia a shot at the semifinals.

6-6 still here. The drama is intense. Clare Hunt has a chance to win it for Australia but Durand’s trailing hand knocks the ball away and saves the penalty!

6-6 still, but the Matildas now have the chance to win the match with their next penalty kick.

What drama!

Kenza Dali’s penalty is initially saved by Arnold but after a review from the video assistant referee, she was deemed to have come off her line too early.

But Dali’s second effort is saved again and Australia is on the brink of history!

6-6 now. This is incredible! Ellie Carpenter hits the woodwork with her penalty but it slides into the net and Australia tie it again!

What a tense affair.

Maëlle Lakrar continues the scoring, choosing the straight run-up technique to slot home.

5-5 now. Tameka Yallop, seemingly with all the time in the world, sends Durand the wrong way and keeps the Matildas in the tournament.

Great penalty to make it 5-4 to France.

Sakina Karchaoui once again has France in front, her effort cannoning in off the bar. The left-back roars in celebration upon seeing the net ripple.

4-4 in Brisbane. Wow, what drama in this match. Katrina Gorry’s effort flies straight past Durand who gets a hand to it but can’t stop it from going into the back of the net.

Very nearly saved, but France makes it 4-3.

Grace Geyoro chooses the stuttering run-up technique and its enough to bamboozle Arnold in goal as she slots the ball home. Despite Arnold’s complaints, the goal stands.

Still 3-3 after the five kicks and we’re in sudden death. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who had just saved France’s last penalty, steps up to the spot with a chance to win the game and send her team to the Women’s World Cup semifinals but her effort ricochets off the woodwork.

France misses its fifth penalty and Australia has the chance to win the match with its possibly final effort. 3-3 at the moment.

Ève Périsset’s effort is pushed on to the post by Arnold’s fingertip as the tension increases.

What a confident penalty to make it 3-3 in Brisbane as 20-year-old Mary Fowler steps up and nonchalantly sends Durand the wrong way to tie the scores after four penalties each.

Les Bleues go back in front with their fourth penalty.

France’s all-time top goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer, showing the experience she’s garnered over the years, also sends the keeper the wrong way to give her side the lead.

The Matildas star levels the penalty shootout, as her shot flies past the outstretched hand of Durand.

An easy penalty for France as it takes a 2-1 lead in the shootout.

Captain Wendie Renard steps up and sends Arnold the wrong way to give France a foothold.

Tense stuff as France’s goalkeeper Solene Durand saves the second penalty from Australia as Steph Catley can’t quite find the back of the net. It’s 1-1.

1-1 after Les Bleues’ second penalty.

Kadidiatou Diani shows calmness to carefully slot home to get France on the board.

1-0 to Australia after one penalty for both teams. Caitlin Foord steps up and makes no mistake converting her side’s first penalty.

0-0 after one penalty.

Selma Bacha sees her opening penalty saved by Mackenzie Arnold to give Australia an early chance to take the lead.

Penalties are a nail-biting affair at the best of times, but with a potential historic World Cup semifinal berth on the line, the tension is ratcheted up to almost unbearable levels.

And the Australia fans are being put through every one of those emotions as their side prepares for its penalty shootout with France.

Before the whistle blew signalling the end of extra-time, France brought on goalkeeper Solene Durand just ahead of the penalty shootout in a highly unusual move.

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin kissed the top of Durand’s head as she exited the field, and Durand took her spot in goal for the last minutes of extra time.

You would imagine the move signals Durand’s specialty as a penalty stopper, but it’s rare to see that in either then men’s or women’s game.

Tense stuff in Brisbane!

This game has seen everything, except a goal, and so we are heading to a penalty shootout.

After 30 minutes of extra-time, the scores remain locked at 0-0, but only after some acrobatic goalkeeping from both Mackenzie Arnold and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin kept the ball out of the net.

What happens now? In the penalty shootout, each team will take five shots from 12 yards in alternating fashion and whichever side scores the most goals from those kicks will advance.

If it stays level after five kicks, then sudden death penalties will be taken to decide who progresses to the quarterfinals.

We’ve seen some brilliant goalkeeping this tournament, and it continues with another acrobatic stop from Mackenzie Arnold late into extra time.

Vicki Bècho’s shot from the edge of the area looks to be flying into the top corner, only for Arnold to stick out a big pair of gloves to deny Les Bleues.

The game somehow remains goalless and penalties are looming large…

##Australia Vs France##The tension has ratcheted up another notch as Australia and France make their way back onto the field for the second 15-minute half of extra-time.

Neither team could make the breakthrough in the first half of extra-time.

Will we see another penalty shootout?

The whistle for the first 15 minutes of extra-time blows, it’s still 0-0 and we have another 15 minutes to go in this match before we either have a winner – or it heads to a dreaded penalty shootout.

What happens if it’s goalless after the second half of extra-time? In the penalty shootout, each team will take five shots from 12 yards in alternating fashion and whichever side scores the most goals from those kicks will advance.

If it stays level after five kicks, then sudden death penalties will be taken to decide who progresses to the quarterfinals.

Which is to say, expect things to get more tense the longer this match remains goalless.

After 100 minutes of action, the ball is finally in the back of the net… but it is ruled out by the referee!

A corner – controversially awarded as the ball looked to have gone over the line – is headed home by France captain Wendie Renard, but the referee blows her whistle to signal a foul.

TV replays show it was the correct decision as Renard appears to pull Australia defender Alanna Kennedy to give herself an advantage.

Given the nature of the corner, probably justice done for Australia.

Tense doesn’t even begin to describe this match.

France gets us back underway for extra time with another 30 minutes to play as Australia and Les Bleues search for a breakthrough.

A tense affair with a place in the semifinals on the line.

The full-time whistle has blown and it’s still 0-0 between Australia and France in Brisbane, so the game is heading to extra time – and potentially a penalty shootout after that.

Unlike the games played during the group stage, this match can’t end in a draw and a winner has to be decided by the end of the night.

So what happens? The teams will play two 15-minute halves in extra time. If no victor emerges after 30 minutes, the winner will be decided on penalty kicks.

In the penalty shootout, each team will take five shots from 12 yards in alternating fashion and whichever side scores the most goals from those kicks will advance.

If it stays level after five kicks, then sudden death penalties will be taken to decide who progresses to the quarterfinals.

Which is to say, expect things to get more tense the longer this match remains goalless.

Australia began the second half very much in the ascendancy, but now, it is France’s chance to get a foothold.

Substitutions – in particular Sam Kerr – have provided some fresh impetus into the game and France has used the opportunity to have its best spell of the second 45 minutes.

We’ve got 12 minutes left in this match.

Yet another save from France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin!

The Matildas are in the ascendancy now, stretching France’s defense almost to the breaking point as Mary Fowler’s attempt on goal goes straight to Peyraud-Magnin who stops it.

But Australia continued to press and the ball bobbled dangerously around the box, going everywhere, except the back of the net.

Les Bleues are holding on and the scores remain deadlocked at 0-0.

It’s almost the perfect start for Sam Kerr as she plays a key role in Australia forcing a fantastic save from France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

Kerr drives down the left-hand side, crossing the ball across to Hayley Raso, who forces Peyraud-Magnin to stretch full length to palm away her left-footed effort from the edge of the box.

With the introduction of Kerr and a bright start to the second half, Australia looks the more likely to open the scoring to the delight of the sell-out crowd.

To the delight of Australia fans in attendance, Sam Kerr is finally on the pitch. A roar from the crowd as the superstar of the Matildas heads on to try to change the outlook of the match.

Having started the game on the bench due to her coming back from a calf injury and her lack of match fitness, the team’s talisman is looking to provide a spark for the Matildas.

About 35 minutes left in this match for Kerr to make a difference.

The Matildas have started the second half brightly, full of attacking intent, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Australia fans Heather Kay and Vicki Bath both break into song, “Oohhhh, we’re half way there! Ohhhhh, we’re living on a prayer!”

Vicki has been adding to her game attire each match and, tonight, she’s gone for multiple layers. Much like Ken, there are glasses under those glasses. 

“We’re going to try to get those girls through. The power of the people. The spirit will get us through,” they say. 

Heather knows some of the Australian players from their very early playing days. “I think they’re very excited and motivated. They will fight”

There’s a big 45 minutes ahead for both Australia and France with a spot in the Women’s World Cup on the line.

Both have had glaring opportunities to break the deadlock but either some slight errors or magnificent defending have denied them.

It looking like it will be a fascinating second half – and potentially longer – in Brisbane…

All around the stadium, Matildas fans are holding signs in support of their team like footballer Pip O’Neil, 11, who is watching the quarterfinal clash with her amazing artwork.

Elsewhere, a group of fans are on their feet the entire time. They came with a drum and a loudspeaker and are working their way through an impressive songsheet.

Somehow, it is still 0-0 in Brisbane despite both teams having big chances to take the lead.

France looked to be the dominant team of the half, with Australia’s most promising chances coming from counterattacks, but the Matildas almost took the lead just before half-time.

Lakrar and Le Sommer come closest to scoring for Les Bleues before the most clear-cut chance of the game, with only a brave block from Elisa de Almeida preventing Australia’s Mary Fowler from finding the back of the net.

An amazing first half – what do the last 45 minutes have in store for us?

The best chance of the game falls for Australia but some brilliant defending from Élisa De Almeida keeps the scores level.

Some indecision at the back from the French defense allows the ball to be crossed to Australia’s Mary Fowler five yards out with the goal at her mercy.

But, seemingly out of nowhere, De Almeida appears and throws her body in front of the ball to block the shot and keep the scores level.

Incredible stuff so far.

She might be playing in defense, but Maëlle Lakrar looks the most likely to score the game’s opener.

Having missed an excellent chance to score her second goal of the tournament earlier in the half, Lakrar once again comes closes to netting for Les Bleues as the game hits the half hour mark.

A set piece once again throws the Australia defense into panic and, after the ball isn’t cleared successfully, it falls to Lakrar inside the box, but as she has showed throughout the competition, Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was equal to it and palms it away.

28 minutes in and we have our first real save of the game.

Eugénie Le Sommer, France’s all-time goalscorer, breaks from deep against the Australia defense with the ball at her feet.

Sensing the opportunity to break the deadlock, the 34-year-old attempted a shot from the edge of the box and her effort took a deflection off Australia defender Alanna Kennedy, meaning Mackenzie Arnold needed to push the ball away to safety.

It’s still nip and tuck, with big chances at a premium. About 13 minutes to go in the first half…

It’s still 0-0 in Brisbane, but there is one Australian resident who is very confident that the Matildas will defeat France today and advance to the Women’s World Cup semifinals.

“Matilda” the koala predicted that Australia would win today, picking an Australian scarf at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Will she be proven right despite the rough start for the co-host?

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How has France not scored??

Maëlle Lakrar, just a few yards out from goal, has the opportunity to open the scoring after some pinball action in the area gifts her chance.

However, the ball appears to skip up off the pitch and the defender is unable to get her shot on target with the ball looping over the bar.

What a missed opportunity, but France is firmly on the rise now.

Sam Kerr, one of the world’s greatest strikers, starts on the bench but might feature in today’s match – Australia fans will certainly hope so.

Kerr comes from a sporting family. Her Indian-born father was a professional Australian rules football player while her brother, Daniel, also played the sport – more commonly known as Aussie Rules – for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Due to her family’s sporting background and her evident natural ability, much was expected from Kerr early on. Those expectations only increased given she was learning the game in a nation where soccer is far from the main sport.

Kerr began to thrive in the limelight. A two-year stint with the Western New York Flash saw her game develop further and by the time she returned to the Perth Glory in August 2014, she was a bona fide superstar.

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for her in this tournament, but there is still time for the forward to make her mark.

Read more on Sam Kerr here.

It’s been a cagey start from both teams, but the first real chance falls to France.

A long, hopeful pump upfield has the Australia defense scrambling and Kadidiatou Diani – sensing a moment of weakness – uses her strength to muscle an opening.

The PSG star might have been better going down under some shirt pulling from the Australia defender given her shot flashed wide of the co-hosts’ post.

A warning for the Matildas.

History could be made today and the atmosphere is electric. A huge roar erupts as the teams walk out onto the pitch. You can tell the fans are in it for an Australia win.

France will face an incredibly raucous crowd if it wants to make the semifinals as it’s a sea of green and gold in the city and stadium.

The anthems have played, the line-ups are out on the pitch and… the whistle has blown!

We are officially underway at the Brisbane Stadium with a spot in the semifinals on the line. It is surely going to be a game to remember.

Locals Sam Rowen and Bas Papegaaij ditched the beanies for something more appropriate for the warm winter evening.

“I’m really excited,” Rowen said. “I think this is the best chance we’ve had in any World Cup. We looked hungry in the last game.”

Less than a month ago, Australian cinemas were packed with Barbie fans wearing pink in honor of Margot Robbie, the local “Neighbours” actor turned Hollywood megastar.

Robbie’s girl power partnership with director Greta Gerwig proved a hit at the global box office and somehow made wearing cutesy shades of pink a statement of feminist strength.

But now, seemingly in the blink of an eye, the nation is all wearing green and gold for our newest heroes, Australia’s Women’s World Cup hopefuls, the Matildas.

Like Barbie, support for the Matildas was initially backed by a strategic marketing plan to introduce them to new audiences and tap into existing feelgood vibes and loyalties.

But in recent weeks, as they’ve fought to score goals against the best teams in the world, their grit, determination, and teamwork has elevated them into the stratosphere of Aussie culture. And unlike Barbie, these women are real.

The tremendous following for famous Chelsea forward Sam Kerr has broadened out to the rest of the team, and now several players unknown to the general public just a few weeks ago are household names: Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso.

Tickets to the Matildas’ quarterfinals clash against France at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday have sold out and venues across the country are preparing for bumper crowds.

“We’re opening up the car park for the day,” said Jackie Schougaard, venue manager of The Alfred Hotel on Caxton Street, a few minutes’ walk from Brisbane Stadium.

“It’s like the Olympics, where everyone’s all of a sudden involved and experts in it,” said Schougaard. “Everyone’s got the odds on who’s going to win, and who’s the most likely first scorer, and everything like that. It’s just been unreal.”

Read more here.

There are a few France fans outside the stadium, amid the golden sea of Matildas fans.

Amazingly, Revanui Mugnier picked up a ticket to this sellout match today. She logged onto the ticket site at 12:12pm – just hours before kickoff – and was rewarded a few minutes later. It was meant to be!

She played soccer in France but now lives in Tahiti and flew in especially for this World Cup match. That is the passion this incredible tournament has evoked.

Australia fans are out in force for today’s potentially historic occasion in Brisbane. Chris Brandon goes for height with this patriotic number.

“He’s hiding his bald spot,” says wife Lisa Wright, with a laugh. Fans Mia, 11, and Darcy, 8, are excited – particularly Darcy who’s watched the Matildas Disney documentary three or four times.

“He’s obsessed,” Wright says. The family is predicting a 2-1 Australia win today against France.

The big team news of the day is that Australia captain and all-time leading goalscorer Sam Kerr once again starts on the bench as she recovers from a calf injury which kept her out of the opening two games of the tournament.

The Matildas are looking for their first ever semifinals appearance against a France team which looks very strong. Les Bleues will be a tough test for the home town heroes.

Australia’s starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Mackenzie Arnold

Defense: Steph Catley (captain), Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Ellie Carpenter

Midfield: Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross

Forwards: Emily van Egmond, Mary Fowler

France’s starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin

Defense: Maëlle Lakrar, Wendie Renard (captain), Élisa De Almeida, Sakina Karchaoui

Midfield: Sandie Toletti, Grace Geyoro, Selma Bacha, Kenza Dali

Forwards: Eugénie Le Sommer, Kadidiatou Diani

This edition of the Women’s World Cup is guaranteed to have a first-time champion with Sweden ousting Japan on Friday.

Japan had been the last previous Women’s World Cup champion remaining in the field before Friday’s loss.

Sweden had already eliminated the US, who had won the last two Women’s World Cups and four overall, in the round of 16. The Americans were bidding to become the first team to win three consecutive titles.

Norway, the 1995 champion, also bowed out in the round of 16, losing to Japan.

Meanwhile, two-time Women’s World Cup champion Germany didn’t advance out of the group stage.

The Women’s World Cup has taken place every four years since 1991. Here’s a look at the previous Women’s World Cup champions:

After two thrilling games and two identical scorelines, we have our first two teams in the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup.

In the first match of the day, Spain needed extra-time to defeat the Netherlands 2-1 and reach the final four for the first time in its history.

Mariona Caldentey’s penalty after a VAR-reviewed handball decision looked to have won the match for the Iberians with just nine minutes remaining, but the Dutch leveled when Stefanie van der Gragt – whose handball had gifted La Roja its penalty – drilled home a brilliant effort in the first minute of added time.

In a tense period of extra-time, teenage substitute Salma Paralluelo struck the winner after 111 minutes with a left-footed effort off the inside of the far post to make history for Spain.

Read more about that here.

Then in the later kick-off, Sweden beat Japan 2-1 thanks to defender Amanda Ilestedt’s fourth goal of the tournament and Filippa Angeldal’s second-half penalty.

Riko Ueki missed a penalty late on for Japan, but Honoka Hayashi’s goal with three minutes of regulation time remaining ensured a heart-pounding finish.

Sweden held on, though, and will now face Spain in the country’s fifth World Cup semifinal appearance on Tuesday.

Read more about that game here.