Summary

  • Australia beat France on penalties to reach Women's World Cup semi-finals

  • Feller missed decisive penalty in shootout to send co-hosts through

  • Australia keeper Arnold made three saves but also missed penalty

  • Twice Australia missed penalties which would have sent them through before Vine eventually won it

  • Australia will face England or Colombia in semi-final on Wednesday

  1. Postpublished at 4 mins

    Australia 0-0 France

    Oooh Wendy Renard nearly looses the ball on the halfway line. Think Steven Gerrard against Chelsea a few years back.

    But the France defender recovers to nip the ball away from Mary Fowler.

    Les Bleues keep possession before going long, trying to find Eugenie Le Sommer over the top but the pass skids out of play.

  2. Postpublished at 2 mins

    Australia 0-0 France

    You can hear a pin drop in Brisbane as Australia start with some comfortable possession.

    There are nerves everywhere.

  3. KICK-OFFpublished at 1 mins

    Australia 0-0 France

    And we're off.

  4. TEAM NEWSpublished at 07:59 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08.00 BST)

    Australia XI: Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord; Fowler, van Egmond

    Subs: Williams, Micah, Nevin, Luik, Polkinghorne, Vine, Wheeler, Chidiac, Yallop, Simon, Kerr, Grant

    Australia XIImage source, Opta

    France XI: Peyraud-Magnin; Lakrar, Renard, De Almeida, Karchaoui; Dali, Geyoro, Toletti, Bacha; Diani, Le Sommer

    Subs: Durand, Picaud, Fazer, Majri, Mateo, Tounkara, Le Garrac, Asseyi, Feller, Cascarino, Perisset, Becho

    France XIImage source, Opta
  5. Postpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08.00 BST)

    National anthems done. The tension builds...

    Australia v France (08.00 BST)Image source, Getty Images
  6. Key statspublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Time for a late stat attack? Here you go:

    • This will be Australia's fourth quarter-final at the Women's World Cup. They have lost their three previous quarter-finals, scoring three goals and conceding seven in total.
    • Australia have kept a clean sheet in consecutive games at the Women's World Cup for the first time. They are now aiming to win three straight Women's World Cup games for the first time.
    • The host nation has lost in the quarter-finals in the past four editions of the Women's World Cup. The last one that managed to progress further was USA in 2003.
    • France have scored 12 goals in this Women's World Cup, their first time with more than 10 goals in a single edition of the tournament.
    • If she plays in this game, Wendie Renard will win her 150th cap for France.
  7. Listen livepublished at 07:56 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    If you're in the UK, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra have got you covered for radio commentary.

    Get listening to the action by pressing the play icon at the top of this page.

  8. Postpublished at 07:55 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08.00 BST)

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Brisbane Stadium

    We get the traditional 'Welcome to Country' message before the game, acknowledging the Aboriginal ancestors on this land.

    This welcome sees the crowd led in a chorus of Waltzing Matilda - but then the real noise follows as the teams come out of the tunnel.

  9. Postpublished at 07:54 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Here come the sides in Sydney...

    A reminder that we could have extra time and penalties if required.

  10. What happened in the last 16?published at 07:52 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Co-hosts Australia reached the World Cup quarter-finals with a clinical win over Denmark in the last 16 at a packed Stadium Australia.

    Caitlin Foord put the Matildas ahead in the 29th minute, finishing from a tight angle following a great pass from Mary Fowler.

    Hayley Raso added a second in the 70th minute with a driven finish after good work from Emily van Egmond.

    Last time out for France Eugenie Le Sommer scored twice as Les Bleues cruised into the Women's World Cup quarter-finals, thrashing Morocco to end the African side's dream run.

    Goals from Kadidiatou Diani, Kenza Dali and Le Sommer put France 3-0 ahead at half-time in Adelaide, with Le Sommer adding her second after 70 minutes.

    Morocco had been hoping to become the first African side to win a knockout match at the Women's World Cup.

  11. Diani on a rollpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Kadidiatou DianiImage source, Getty Images

    Watch out for Kadidiatou Diani.

    The France forward has been directly involved in seven goals in this summer's World Cup (4 goals, 3 assists), more than any other player.

    In fact, she's has scored with each of her last four shots on target in the competition.

    Close her down early and, whatever you do, don't let her shoot!

  12. 'Sam Kerr just has to score'published at 07:48 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Rachel Brown-Finnis predicts

    I am in Sydney and there is such a buzz around the Matildas. The atmosphere here is incredible and I'd love to see Australia win, just so it carries on.

    It is is going to be very close, but I reckon Caitlin Foord will win a penalty and Stephanie Catley will put that away for the hosts. Sam Kerr will come on again too, and she just has to score at some point - this game would be a good time for that to happen.

    2-1 after extra-time.

  13. First semi-final awaits hostspublished at 07:45 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    This will be Australia’s fourth quarter-final at the Women’s World Cup, after taking part at this stage in three editions in a row between 2007 and 2015.

    They lost each of those quarter-finals, scoring three goals and conceding seven in total.

    Fourth time's a charm?

  14. Postpublished at 07:43 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08.00 BST)

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Brisbane Stadium

    The TV cameras catch Sam Kerr laying off passes to her team mates during the shooting drills.

    Tony Gustavsson has clearly decided that Kerr would not be fit to play the full 90 - or 120 - minutes if needed.

    Better to have such a strong option to come off the bench, rather than perhaps be forced to sub her off at an early stage.

    Sam KerrImage source, Getty Images
  15. France hope to be party pooperspublished at 07:41 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    This game is kind of giving me 2019 vibes. In the last World Cup France were the hosts and playing the much more fancied United States in the quarter-finals.

    Having edged past Brazil in the previous round the hosts fought valiently but ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat.

    Having suffered their own home heartbreak, is it France's turn to be the party poopers?

  16. 'We play against one nation'published at 07:39 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Herve RenardImage source, Getty Images

    France are looking to take advantage of the pressure on the co-hosts, and expect a tough test in front of a packed and partisan crowd.

    "We know we are not only playing against one team, but against one nation," France coach Herve Renard said this week. "But it's also why we are very motivated for this game.

    "It's a fantastic tournament. When we played against Brazil here, the stadium was full. Against Jamaica, even against Panama, the stadiums were full.

    "We need to congratulate the Australians because it is a success. And tomorrow will be a beautiful occasion to celebrate."

  17. 'Van Egmond and Fowler have really stepped up'published at 07:38 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Karen Carney
    Former England midfielder on ITV1

    Without Sam Kerr, [injured on the eve of the tournament], Emily van Egmond and Mary Fowler have really stepped up.

    Fowler is technically gifted, finds really good spaces and her and van Egmond have really linked up well together up top.

  18. Will France reach last four?published at 07:36 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)Image source, Getty Images

    France are playing in their fourth World Cup quarter-final. They reached the semis in 2011 by beating England on penalties in the last eight.

    But in the last four they fell to the United States 3-1 and haven't been back to a World Cup semi-final since.

    This is a huge chance.

  19. 'Today is massive for Australia'published at 07:34 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08:00 BST)

    Jen Beattie
    Former Scotland defender on ITV 1

    Today is massive. I think we take for granted in the UK how big football is whereas in Australia there are many sports.

    The way the fans have got behind this team has been amazing.

  20. Postpublished at 07:31 British Summer Time 12 August 2023

    Australia v France (08.00 BST)

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at Brisbane Stadium

    This is my ninth game which I'm covering in person at this World Cup. By this point, you start to notice patterns.

    For example, every game I've been at has featured Diamonds Are Forever in the pre-match playlist.

    Not sure why, but not complaining. Can't beat a Shirley Bassey banger.