Australia vs. France highlights: Australia reaches semifinals in historic thriller
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup continued Saturday with an absolute thriller of a quarterfinal matchup between tournament co-host Australia and France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
The match went scoreless throughout the entirety of regulation and extra time, culminating in an epic penalty shootout where Australia prevailed 7-6 in front of a raucous home crowd. The shootout lasted 10 rounds, making it the longest in Men's or Women's World Cup history.
Australia advances to semifinals after penalty shootout vs. France
Australia will face the winner of England-Colombia (on FOX and the FOX Sports App) in the semifinal on Wednesday.
Check out the highlights below!
Australia advances past France on penalties 0-0 (7-6)
PENALTY KICKS
Round 10: France misses, Australia scores
Vicki Becho's shot went off the post before Cortnee Vine finally made the winner to send the host Matildas into the semifinals.
Round 9: Both miss
Kenza Dali's attempt was saved by Mackenzie Arnold for her third of the shootout, but Clare Hunt couldn't take advantage and the shootout continued.
Round 8: Both score
Both sides answered as Maelle Lakrar and Ellie Carpenter hit their penalties.
Round 7: Both score
Sakina Karchaoui for France, Tameka Yallop for Australia.
Round 6: Both score
Grace Geyoro snuck one past Arnold, and Katrina Gorry returned the favor for Australia to keep the match going.
Round 5: Both miss
Mackenzie Arnold made an incredible save on one end — but then her bid for a winner went off the post to send things to sudden death.
Round 4: Both score
Next up were veteran France legend Eugenie Le Sommer and young Australia phenom Mary Fowler, who each made their tries look easy.
Round 3: Both score
The captains got the job done for each side, as superstars Wendie Renard and Sam Kerr each calmly sunk their attempts to keep things tied.
Round 2: France scores, Australia misses
Kadidiatou Diani does what she does best — scoring a goal that Mackenzie Arnold had no chance of saving.
Solene Durand then rewarded her manager's faith by saving Steph Catley's attempt to even things up.
Round 1: France misses, Australia scores
Caitlin Foord snuck her strike past Durand going left, sending the crowd in Brisbane into a frenzy.
Selma Bacha stepped up first after France won the coin toss, but her shot was saved by Mackenzie Arnold.
EXTRA TIME
122': Goalkeeper Solene Durand comes in for France just before penalties
France coach Hervé Renard rolled the dice with a new goalkeeper before a likely penalty shootout to decide the match.
109': Steph Catley's turn to play hero on defense
107': Mackenzie Arnold with another brilliant save to keep things scoreless
Mackenzie Arnold makes ANOTHER save to keep Australia and France deadlocked at 0-0 in extra time
105': Cortnee Vine nearly becomes super-sub goalscorer
Minutes after Vine entered as a substitute, the Australia forward nearly made an instant impact of her own.
100': France goal waved off due to foul in box
Les Bleues thought they had finally broken through off a dubious corner kick, only for the goal to get waved off as a foul was called on Wendie Renard — much to the relief of the heavily pro-Australia crowd in Brisbane.
France's goal vs. Australia is overturned due to a foul inside the box
92': Australia's Katrina Gorry gets booked for a hard tackle on Sakina Karchaoui
SECOND HALF
90+4': Extra time coming as Australia pressures but can't convert
60': More golden chances for Australia, but no goal
Two stellar saves from French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin are the only reasons why Australia has not yet rewarded its raucous home crowd in Brisbane with a goal.
Australia, France still at 0-0 after Pauline Peyraud-Magnin makes a beautiful save
55': Look who's coming in!
Sam Kerr, the star and captain of this Australia team, entered as an early substitution as she continues to nurse a calf injury. Her entrance caused the biggest roar of the night from the home crowd in Brisbane.
50': Australia ramping up the pressure early in the second half!
The Matildas got a corner kick out of this Mary Fowler try — but, ultimately, not a goal.
HALFTIME
Who will strike first?
The World Cup NOW crew broke down an action-packed, but ultimately scoreless, first half in Brisbane.
FIRST HALF
45': Mary Fowler can't finish the attack just before halftime
41': Elisa De Almeida saves France with an incredible deflection in goal!
France's Elisa De Almeida saves the day after blocking a shot attempt
32': Stellar save from Australia's Mackenzie Arnold to keep France off the scoresheet
Australia and France remain scoreless after a great save by Mackenzie Arnold
12': Near miss as France keeps knocking early
8': Early chance for Kadidiatou Diani and France
1': Underway in front of a passionate home crowd!
PREGAME
Setting the stage
The "World Cup NOW" crew previewed the match live on social media ahead of kickoff.
Australia vs. France keys to victory | World Cup NOW
Starting lineups
Australia's star striker Kerr is once again out of the starting XI, but is expected to play Saturday. A calf injury has held Kerr to just 10 total minutes in the World Cup thus far, all of which came in Australia's most recent win over Denmark in the round of 16.
France, meanwhile, will have to stop Kerr and Raso without defender Ève Périsset, at least at first. Périsset is out of the starting XI for Les Bleues.
Check out the full Women's World Cup schedule and how to watch each match live here. Find the latest scores here.
