Co-hosts Australia creating sporting legacy at Women's World Cup

While the England squad and their fans are already looking up to the imaginable of adding different section to 1 of the astir fiercely contested sporting rivalries, Australia was inactive basking successful the glory of 1 of its top sporting moments.

European champions England are connected the skyline for their adjacent match, but for now, Matildas fans are inactive trying to marque consciousness of what they witnessed.

The show of their yellow-shirted players jumping successful ecstasy was plastered implicit the country's beforehand pages connected Sunday, accompanied with headlines including "Magnifique Matildas" and "Mathrilldas".

Overnight viewing figures reported the biggest tv assemblage successful much than 2 decades - since Cathy Freeman won golden astatine the Sydney Olympics successful 2000 - with an mean of 4.23 million.

And that did not relationship for the hordes of fans who descended connected the instrumentality parks, congregated circular ample screens and met astatine the pub to cheer connected the Matildas.

• Australia gripped by punishment play connected historical night
• World Football astatine the Women's World Cup: Matildas mania sweeps crossed Australia
• Australia rivalry bigger than I thought - Wiegman

Australia media savoured the nation's historical punishment triumph implicit France astatine the Women's World Cup

Sunday Herald sports writer Emma Kemp describes it arsenic a infinitesimal "that volition everlastingly beryllium etched into Australian sporting folklore".

She writes: "Where were you astatine precisely 8pm connected August 12, 2023? When Cortnee Vine's deathly spot-kick marked the extremity of a punishment shootout that gave grandmothers astir the federation bosom attacks."

Sports writer Robert Craddock, penning successful Australia's Sunday Telegraph, said: "Even earlier it was finished, it stood successful each of its nerve-jangling glory, arsenic 1 of the top Australian sporting events of each time."

Vine's winning spot-kick was rapidly declared to person replaced what had antecedently been considered the nation's astir iconic shot infinitesimal - erstwhile John Aloisi scored a punishment successful 2005 to nonstop the Socceroos to their archetypal World Cup since 1974.

The antheral himself, fittingly a co-commentator connected the Matildas quarter-final for Australian TV, had fewer complaints.

"I'm blessed to beryllium relegated, I don't care," said Aloisi.

"What this volition do, this volition animate a aboriginal generation. That's what the girls spoke astir earlier the tournament, that's what they've been speaking astir during the tournament. And they're surviving this moment."

'What it is to beryllium a Matildas fan'

Australian media are reporting that Matildas merchandise is selling retired arsenic fans unreserved to bargain scarves and shirts

Some seasoned observers compared the interaction of the triumph to Freeman's iconic 400m golden medal 23 years ago, with the full federation getting down their women's shot team.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised a nationalist national vacation if the Matildas spell each the mode and assistance the trophy.

Adam Peacock, a writer for the Australian Sunday Telegraph, wrote: "Of each the fantastic satellite champions, golden medallists and sporting legends this state has talented to the world, the Matildas are present firmly connected the apical support and mightiness yet inhabit a spot each their own."

But with their adjacent lucifer taking spot successful conscionable 4 days' clip - successful the aforesaid stadium successful Sydney wherever Freeman had her generation-defining infinitesimal - the squad bash not person agelong to travel backmost down to earth.

ABC women's shot writer Samantha Lewis is 1 of a tiny fig of reporters who person been pursuing the Matildas for galore years.

She told the BBC World Service's World Football podcast however the emotion overwhelmed her aft the semi-final triumph and she broke down successful tears halfway done asking a question to Australia manager Tony Gustavsson successful the post-match media conference.

"I don't cognize if determination are crystal packs for emotions but that's what I request implicit the adjacent mates of days," she said.

"For now, emotionally for the players, physically for them, it's conscionable astir trying to travel down disconnected the question and get themselves revved up for immoderate happens next.

"Honestly, I don't cognize if I tin acquisition this again. What it is to beryllium a Matildas fan..."