Nightmare in Nice as Norway punish Australia
The highly-fancied Matildas are out of the Women’s World Cup, after losing to 1995 tournament winners Norway in the penalty shoot-out after an exhilarating 120 minutes. There is plenty of analysis and insight to come from my Guardian colleagues, but I’ll leave you for now. Thanks for joining me, wherever you are in the world. That was some football match.
Much analysis from tonight will concern the refereeing and VAR. Should Australia have been awarded that early penalty? Should Kennedy have been send off? Why was the constant physicality against Kerr allowed to go unchecked?
The Matildas are beginning to filter through the mixed zone. They look shattered, not unsurprisingly.
Match report
From the miracle in Montpellier to the nightmare in Nice, it’s been a rollercoaster World Cup for the Australians. Now it is all over. They get a warm send-off from the Australian fans at the Stade de Nice, who are still in full voice.
Updated
For Norway, their resilience in seeing off Australia will give them confidence ahead of a likely quarter-final clash with England in Le Havre. But the physical battle they’ve just endured, not to mention the 120 minutes plus penalties, might leave them as the walking wounded.
A Norwegian reader offers a riposte to Sam Kerr: “Suge på det! (suck on that!)”
Whatever you think of the legitimacy of the question, it is certain that the ‘what if’ query will be asked long and hard - what if Football Federation had not sacked coach Alen Stajcic just months before the World Cup?
Well. There will be plenty of analysis and insight in the minutes, hours and days that follow. But as a starting point, that Sam Kerr opening penalty miss will long be remembered. She skied the ball high and got the Matildas’ spot-kicks off to the worst possible start, after Caroline Graham Hansen had calmly opened the Norwegian account.
Updated
Full-time: Norway 1-1 Australia (4-1 on penalties)
Norway are through to the round of 16. A penalty horror show from the Matildas has ended their World Cup aspirations.
Updated
Norway 4-1 Australia: Engen hits it clear and true. Australia have been knocked out of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
This next penalty could win the match for Norway.
Norway 3-1 Australia: Catley scores Australia’s first. The Matildas are still in it - just.
Norway 3-0 Australia: Captain Mjelde takes a big run up and hammers it home. Do or die now for Australia.
Norway 2-0 Australia: Gielnik the second taker for Australia. She places it, steps back, then re-places it. Hjelmseth saves. All over for Australia?
Norway 2-0 Australia: Reiten steps up, and buries it. Advantage Norway.
Norway 1-0 Australia: Up walks Sam Kerr. Australia’s hero from the Jamaica game. She skies it. That was a very poor attempt from Kerr - did the pressure get to her?
Updated
Norway 1-0 Australia: Graham Hansen, perhaps the player of the match, faces Williams, another contender for that gong. She places it perfectly.
Norway to shoot first. Up steps Graham Hansen.
Referee Hussein is doing the coin toss to decide who shoots first. The Aussies are ready, lined up on the halfway line, while the Norwegians remain huddled.
In response to my colleague Richard’s observation about England (or Cameroon) being the true victor tonight, a reader writers in: “You might remind Mr. Parkin that England’s supporters probably thought the same when the men’s team came up against Croatia last summer.”
Tonight’s regular correspondent offers his tip: “If it goes to penalties, I call 4-3 Australia. Williams has been Schwarzer like and is well prepared. I fear a Viduka from Kerr but hope not.”
Full-time: Norway 1-1 Australia
120+2 min: And it’s time for penalties!!! Despite going down to 10 women after Kennedy’s red card, the Matildas fought on and kept out the dangerous Norwegians. Now for the lottery of spot-kicks. How good is football?!
Updated
120 min: Last gasp stuff from the Aussies in the face of yet another Norway attack, but it works - and the Matildas win the goal-kick. Carpenter is replaced by Harrison for Australia.
119 min: Australia intercept and break forward, but then turn-over the ball. Norway break back and find Graham Hunter, who hits it straight to Williams. Two minutes added time before we go to penalties.
118 min: Norway with a corner, but it doesn’t trouble anyone and is bundled out for a goal-kick.
117 min: My colleague Richard Parkin with the press box banter: “you know who’s won this match? England. Their qarter-final opponent is going to be knackered.”
116 min: Composed defending from the Matildas as Norway pepper the Australian pepper the area.
115 min: Roestbakken - who is of Norwegian descent - is brought on for Australia, replacing van Egmond.
114 min: van Egmond is on the ground for Australia and not looking in any hurry to get up. She is attended to by medical staff.
113 min: Norway break forward with an overlap. Reiten - who has been unusually quiet tonight - collects and shoots, but Williams gets a hand to it. That woke up the Norwegian fans, who begin a loud chant.
112 min: Australia hold the ball to give themselves an opportunity to breathe, but an errant pass forward sees Norway regather. Hansen almost collects a dangerous cross on the far right, but she slips it into touch.
110 min: Minde puts in a dangerous cross from the left (side note - how many times have I used the word dangerous tonight? Indicative of how fluid Norway have been in the final third, or perhaps that I need a thesaurus...). Nothing comes of it, but Graham Hunter unleashes on the rebound - just wide of Williams for a goal-kick.
Updated
109 min: Graham Hunter - who has been a weapon all match - marauds forward. Australia clear, only to face another barrage. How much more of this can they withstand?
106 min: Plenty of differing views on Twitter about the Kennedy red card and then Hussein’s decision not to give Utland a second yellow, but I think we can all relate to this.
Literally me this whole game #NORAUS pic.twitter.com/otG0uTkOo7
— Wade Meyers (@WadeMeyers) June 22, 2019
Second half of extra-time underway
105 min: We’re straight back into it, with the Norwegians immediately rushing forward. Maanum has a hit but it goes well-wide.
End of the first-half of extra-time
105+4 min: Hussein brings some reprieve for the embattled Matildas. That red card to Kennedy - which to my eye looked a little harsh - has swung the match in Norway’s favour. But Australia only need to hold on for 15 minutes plus change to determine this match via penalties.
105+3 min: Williams is off her line and Bøe Risa has a speculative shot which hits the crossbar and bounces behind. The Australians are living dangerously.
105+2 min: Cards are flying here. Bøe Risa the latest to collect a yellow, for a tug on her Matildas’ counterpart. Tensions are beginning to flare.
105+1 min: The free-kick is drilled straight at Williams by Mjelde, and it doesn’t trouble the Australian goalkeeper. Three minutes of added time for the first-half of extra-time.
Updated
105 min: VAR doesn’t overturn the red, and Kennedy marches off despondent. Dangerous free-kick for Norway about 25 metres from the Australia goal.
Red card: Kennedy (103')
103 min: Kennedy pulls on Utland’s shirt as the two tussle on the run and it is a straight red! Wow! But again, VAR is checking.
Updated
102 min: Our Russian friend writes in again: ‘Maybe I have been cruel to Sam Kerr. She has been very womanhandled by the Norwegian defence and has been unlucky not to receive some more friendship from the referees and VAR.’
100 min: Some errant defending sees Graham Hansen again running at the Australians on the edge of the area. She’s the danger woman for Norway right now, as she has been all night. Norway then make another change: Moe Wold off for Hansen.
99 min: Corner Norway, but it comes to nothing. The Norwegians regather around the centre-circle and spray the ball out wide, but the Matildas then counter via Sam Kerr.
97 min: Both teams still have subs up their sleeves, and I suspect changes are imminent - each side is looking leggy. Norway charge at Australia through the middle, but an intercept sends the Matildas on the counter-attack. The Norwegians then regather and Graham Hansen fires straight at Williams, who again pulls off a remarkable save. END TO END STUFF.
96 min: Williams is getting some medical attention after appearing to hurt her leg on a corner. That will cause nerves for the Australians if this heads towards penalties.
94 min: Graham Hansen tries to run at Carpenter but the 19-year-old sends the ball out for a throw. Bøe Risa ends up on the ball from the resulting move and THUNDERS the ball at Williams, who tips over with a remarkable save.
93 min: Norway corner. Some remonstrating in the box by the referee. Australia make a sub: Polkinghorne on for KK. The corner is cleared.
91 min: Sam Kerr is through on goal after a beautiful lofted pass, but can’t find her way around Hjelmseth. Some suspicion of a penalty from that last gasp Norwegian defending by Thorisdottir, but no VAR review. Kerr then has another opportunity a minute later, but again nothing.
Extra-time begins!
90 min: We’re underway, again. Norway immediately unpick the Australian defense, but some last gasp defending prevents the move from threatening.
Updated
I am not opposed...
Play forever! Clap clap - clap clap clap#NORAUS #FIFAWWC
— Doug (@DFresh39) June 22, 2019
Australia have thus far only made one sub, while the Norwegians have twice made changes. Don’t forget that teams get an extra sub in extra-time, so three possible changes for the Aussies and two for Norway.
Updated
Full-time: we're going to extra-time!
90+4 min: FREE FOOTBALL! Another 30 minutes of this - how good!
90+4 min: Australia with an attacking throw, but it amounts to nothing. Extra-time imminent.
90+3 min: Us too, Jen, except there are sadly no dogs in the press box.
I’ve been yelling so much during the last 10 minutes that my dog came over to check if I was okay. 😏 #NORAUS
— jen pfluke (@jenpfluke) June 22, 2019
90+2 min: Graham Hansen goes so close! The Norwegian star hits the woodwork. SO CLOSE. The ball only just avoids bouncing into the goal. Heart in mouth stuff her in Nice.
90 min: Norway launch forward. Minde collects the ball on the edge of the Matildas’ area, but the ball is bundled out for a corner.
89 min: No pen and Kellond-Knight steps up for another corner. She then single-handedly stops a Norwegian counter-attack. Is there anything this woman can’t do?! Four minutes of added time are announced.
Updated
88 min: Another Australian corner. And VAR is checking for a possible penalty after Yallop is brought down in the box.
86 min: Gielnik breaks down the right after Australia shut down a dangerous Norwegian foray. Her cross is deflected out for a corner. Just before that goal Mary Fowler appeared set to make her debut (maybe Ante is reading this blog...) but that substitution has now been recalled.
GOAL! Norway 1-1 Australia (Kellond-Knight 83')
83 min: THEY’RE NOT OVER NOW! Kellond-Knight scores from the corner - it misses everyone and loops in. It appeared Gielnik had touched it, but her movement actually threw off the Norwegians and the ball swung into the goal. KK!!
Updated
81 min: Australia with a lion’s share of possession at the momentum and the occasional foray into the Norway area, but are struggling to create any real chances. Are the Matildas’ World Cup hopes about to be over before they really began?
80 min: Peter writes in with this witty take: “Re Australian supporters chanting in French - unless Australia score soon, I reckon that Sam Kerr will also be speaking some French after the final whistle."
79 min: The clock is ticking and the Matildas are in desperate need of a goal. Might creative dynamo Mary Fowler, just 16, be brought on for her tournament debut as a final roll of the dice by Milicic?
76 min: Goalscorer Herlovsen is replaced, by Utland. The Matildas prepare another attacking sortie, switching from side to side before launching down the right via a throw-in.
75 min: Attendance tonight announced at just 12,229 - one third of total capacity. That is a great shame for the people of Nice, many of whom have missed out on an epic game of football - and there’s still 15 minutes to go!
74 min: Norway’s Graham Hansen runs, runs and runs some more at the Australians, before firing a dangerous pass into the penalty area. Carpenter is first to the ball, though, for the Matildas.
73 min: Norway beginning to tire in the face of relentless Australian pressure. But they did enjoy an extra-days rest, so might have the legs to outrun the Matildas as the game heads towards its finale. Milicic makes his first sub: Raso off for Gielnik.
Updated
71 min: While we take a short break for a substitute - Saevik off for Maanum - Terje can enlighten us on the Norwegian team nickname:
“It actually hails from 1995, after the famous World Cup win in Sweden. At this point in history, the men’s national team were riding high, and had earned the widespread nickname “Drillos”, after the legendary coach Egil “Drillo” Olsen. A national newspaper decided that the women’s team should have a nickname too, and invited the readers to come up with suggestions, for which the public should vote. The winner was “Gresshoppene” (probably inspired by the centipede-like celebration), but as you would expect of a constructed nickname, it never caught on, and I cannot really remember it being used at all during those halcyon days, let alone in the 25 years to follow.”
69 min: Herlovsen receives the ball in space on the left and breaks forward dangerously, but Carpenter - one of the players of the tournament for Australia - sprints back and dispossesses.
67 min: Australia break into space, but ultimately hold the ball up and try to pass their way through the Norwegians. Right, left, right - and Sam Kerr’s head just misses the well-placed cross that eventually comes in.
65 min: I’m not the only one with heart palpitations from this enthralling encounter, as the Norwegians launch yet another counter-attack.
In the 10 seconds it took for me to get up and get a drink, Australia has scored and not scored and I can not highlight enough again how high my stress levels are #NORAUS
— Else Welde (@ElseWelde) June 22, 2019
64 min: Australia counter from a Norwegian half-chance. Raso miscontrols a switch ball onto the right, but wins a corner after regaining composure.
63 min: Our Russian refereeing friend is in touch again: “The longer that this game goes on this way, the more I am reminded of the Australian men’s Footballing Kangaroos game against Japan in Germany in 2006, despite the lack of two clear hand balls in that game. As a neutral I hope that it doesn’t take until the 86th minute for there to be an evening of the scores. I would like to see penalties decide this game due to the Australians being denied two penalties on my book.”
61 min: Yallop collects the ball on the right and fires a shot towards Hjelmseth, but it goes wide. End to end stuff at the moment - entertaining football.
60 min: Last-ditch defending from Catley prevents a certain Norwegian goal, as her out-stretched leg pokes the ball away from an on-rushing forward.
59 min: Goalllllllllll..... or not. Sam Kerr collects a nice pass and fires past Hjelmseth, but the celebrations are quickly ended when the goal is ruled out for offside.
Updated
58 min: Kerr’s head connects to the corner but the ball spirals straight into the arms of Hjelmseth.
57 min: Australia regain control and move the ball around the centre of the Stade de Nice. They try going left, then switch central, before Kennedy launches a long ball forward. Foord finds herself in space and fires a shot, but it is deflected for a corner.
56 min: Kate on Twitter reflecting the collective mood of Australian fans, as Norway have a double opportunity in attack.
Current mood #FIFAWWC #NORAUS pic.twitter.com/ESPlRH1TLN
— A/Prof Kate Seear (@Kate_Seear) June 22, 2019
Updated
54 min: Kellond-Knight’s free-kick slams into the wall and eventually the Norwegians clear. Norway are looking compact and organised defensively, just as expected. Can Australia break them down in the remaining 35-odd minutes?
52 min: Australia win a free-kick on the edge of the area after Raso is brought down by Minde - who receives a yellow card for her efforts. Great run, that, by Raso.
51 min: Carpenter is keen to make up for her error and she sends a long throw forward for Logarzo, but Foord can’t quite send the resulting cross goal-bound.
49 min: A poor pass from Ellie Carpenter is intercepted and Norway maraud forward, before the Australians counter and find themselves in the Norwegian box. But Raso mishits.
48 min: I covered the Norwegians for their opening match against Nigeria, and said the below in my match report. If my prohecy comes true, I apologise to our Australian readers.
The last time Norway beat Nigeria in a Women’s World Cup match, they went on to win the tournament. The Norwegians’ rout of the African champions on Saturday evening may not have quite matched that 1995 result – 8-0, the fourth-worst defeat in World Cup history – but after more than a decade in the doldrums, Norway sent a powerful statement in Reims: even without their star striker Ada Hegerberg, the Grasshoppers are back.
...
Reims was once the site where France crowned its kings. Norway have a long way to go before they may be crowned queens of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. But if they reach the final in Lyon, they will look back on their visit to regal Reims as an auspicious, history-repeating triumph over Nigeria.
47 min: Not a statistic our Australian readers will appreciate.
⚽ - Norway 🇳🇴 have won 6 of the previous 7 knockout matches @FIFAWWC in which they scored the 1️⃣st goal. #FIFAWWC #NORAUS
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) June 22, 2019
Second half underway
46 min: Peepp! We’re back underway. Norway begin proceedings.
Håkon with a bold claim: “How can you say that’s a penalty? You can clearly see the upper arm tucking in behind the shoulder/chest just before the ball hits the player. Some serious anti-Norwegian bias going on in The Guardian tower.”
On the other hand, a Russian (and therefore presumably neutral) reader, chimes in with this: “As a ref, albeit an over 35s ref, there is no way I would have reversed my initial call if I were Hussein. Thorisdottir has clearly dropped the shoulder, making her body ‘unnaturally bigger' thus gaining an advantage when the ball made contact with the arm. She knew what she was doing, or in danger of doing because she tried to pull her arm back as soon as she realised it was going to hit it. It was an clear case of misconduct.”
Fifa’s resident DJ at the Stade de Nice is clearly an Australian fan - Waltzing Matilda is blasting at half-time.
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
He sang as he watched and waited ‘til his billy boiled
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
My inbox is full of VAR takes.
Keld: “A good VAR call again. Yes, there was doubt whether it hit her shoulder, breast or top of the arm. But even if hit the arm, it really didn’t look like punishable handball. The arm’s position did not make her ‘body unnaturally bigger’ as is the relevant criteria in the new rule.”
Hugo writes in with a long missive, but I think the crucial point is this: ‘Get rid of VAR.’
I need to briefly dash to make use of the facilities before returning for the second half. In the interim, here’s my colleague Louise Taylor’s musings from her past week on the move around France.
Bryn on the VAR controversy. “I don’t like that it would be a penalty, but under the rules of the game currently can’t see how it isn’t? VAR slowly destroying the game of football. How does it take nearly 5 mins to make that decision?”
Some VAR thoughts from readers. Scott: “Why not just let a fifth official make the call without having the ref jog around? It’s silly to make everyone wait for that, ain’t it?” Mark: “Huh, I’m convinced that was not a penalty, yet each replay suggests the ball hit her arm. But it didn’t, did it.” Any thoughts? Email or tweet @KieranPender
Half-time: Norway 1-0 Australia
45+4 min: Hussein blows her whistle to end the first half. A fairly even initial 45, Norway are ahead after a sustained period of attacking pressure led to a goal. The Matildas will be aggrieved not to have won a penalty for a hand-ball in the box; it was initially given but then overturned by VAR. 1-0 Norway, but still everything to play for.
45+3 min: The Matildas build pressure, keeping the ball deep in Norway’s half with three consecutive throw-ins. But it amounts to nothing as a wasted shot goes out for a goal-kick.
45+2 min: Australia are creating space and movement out wide, but are being let down by the final ball into the middle. It’s no Sam Kerr header-fest against Jamaica...
45 min: After all that VAR-ing around, there are four minutes of added time. Australia win a free-kick in a dangerous area, but the quick-take proves ill-advised and bobbles out for a goal-kick.
Updated
Penalty overturned
43 min: VAR-cical. After a long wait, Hussein reverses her initial decision. Looked like a fairly clear handball to me, but the question is one of height - it was well above the elbow.
Updated
43 min: After a long wait and some crowd booing, the clock is stopped as referee Hussein goes off to consult the replays and confer with her VAR colleagues.
Penalty Australia!
41 min: A cross is bounced down by Thorisdottir’s arm/shoulder and referee Hussein calls a penalty. VAR is checking...
Updated
39 min: Norway with consecutive dangerous corners. Australia are under the pump here. Can they hit back before half-time?
37 min: And then Norway break back! Graham Hansen with a searching run before firing at Williams, but the short is deflected out for a corner.
Updated
36 min: Saevik is having some game on the wing for Norway. She tries to go through Logarzo near the Australian area, but the Washington Spirit player is having nothing off it. The resulting corner is cleared and Australia break.
35 min: Either the Australian travelling support have learned French, or the Matildas are the local favourites here - chants of “Australie, Australie” are ringing out across Stade de Nice.
33 min: The Matildas are suddenly playing with more vigour, but their forays into the Norwegian half are unsuccessful - a lofted ball for Kerr in the box doesn’t connect.
GOAL! Norway 1-0 Australia (31')
31 min: After Sam Kerr almost scored for the Matildas, Norway respond by going straight up the other end. Saevik finds Herlovsen with a perfectly-weighted ball in transition, and the number nine outsprints her opposite number before firing home past Williams. Goallllll! Advantage Norway.
Updated
29 min: Raso causing havoc in the Norwegian box, falling to the ground and then rebounding to stay on the ball. But her effort ultimately amounts to nothing. The Portland Thorns’ forward has been Australia’s best attacking player thus far tonight.
27 min: Engen begins a delightful move through the midfield and looks to get the ball back near the Matildas’ area, but it goes out for a throw. The Norwegians are looking very dangerous when running at the Australians - they have some serious pace.
26 min: The stadium here in Nice is not even half-full. Disappointing effort from the locals and Fifa deserve serious criticism - their on-ground marketing efforts have been very lacklustre.
Updated
24 min: Graham Hansen with another shot in space, this one goes wide. Australia were the better side for the first 10 or 15 minutes, but Norway now with the run of play.
22 min: Excellent defending from the Australians, who block two consecutive dangerous balls into the box. Reader Adam has some tactical musings: “Wondering if Norway’s fullbacks ought to drop just a liiiiittle bit deeper to provide outlets either side? Mjelde and Thorisdottir are looking a bit isolated against a narrow Australian front three.”
21 min: This time it’s Graham Hansen on the right-hand side for Norway - and her cross-cum-shot finds its way straight to Williams. The Matildas need to improve their defensive efforts out wide.
20 min: It may only be 5.20am in eastern Australia, but that isn’t going to stop Australia’s political class from waking up for the game - and tweeting about it.
Heater on, cup of tea & waiting for @TheMatildas win! #NORAUS #FIFIAWWC @lisadevannall @NNSWF
— Sonia Hornery MP (@Sonia_Hornery) June 22, 2019
19 min: Norway are beginning to create opportunities in attack. Some nice movement sees Saevik on the run with space down the right flank. Her cross is dangerous but ultimately clear.
Updated
18 min: Australia get out of jail after a mis-pass from Foord in the penalty area is collected by Herlovsen. The resulting shot runs across an open goalmouth and out for a goal-kick.
16 min: A lull in proceedings. Saevik tries to get things going by speeding past Kellond-Knight, who pulls her down. Free-kick Norway. Don’t forget that you can write in with your thoughts on the match (or whatever else you fancy discussing): email or tweet @KieranPender.
15 min: First corner of the match goes to Australia. van Egmond fires it in, and Hjelmseth collects awkwardly - the ball bounces skyward, but the keeper is able to regather.
14 min: Minde powers a header straight at the Matildas’ custodian Williams, but the Norwegian ace is called back for offside.
Updated
13 min: More from Fifa’s statistical boffins: ‘22 June is the same date on which Norway contested the Round of 16 four years ago in Canada, when they were defeated 2-1 by England.’ Australian fans will be hoping this omen bodes well for the Matildas.
11 min: Kerr into the action once more, getting a touch onto a cross, her the ball goes well wide. After her four goal heroics against Jamaica, are we going to see more celebrations from the Aussie captain?
Updated
10 min: Moe Wold takes the ball down the right flank for Norway, before passing it into the centre. It pops out again for the wider player, whose cross looks dangerous but is cleared.
9 min: How’s this for a double stat attack, via Fifa: “Norway have not won back-to-back Women’s World Cup fixtures since 2007, when they beat Ghana followed by China PR. Australia enter this match on the back of two consecutive victories, but have never won three Women’s World Cup games in succession.” History about to be made/broken...
7 min: Australia are looking the better team in the early stages, finding some nice fluid movement in attack and are as yet untested defensively. Just as I write that Norway have the ball uncontested in a dangerous area above the Australian penalty area, but the opportunity ultimately amounts to nothing.
Updated
5 min: Raso again causing danger, cutting in from the right and finding space in the Norwegian box. But a shot goes straight into the arms of Hjelmseth.
4 min: Raso with a delightful run right through the Norwegian midfield but her final pass is intercepted. Norway look to launch a counter, but the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
2 min: Norway look to create a chance on the left flank but Carpenter is composed in defence and regathers. This is the seventh meeting between Norway and Australia. Norway have the overall advantage, just, with three wins to two, plus one draw. But the Matildas are unbeaten in the past three.
1 min: Sam Kerr into the action immediately, picking up a Foord pass after just 26 seconds and finding herself alone in the Norwegian box. Her shot goes just wide.
Kick off!
1 min: Peepppp! We’re underway at the Stade de Nice. The crowd is underwhelming but I suspect there will be nothing underwhelming about the 90+ minutes of football we are about to enjoy.
Anthems have been belted and we’re about to get underway. Regular reader Keith, an Australian in Italy, writes in: “The channel controllers are nothing but consistent - can’t obtain live TV of this match either! It seems Aussies in Italy are banned from viewing!”
As is my tradition, I have crowd-sourced some tips from the great and good of the press box (read: those seated immediately adjacent to me). Positive vibes for the Matildas...
Richard Parkin (the Guardian): 0-0 (Australia on penalties)
Ben McKay (AAP): 1-2 Australia
Ella Reilly (the Guardian): 1-2 Australia
Kieran Pender (the Guardian): 2-3 Australia (after extra-time)
Ezra writes in: “I’m a big fan of the Matildas. They can show the Socceroos a thing or two about success in major competitions.” Agreed, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves...
A (presumably) Norwegian reader, Torbjørn, writes in: “Not too sure about the origin of ‘Gresshoppene’, but it has a double meaning in Norwegian. It can mean grasshoppers, but can also mean female horses on grass (a ‘hoppe’ is a female horse in Norwegian).”
I approve of this excellent pun action from the Aussie fans.
CRIKEY! The CrocKERRdile hunters are in the house tonight! Top work 👏👏👏 #MadTildas #WeAreMatildas #FIFAWWC #NORvAUS #GoMatildas🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/E9xC77WtG9
— Matildas Active Support (@Matildasactive) June 22, 2019
Team List: Norway
And here’s the Norwegian starting XI:
4-4-2: Hjelmseth; Moe Wold; Thorisdottir; Mjelde (C); Bøe Risa; Herlovsen; Graham Hansen; Engen; Reiten; Minde; Saevik
Våre utvalgte mot Australia🇳🇴 Se åttedelsfinalen på NRK1👍 Sendestart 19.55. #sterkeresammen pic.twitter.com/2U5WCdJgcd
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) June 22, 2019
Ante Milicic has swung the changes for tonight’s match, making four changes. Elise Kellond-Knight returns, replacing youngster Karly Roestbakken at left-back. In the midfield, Tameka Yallop has overcome a corked calf to start ahead of Katrina Gorry. As the manager foreshadowed at the pre-match press conference yesterday, Milicic is making two amendments to the forward line: Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso in for Lisa De Vanna and Emily Gielnik. These changes revert the team towards the side that faced Brazil - 10 or the 11 starters for the miracle in Montpellier begin tonight.
Team List: Australia
The line-ups are in. First-up, here’s Australia:
4-3-3: Williams; Carpenter; Kennedy; Catley; Kellond-Knight; van Egmond; Yallop; Logarzo; Raso; Kerr (c); Foord
STARTING XI | Here's how we line up against Norway in our @FIFAWWC Round of 16 clash.
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 22, 2019
📺: LIVE from 4:30AM AEST on SBS Australia and @OptusSport Sport! #NORAUS #WeAreMatildas #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/IoOZyqVGHE
I want to commend the excellent musical stylings of Fifa’s resident DJ, who has been blasting AC/DC all afternoon from the stadium’s PA system. My only complaint is that, during the men’s World Cup in Russia, each team had a ‘national’ song played before kick-off. The Socceroos enjoyed ‘Down Under’ by Men at Work. But for whatever reason, Fifa have abandoned this excellent tradition in France. While we are on this slightly esoteric tangent, let me commend Fifa’s pre-match hype song to you - Halfway There by Tiësto & Dzeko.
I’ve been trying to find out why the Norwegians are nicknamed the Gresshoppene (Grasshoppers). My intel to date suggests that it stems back to their gold medal win at the 2000 Sydney, when (I’m told) the players crawled on the turf following the win. Apparently the nickname is no longer commonly used in Norway, but it is included in Fifa’s official materials. Norwegian readers with insight are most welcome to write in, via email or Twitter: @KieranPender.
And here’s more Parkin. I particularly enjoyed this opening line: “Like any metric Fifa rankings are a crude measure best taken with a sack of salt. “
My favourite colleague Richard Parkin is with me in Nice, and he’s been writing up a storm ahead of the game. Check out this on the threat Norway pose to the Matildas.
If you’ve been living under a rock and not yet read our comprehensive team previews, or want to refresh your knowledge ahead of the match, see below.
Preamble
Norway in Nice at nine (local time). Alliteration aside, the Matildas’ 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup clash with the Norwegians is perhaps the most significant match in Australian football in a decade or more. Australia have only won one World Cup knock-out match (male or female) in history, when the Matildas beat Brazil in 2015. With a highly-rated squad and the best striker in the world in captain Sam Kerr, expectations are high – as they have been since before the tournament.
For the first-time ever, the Australians are favourites in a World Cup knock-out clash. A win in Nice will be a huge boost for Australian football. A loss will lead to inquests, recriminations and questions about what might have been.
But the favourite tag is debatable. Former world champions Norway have performed admirably in a tough Group A, losing only to hosts France. They have several world class players and play a compact, organised style. Guru Reiten and Caroline Graham Hansen will test Australia’s shaky defence, while defensive stalwart Maren Mjelde will be seeking to keep Kerr at bay.
We’re in for a big 90 minutes (and possibly more). I will keep you updated live from Stade de Nice - where the sun is shining and Fifa’s hype music is cranking.
