Australia advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup on Saturday after a dramatic penalty shootout victory vs. France that featured 20 kicks. This was the longest shootout in women’s or men’s World Cup history.
Watch all 20 PENALTIES between the Matildas and Les Bleues in under 30 SECONDS! pic.twitter.com/eS73PeBTna
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 12, 2023
Australian fans watched on nervously from coast to coast and in the air on planes. Reaction clips to Cortnee Vine’s winning penalty have gone viral, but one in particular is making people laugh.
A flight full of Matildas fans watched on from thousands of feet in the air with nearly every person on board glued to their screens. Almost everyone was viewing the shootout… except for the one person watching “Lord of the Rings”.
Person watches Lord of the Rings during Australia shootout
MATILDAS ON A PLANE Amazing video of Australia's winning penalty that put co-hosts through to semifinals. Rows of simultaneous celes. Except for that one passenger who's tuned in to ... LOTR? pic.twitter.com/vGXUCr5c2Z
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 12, 2023
You can watch that movie whenever you want! It’s not every day you get to see your country host the World Cup and advance to the semifinal.
The reaction clips from across Australia are so fun to watch. Here’s a compilation of reactions to the winning kick.
AUSTRALIA FANS ARE GOING CRAZY IN SYDNEY #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/Zm2UUefvyG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 12, 2023
Some of these stadium scenes from around the country when #Matildas won: MCG (Thread) #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/kdo7kbaIs4
— Tyson Whelan (@tyson_whelan) August 12, 2023
My god that was the closest I’ve ever been to standing up. @TheMatildas UNBELIEVABLE effort MCG going off #matildas #AUSFRA pic.twitter.com/BNLU6FAFx8
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) August 12, 2023
The moment the #Matildas reached the #FIFAWWC semi-finals pic.twitter.com/5brHTnEHb5
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) August 12, 2023
THE MOMENT THE MATILDAS WON IN SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK. UNREAL. UP THE DAMN TILLIES #matildas #TilitsDone #AUSFRA pic.twitter.com/eYcVWwBsTN
— Maddie Date (@maddie_date) August 12, 2023
Totally sureal. This is at the MCG while the Carlton vs Melbourne AFL game is on. The moment Matildas won on penalties pic.twitter.com/ildabBGDIN
— Prof Mark Stoove (@MStoove) August 12, 2023
Matildas win. Melbourne erupts
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 12, 2023
Australia’s next battle will be a semifinal showdown with England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 6 a.m. ET.