Key events
Also, in Sam Kerr’s absence Caitlin Foord has stepped up. Player of the match against Denmark, her ability to float in that left-hand channel and cut in on her right foot has become a feature of Australia’s pattern of play, especially in transition with Mary Fowler dropping deep from her false nine starting point.
We will never know how this World Cup might have transpired had Kerr not injured her left calf in training on the eve of the tournament. But in her absence, Foord has risen to the challenge. The attacking dynamo has put the nation on her shoulders and, for all the speculation around Kerr’s calf, helped take Australia to the last eight at this home World Cup largely without Kerr.
Personally, I think keeping Kerr on the bench for the time being is the smart play. The XI selected have performed superbly in the past two matches, and nobody deserves to lose their place.
Kieran Pender put himself in Gustavsson’s shoes a few days ago.
Why fix what isn’t broken? That will be the question for Gustavsson and his coaching team as they prepare for the quarter-final against France on Saturday afternoon. But with the stakes even higher, can the Matildas afford to leave their best player, among the best strikers in the world, on the bench in a World Cup quarter-final.
Now we know the starting XI, we can assume Sam Kerr is not fit to play the full 90 minutes. After a ten minute cameo against Denmark, how much more action will she see tonight?
Here’s tony Gustavsson earlier this week:
If Sam is fit to play 90 minutes, she’s starting. There’s not even a question, and the team knows it. We’re talking about Sam Kerr here. Whether she is ready to play 90 minutes plus extra time, that’s to be decided tonight. But there is no question whatsoever that if she is, she’s starting.
Today’s clash is being screened at Rod Laver Arena for anyone in Melbourne looking for the big match atmosphere a few hundred miles away from Queensland. Dan Steadman is already there.
It’s bloody great to see so many people waiting in the rain outside Rod Laver Arena united by Australia’s love for the Matildas and Melbourne’s love for a black puffer jacket. pic.twitter.com/fGvfQ6qrmC
— Dan Steadman (@dan_steadman) August 12, 2023
Jo Khan
Hundreds of Matildas supporters (and a few French) are making their way down Caxton Street in Brisbane towards Suncorp Stadium. The Matildas Active group are leading the charge with chants and drums.
Australia XI
The news everybody has been waiting for… Sam Kerr remains on the bench. It’s an unchanged Matildas XI.
Mark Hurst is just waking up in a tent in Austria. “Morning from Melk, where we’re hoping to find strong enough Wi-Fi somewhere to stream the game. Our daughter, Eva, has been awake since 5am and is a bundle of nervous energy. She’s had her Matildas jumper on for every match. Go the Matildas!”
Godspeed Mark. I’m not a tent guy. Especially with kids. I hope, along with the strong wifi, you find some strong coffee.
Our first emailer of the day comes to us with divided loyalties. “Am a retired US Ambassador aboard a French flagged vessel off the Kimberly Coast in Australia – ready for the match!”
That’s right, we have chargé d’affaires tuning in from international waters. John Hennessey-Niland there, former US Ambassador to Palau, 35-year top-level diplomat, and registered FIFA coach. May the waters be still for the next few hours John.
The Matildas are feeling the love in Brisbane.
World Cup psychic animal update!
Matilda the koala reckons Australia are going to win.
But the gentoo penguins at Sydney Aquarium, who have been glued to the World Cup, have failed to send in their tips for tonight’s match because, um, they are otherwise occupied with mating season.
Because of all the interest in tonight’s fixture, we’re starting the ball rolling early again on the blog. That means there’s plenty of time for you to send me an email on your thoughts about tonight’s clash, Australian football, or just the World Cup in general.
Today’s soundtrack will be provided by Australian alt-rock legends Died Pretty in honour of frontman Ron S Peno, who died earlier today.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v France from Brisbane Stadium. Kick-off in this Women’s World Cup quarter-final clash is 5pm AEST/8am BST/9am CET.
It’s the biggest match in Australian football history – since the other one the other day – as this World Cup continues its groundbreaking progress. A mark of how transformative this tournament is proving can be experienced almost anywhere you choose to look across the country as fans – neophytes and diehards alike – commune in front of televisions and at fan parks to celebrate international women’s football.
We are witnessing the hoped-for frenzy this tournament promised when Australia and New Zealand were confirmed as joint-hosts three years ago. Enjoy it while you can, because we’ve not long to go.
This is the tournament’s 59th fixture. There are only five more after this. Both Australia and France hope they’re around for two of them.
The Matildas arrive as the competition’s form team after dispensing with heavyweights Canada and Denmark in effervescent fashion. Adding to the sense of expectation is the return to something approaching full fitness of captain and best player Sam Kerr. Home hopes are justifiably high.
But it’s not as if France will start as long shots. Beaten only once in 2023 (more on that to come) Les Bleues smashed four past Morocco and six through Panama in their last two outings. After a worrying period of turmoil before the tournament, France are looking more dangerous by the match as Hervé Renard refines his approach.
Back to that solitary defeat of 2023 – it came, of course, against the Matildas on the eve of the World Cup. In front of 50,000 fans in Melbourne France were the better side for long periods but failed to find the back of the net.
The same teams, a similar crowd, a different city, and much much higher stakes await this evening.
