England and Australia win to make World Cup quarterfinals

Sam Kerr runs with the ball during the match against Denmark.

Despite fans watching Australia score twice and reach the quarterfinals, the biggest cheer on Monday was arguably saved for when Sam Kerr came onto the pitch.

The striker, who missed the entire group stage because of a calf injury, was substituted on in the second half for her first appearance at this World Cup.

Interest around Kerr’s injury went into overdrive in recent weeks, with everyone desperate to know if and when she would be able to return to the starting lineup.

Kerr, who was billed as the poster girl of the tournament, said she felt some of the attempts to find out news crossed a line.

At one point, a helicopter was flown over the team’s training ground to try and see if Kerr was practicing with the squad.

Despite her absence, Australia has looked impressive at the tournament and will face either France or Morocco in the next round.

Kerr’s return will be an added bonus for the Matildas, who look determined to go deep into this competition.

US fans look on dejected after the team was eliminated against Sweden in Melbourne on August 6.

It’s been over 24 hours since the US was knocked out of the Women’s World Cup, but the shock still feels seismic.

Even if it wasn’t to win a third consecutive World Cup crown, many thought the two-time reigning champion would at least make it past the first knockout round.

Fans of the team are not used to seeing their side lose and, for those who had traveled half way around the world to support their country, Sunday’s loss was particularly cruel.

While the US had been relatively uninspiring in the group stages, it arguably put on its best performance against Sweden.

While the US fan contingent was hard to miss during the group stages, the lower than normal turnout at Sunday’s game against Sweden was the result of many fans assuming the US would win its group and play in Sydney in the round-of-16.

But even those not able to watch in person were devastated by the result.

Read more reaction from US fans here.

Clare Hunt of Australia celebrates the team’s 2-0 victory.

It’s been a fantastic evening for co-host Australia in Sydney as the team reached the quarterfinals with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Denmark.

On top of that, captain Sam Kerr made her first appearance at the tournament when she came on as a second-half substitute having been sidelined with a calf injury for the opening three games.

“We’re feeling really, really happy, really positive,” Australian defender Clare Hunt told CNN.

“I think, for us, it’s huge to keep a clean sheet and obviously get two goals against a strong defensive unit. They’ve only conceded one goal this tournament, so we’re really, really happy with the result.”

A packed crowd of 75,784 cheered on the home side, providing the kind of support that could lift Australia’s performance later in the tournament.

“I think the Sydney crowd was louder tonight than they were on our initial appearance here at Stadium Australia,” Hunt added. “I think we’re building momentum as a team and as a support system in Australia.”

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said of the fan support: “I get emotional. I really do. The support we feel is – wow. Thank you, thank you.”

Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie dives in vain as England's Chloe Kelly scores the winning goal in the penalty shootout.

We were so close to seeing yet another upset at this World Cup as England needed penalties to defeat Nigeria 4-2 and reach the quarterfinals.

Nigeria was stronger throughout the match – in particular, the first 90 minutes – and deserved more, having two brilliant efforts stopped by the crossbar and the England keeper.

The Lionesses had star player Lauren James sent off in the 87th minute after a moment of madness, stepping on Michelle Alozie’s back.

But the European champion held on in extra-time with 10 players to take the match to a shootout.

Despite Georgia Stanway missing the first penalty, England’s remaining spot-kicks were close to perfect with Chloe Kelly hitting her decisive effort into the roof of the net to secure a 4-2 win in the shootout.

You can read more about the Lionesses’ tense victory here.

Hayley Raso, left, and Emily Van Egmond of Australia celebrate with their teammates after winning the match against Denmark.

Given some of the drama in the previous round-of-16 matches, Australia’s win against Denmark seemed somewhat straightforward.

The Matildas, cheered on by a packed stadium of 75,784 loud, mostly Australia-supporting fans, looked comfortable throughout and never really looked in danger.

Denmark didn’t play particularly badly, but just lacked the quality to cause the co-host any real issues today.

It was all good news for Australia which also saw its talisman Sam Kerr get her first minutes at this World Cup after missing the group stages through injury.

The co-host will now face either France or Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Matildas star Sam Kerr warms up during the match against Denmark in Sydney on August 7.

Things just keep getting better and better for Australian fans.

A huge roar comes from the crowd as superstar Sam Kerr is seen warming up. She comes onto the field several minutes later for the first time at this World Cup, prompting more cheers from the stands.

A calf injury on the eve of the tournament had kept Kerr on the sidelines so far, but she’ll be looking to make up for lost time with Australia now firmly in command of a trip to the quarterfinals.

Goalscorer Hayley Raso comes off for the Chelsea forward with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Hayley Raso, second from left, of Australia celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal.

Australia has one foot in the quarterfinals now thanks to Hayley Raso.

It’s a well-worked goal from the Matildas, which is started by the brilliant Mary Fowler.

The winger finds Emily van Egmond in the box and the striker holds it up well before teeing Raso up for the finish in the 70th minute.

There are deafening screams of celebration from the home support and Australia looks to be heading through to the next round.

Australia, which lost to Nigeria in the group stages, has grown into this tournament, comfortably defeating Canada 4-0 and now on course to reach the quarterfinals with a 1-0 lead against Denmark.

The co-host has had plenty of support from the stands and today’s game is no different. Maddison, Kerrie and Bradley Beer (below) made the journey from Newcastle to Sydney for this round-of-16 encounter.

Maddison, who has cerebral palsy, has been to soccer games all across the country with her inflatable kangaroo.

She “wants to be the next Sam Kerr,” according to grandmother Kerrie. 

The family was also at the group-stage game between England and Denmark and are hoping to score last-minute tickets to the quarterfinals in Brisbane if Australia goes through. 

“We’re huge soccer fans,” Kerrie added.

From left to right, Australia fans Maddison, Kerrie and Bradley Beer.

The second half kicks off in Sydney and Denmark has it all to do.

The Matildas are deserving of their 1-0 lead but cannot rest on their laurels. You’d think the home support wouldn’t allow its team to do so anyway.

Australia’s talisman Sam Kerr was warming up with the substitutes at the break. Could we see the star striker play for the first time at this year’s Women’s World Cup?

USA players react as Magdalena Eriksson of Sweden scores her team's sixth penalty in the penalty shoot out during the match between Sweden and USA, at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on August 6.

A day after the US was eliminated from the Women’s World Cup, TNT soccer analyst Julie Foudy told CNN that this “just wasn’t the performance the United States had hoped for.”

The US, after escaping the group stage to advance to the round of 16, lost to Sweden on penalties on Sunday – its earliest ever exit at the tournament.

“They really struggled all tournament,” Foudy, a two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, said.

“This performance against Sweden in this round of 16 game definitely was a better game. But still, they couldn’t score. They couldn’t finish their penalty kicks in the end.

“And it’s what’s really plagued this United States [team] all tournament: this inability to have any cohesion, to come together at the right times and, ultimately, to score goals.

“In the end, they couldn’t score the penalty kicks, either.”

When asked if the US needs to make big changes, Foudy said that it was more a reflection on the improvements made by other nations, rather than a major failure from the defending champion.

“Three of the four African teams got through [the group stages]. Jamaica got through. Colombia got through, so South America (is) doing better,” she said. “You’re seeing really a rise globally of the game.

“And so, this is a situation where I think people expect the United States, because of all our past dominance, to continue to dominate. I just think that’s unrealistic because the world is getting so much better, which is a great thing, because people are finally investing on the women’s side for soccer.”