It was a night that will go down in Australian history.
Whether you were there at the match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, at one of the many live sites across the country, in a packed to the brim pub, at a party, or at home, you’ll never forget where you were and how you felt as the Matildas took on, and won the longest penalty shootout in World Cup history.
The quarter-final match against France was the most watched sporting event in Australia in a decade, with an average audience of 4.17 million tuning in. The penalty shootout reached more than 7.2 million people across Channel 7 and 7plus.
It was a match that transcended usual sporting culture, bringing millions of us together – children and adults alike – with shared anxiety, excitement, relief, and joy.
A quick flip through any social media platform during and after the match confirmed what we were all feeling during the shootout. Nearly everyone you know has some level of investment in the Matildas, with every post and story on Saturday night a snapshot into how we celebrated as a nation.
When 25-year-old Cortnee Vine stepped up to mark for the 20th penalty kick of the shootout, Australia held its collective breath. There was the intense pressure on goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, now known across the country as a “brickwall”.
And the celebration that followed Vine’s successful kick to end the match and send Australia through to the semi-fonals drew comparisons to when Cathy Freeman won gold at the Sydney Olympics back in 23 years ago. Fans across the nation lept to their feet with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.
We still can’t get enough – so we’ve have put together a snapshot of some of the celebrations. Check it out below.