Tag: football

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Dan Campbell says Detroit Lions ‘expected’ to beat Kansas City Chiefs as Patrick Mahomes urges young players to learn from loss

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Cameron Hogwood

Interviews, Comment & Analysis @ch_skysports

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell says he “expected” his side’s upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Thursday night’s season opener; Chiefs head coach Andy Reid insists he would make “no excuses” as his offense missed star tight end Travis Kelce.

Last Updated: 08/09/23 10:30am


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Highlights of the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of the NFL

Highlights of the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of the NFL

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell insisted he learned nothing he did not already know about his side as they ignited their season as surprise package candidates by taking down the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Thursday’s opening game.

Perhaps ‘surprise package’ is the wrong term for a team that warned of its ascent with eight wins from its final 10 games last season, but optimism is as lofty as it has been in some time for Detroit, with victory over the league’s very best setting the perfect marker.

David Montgomery burrowed through for an eight-yard touchdown with five minutes on the clock to put the Lions on top for good having trailed 14-7 at half-time.

He would then power through for the first down to seal a 21-20 win after the Chiefs failed to convert on fourth-and-25 with two minutes remaining.

“I love the fact our guys never wavered, it was something we talked about,” Campbell told reporters. “We knew we’d hit some tough spots in this game and that happened and nobody got down and we hung in there. I told the team they’re built for this.”

David Montgomery powers through the hole for the game winning touchdown for the Detroit Lions over the Kansas City Chiefs

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David Montgomery powers through the hole for the game winning touchdown for the Detroit Lions over the Kansas City Chiefs

David Montgomery powers through the hole for the game winning touchdown for the Detroit Lions over the Kansas City Chiefs

For all the Lions were doing to frustrate the Chiefs early on, they were dealt an ominous reminder of the task at hand as Patrick Mahomes connected with Marquez Valdez-Scantling for 34 yards on third-and-17 to maintain a drive that would end in Blake Bell’s four-yard touchdown catch late in the first half.

The Chiefs had the opportunity to try and extend their cushion after the break, only for rookie safety Brian Branch to pounce on an inexcusable dropped-catch from Kadarius Toney to run in a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown, bringing Detroit level.

By the end of the third quarter they found themselves trailing again at 14-17, before fending off Mahomes in the fourth to earn themselves winning territory.

“I didn’t learn anything, I got verification on what I already knew, and this is a resilient team,” said Campbell. “It already was a resilient team and we added pieces to that resilient team, so we’re built to handle some stuff and we did that against a very good opponent.

“We expected to win this game. We came in here and we knew what we needed to do, and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy and we did that. Really what it means is that’s one [win]. That’s one. So, we’ve got to clean up our issues. It hurt us on some stuff and be ready for Seattle in 10 days. That’s what it is.”

Amon-Ra St. Brown scores the first NFL touchdown of the season, cunningly set up by a fake punt by the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs

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Amon-Ra St. Brown scores the first NFL touchdown of the season, cunningly set up by a fake punt by the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs

Amon-Ra St. Brown scores the first NFL touchdown of the season, cunningly set up by a fake punt by the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs

While Ben Johnson’s Lions offense took the plaudits, Campbell was also full of praise for Aaron Glenn’s defense as it shut the Chiefs out of the end zone in the second half.

“It’s something we talk about, closing games out,” he continued. “Everybody knows the strength of our offense, but defensively I thought they showed up in a big way. We needed a takeaway and needed to be much better on third downs and we did that.”

Reid: No excuses

Mahomes had been without his right hand man Travis Kelce as the tight end watched on from the sideline having been ruled out due to a knee injury sustained during practice earlier in the week.

His absence became amplified by a series of dropped catches from Mahomes’ receiver group, the most notable being that of Toney before Jerick McKinnon also fumbled a simple grab to undo his quarterback’s fine work to keep his feet in a collapsing pocket.

Brian Branch intercepts Patrick Mahomes after a Kadarius Toney tip and returns it 50 yards for a touchdown to bring Detroit level against Kansas City

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Brian Branch intercepts Patrick Mahomes after a Kadarius Toney tip and returns it 50 yards for a touchdown to bring Detroit level against Kansas City

Brian Branch intercepts Patrick Mahomes after a Kadarius Toney tip and returns it 50 yards for a touchdown to bring Detroit level against Kansas City

“They know I’m going to keep firing, we’ll get it fixed in this next week and correct it going into the next game,” said Mahomes, who underlined his faith in Kelce’s supporting cast.

“You’re losing the best tight end of all time, but other guys have to step up in moments because there’s times when he gets doubled.

“We’re going to have to rely on these other guys who are young and talented to step up and make plays, I believe they will.”

He noted the defeat arrives as an early wake-up call for some team-mates of the depth in competition, coupled with the glowing target on their back as Super Bowl winners.

“It will be good for the young guys to know we aren’t just going to walk in and win the game, we’re going to have to play good football,” he added. “I’ve preached it to them all preseason and now they know. Hopefully guys learn from it and get better.”

Marquez Valdes-Scantling takes a big hit to catch a 34-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs' loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the NFL

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Marquez Valdes-Scantling takes a big hit to catch a 34-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the NFL

Marquez Valdes-Scantling takes a big hit to catch a 34-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the NFL

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid played down the absence of Kelce and insisted he was confident of ironing out the mistakes that cost his side on Thursday.

“No excuses, at all,” Reid explained. “We’ve got guys that can play that are right there to take care of business, and [the Lions] got us on special teams to continue the drive, they got us on the tipped ball.

“Listen, it’s unusual for the guys that dropped the ball to drop the ball, that’s not what I’ve seen from them, and I wouldn’t expect them to do that. So, you do that, you take care of business there, and we’ll be alright.”

Week One of the 2023 NFL season continues Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers visit the Steelers, with coverage from 4.30pm ahead of kickoff at 6pm, followed by the Dolphins at Chargers at 9.25pm. Stream with NOW.



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Are Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles still the NFC’s best team ahead of 2023/24 NFL season?

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James Simpson

NFL writer @JS_Football

The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the NFC last season but lost in the Super Bowl; Quarterback Jalen Hurts had an incredible campaign but finished second to Patrick Mahomes in MVP voting; How far will Philly go in 2023/24?

Last Updated: 30/08/23 11:04am


Do the Philadelphia Eagles have a strong chance of making it back to the Super Bowl this season?

After a promising end to their 2021/22 season, the Philadelphia Eagles attacked the offseason to retool and upgrade, and it led to a tremendous 14-3 campaign in 2022/23.

They obliterated the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs, but ultimately fell just short at the final hurdle. Superhero Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs topped them 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII.

Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs' thrilling victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII

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Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs’ thrilling victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII

Highlights of the Kansas City Chiefs’ thrilling victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII

What now for the birds? Will they remain the NFC’s best? Or was last season too good to be repeated?

Big losses

As is the case after any productive and successful season, NFL teams see their top coaches and players picked off by other teams in the coaching carousel and free agency.

However, in a rare case, head coach Nick Sirianni said farewell to both of his coordinators. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen moved to Indianapolis and will aim to aid the development of new Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon heads to Arizona for a big rebuilding project.

Shane Steichen left Philadelphia to take over as head coach in Indianapolis

Shane Steichen left Philadelphia to take over as head coach in Indianapolis

Jonathan Gannon departed for Arizona

Jonathan Gannon departed for Arizona

The offensive transition should be seamless, with former quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson looking to continue his work with quarterback Jalen Hurts and maintain a top-five attack.

However, struggles on the defensive side of the ball should be expected. Last season, Philadelphia allowed the second-fewest yards per game in the league and produced an incredible 70 sacks. But after Gannon’s late departure to Arizona, the Eagles reportedly missed out on their top coaching targets and settled for Seahawks’ defensive assistant Sean Desai.

Defense is also the side of the ball on which the Eagles suffered their biggest player losses this offseason. Outstanding defensive tackle Javon Hargrave departed to NFC rivals San Francisco. Both starting linebackers (TJ Edwards and Kyzir White) left in free agency, and so did both starting safeties (CJ Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps) so Desai will be working with a new-look group. How will they compare to last year’s outstanding unit?

Star defensive tackle Javon Hargrave joined the NFC rival San Francisco 49ers

Star defensive tackle Javon Hargrave joined the NFC rival San Francisco 49ers

Philadelphia did lose some key contributors on offense (Isaac Seumalo offered high-level, consistent guard play and running back Miles Sanders had his most productive season in 2022) but the attack looks more locked and loaded than the D.

Key returners

With Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox signing one-year deals to return to Philadelphia, the Eagles have managed to retain their core leaders. Of course, there was no question of him leaving, but Hurts receiving a five-year, $255m deal (which made him the highest paid player in the league at the time) means there is plenty of stability in important areas of the roster.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman (middle) retained their core veteran group (left to right) of Brandon Graham, Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman (middle) retained their core veteran group (left to right) of Brandon Graham, Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce

Four of the five starting offensive linemen from last season will start again this year, and Seumalo’s replacement at right guard is last year’s second-round pick Cam Jurgens, who has a year of learning from legendary O-line coach Jeff Stoutland under his belt.

Hurts and his top three receivers – AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert – return to an attack that should again be one of the league’s best.

Watch some of Jalen Hurts' best plays from his superb 2022 season

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Watch some of Jalen Hurts’ best plays from his superb 2022 season

Watch some of Jalen Hurts’ best plays from his superb 2022 season

The defense is relying on a youth movement and some development. The Eagles crucially locked up cornerback James Bradberry to a new three-year deal and still boast Pro Bowl talents Haason Reddick and Darius Slay, but are relying a lot on second-year Georgia Bulldogs Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, who step into starting defensive tackle and linebacker roles, respectively.

An eclectic mix of additions

As has been the model in recent seasons, the Eagles aim to ‘buy low’ on talented veterans and see who hits, then work their magic in trades to make the most of their draft picks.

Inside the NFL Academy: ‘The world will know’

“The world will know” – Sky Sports NFL goes behind-the-scenes with the NFL Academy as the UK’s landmark programme seeks to chisel college and NFL stars of the future.

In free agency, they filled holes in some lacking areas – Rashaad Penny (RB) and Terrell Edmunds (S) will see playing time – but made no ‘splash’ signings.

However in April’s NFL Draft, general manager Howie Roseman made his mark. They went into the weekend with a pair of first-round picks and turned them into two more Georgia college stars in DT Jalen Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith. In the third round, they selected safety Sydney Brown, who made a splash in preseason and is expected to ascend the depth chart quickly.

Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter were college teammates in Georgia...

Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter were college teammates in Georgia…

... now they are teammates in Philadelphia

… now they are teammates in Philadelphia

But perhaps the most exciting addition – especially for fantasy football fans – is running back D’Andre Swift, who the Eagles acquired for a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2023 seventh-round pick swap.

Despite three injury-riddled seasons in Detroit, Swift has proven to be an explosive runner and a fantastic receiver out of the backfield. Expect him to boom in Philly.

How do the Eagles stack up in the NFC?

Will Hurts and Philadelphia bounce back from last year's heartbreak?

Will Hurts and Philadelphia bounce back from last year’s heartbreak?

Regardless of how well the Eagles do play, they will have to contend with some tough teams to top the conference again. Their closest rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, will be back and strong again after a 12-5 record last year.

The San Francisco 49ers, who the Eagles toppled 31-7 in Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game, stole one of Philly’s best players in Hargrave and will no doubt be in the mix again in 2023.

However, unlike the AFC where quarterbacks rule, the rest of the NFC is more wide-open. Minnesota and Seattle should hypothetically return to the postseason behind Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith, but are they sure things? Will the Giants continue to improve in their second season under Brian Daboll?

Past the obvious, it appears to be a mystery. Can Detroit build on their late-season surge? Will the Saints or the Rams return to their previous heights? How far will Justin Fields take Chicago in his second year at the helm?

Expectations in Philadelphia will be high once again.



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Tennis Scores & Schedule

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US Open

ATP World Tour / Men’s Singles / Round of 128

  • Ilya Ivashka of Belarus is currently playing Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina. The current score is 6-2, current set: 6-6, at tiebreak. . Current server is Juan Manuel Cerundolo

  • J.J. Wolf of United States of America is currently playing Zhizhen Zhang of China PR. The current score is 5-7, current set: 4-3. . Current server is Zhizhen Zhang

  • Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, seeded 25 is currently playing Dominic Thiem of Austria. The current score is 3-6, 2-6, current set: 0-1. Current game: 30-G. Current server is Alexander Bublik

  • Richard Gasquet of France is currently playing Fabian Marozsan of Hungary. The current score is 3-6, 1-6, current set: 3-3. . Current server is Fabian Marozsan

  • Sebastian Ofner of Austria is currently playing Nuno Borges of Portugal. The current score is 7-6, 3-6, current set: 0-0. . Current server is Nuno Borges

  • Adrian Mannarino of France, seeded 22 is currently playing Yosuke Watanuki of Japan. The current score is 7-5, current set: 4-3. . Current server is Yosuke Watanuki

  • Pedro Cachin of Argentina is currently playing Ben Shelton of United States of America. The current score is 6-1, 3-6, 2-6, current set: 0-0. . Current server is Ben Shelton

  • Marcos Giron of United States of America is scheduled to play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, seeded 21, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Jakub Mensik of Czechia, seeded Q is scheduled to play Gregoire Barrere of France, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain is scheduled to play Holger Rune of Denmark, seeded 4, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Casper Ruud of Norway, seeded 5 is scheduled to play Emilio Nava of United States of America, seeded Q, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Rinky Hijikata of Australia, seeded WC is scheduled to play Pavel Kotov of Russian Federation, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, seeded 18 is scheduled to play Titouan Droguet of France, seeded Q, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Learner Tien of United States of America, seeded WC is scheduled to play Frances Tiafoe of United States of America, seeded 10, at 18:30. First server will be TBD

  • Laslo Djere of Serbia, seeded 32 is scheduled to play Brandon Nakashima of United States of America, at 19:00. First server will be TBD

  • Steve Johnson of United States of America, seeded WC is scheduled to play Taylor Fritz of United States of America, seeded 9, at 19:00. First server will be TBD

  • Zachary Svajda of United States of America, seeded Q is scheduled to play Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, seeded 20, at 19:00. First server will be TBD

  • Jiri Vesely of Czechia is scheduled to play Enzo Couacaud of France, seeded Q, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Marton Fucsovics of Hungary is scheduled to play Sebastian Korda of United States of America, seeded 31, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Tommy Paul of United States of America, seeded 14 is scheduled to play Stefano Travaglia of Italy, seeded Q, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia is scheduled to play Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Roman Safiullin of Russian Federation is scheduled to play Marco Cecchinato of Italy, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Aslan Karatsev of Russian Federation is scheduled to play Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain is scheduled to play Ethan Quinn of United States of America, seeded WC, at 21:00. First server will be TBD

  • Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, seeded 15 is scheduled to play Mackenzie McDonald of United States of America, at 21:00. First server will be TBD

  • Sho Shimabukuro of Japan, seeded Q is scheduled to play Hugo Gaston of France, seeded Q, at 21:00. First server will be TBD

  • Dominic Stricker of Switzerland, seeded Q is scheduled to play Alexei Popyrin of Australia, at 21:00. First server will be TBD

  • Quentin Halys of France is scheduled to play Benjamin Bonzi of France, seeded WC, at 21:00. First server will be TBD

  • Hugo Dellien of Bolivia (Plurinational State of) is scheduled to play Borna Gojo of Croatia, seeded Q, at 21:00. First server will be TBD

  • SoonWoo Kwon of Korea Republic is scheduled to play Christopher Eubanks of United States of America, seeded 28, at 22:00. First server will be TBD

  • Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, seeded 7 is scheduled to play Milos Raonic of Canada, at 00:00. First server will be TBD

WTA Tour / Women’s Singles / Round of 128

  • Kamilla Rakhimova of Russian Federation is currently playing Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, seeded 15. The current score is 2-6, current set: 2-5. . Current server is Belinda Bencic

  • Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia is currently playing Kateryna Baindl of Ukraine. The current score is 6-4, current set: 3-2. . Current server is Kateryna Baindl

  • Iga Swiatek of Poland, seeded 1 is currently playing Rebecca Peterson of Sweden. The current score is 4-0. Current game: 30-15. Current server is Iga Swiatek

  • Magdalena Frech of Poland is currently playing Emma Navarro of United States of America. The current score is 7-6, current set: 1-1. . Current server is Emma Navarro

  • Rebeka Masarova of Spain is currently playing Maria Sakkari of Greece, seeded 8. The current score is 6-4, current set: 5-3. . Current server is Maria Sakkari

  • Karolina Muchova of Czechia, seeded 10 defeats Storm Hunter of Australia, seeded WC. 6-4, 6-0

  • Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, seeded 18 defeats Fiona Ferro of France, seeded WC. 6-1, 6-2

  • Taylor Townsend of United States of America defeats Varvara Gracheva of France. 4-6, 2-6

  • Daria Saville of Australia defeats Clervie Ngounoue of United States of America, seeded WC. 0-6, 2-6

  • Lauren Davis of United States of America is scheduled to play Danka Kovinic of Montenegro, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine, seeded 28 is scheduled to play Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, at 17:30. First server will be TBD

  • Sloane Stephens of United States of America is scheduled to play Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, seeded 19, at 17:45. First server will be TBD

  • Danielle Collins of United States of America is scheduled to play Linda Fruhvirtova of Czechia, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Yuriko Miyazaki of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, seeded Q is scheduled to play Margarita Betova of Russian Federation, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Bernarda Pera of United States of America is scheduled to play Veronika Kudermetova of Russian Federation, seeded 16, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Katie Volynets of United States of America, seeded Q is scheduled to play Xinyu Wang of China PR, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Lin Zhu of China PR is scheduled to play Mayar Sherif of Egypt, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Kaja Juvan of Slovenia, seeded Q is scheduled to play Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy, seeded 29, at 18:00. First server will be TBD

  • Julia Grabher of Austria is scheduled to play Xiyu Wang of China PR, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Panna Udvardy of Hungary is scheduled to play Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Kimberly Birrell of Australia, seeded LL is scheduled to play Jennifer Brady of United States of America, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Elise Mertens of Belgium, seeded 32 is scheduled to play Mirjam Bjorklund of Sweden, seeded Q, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, seeded 4 is scheduled to play Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, at 19:30. First server will be TBD

  • Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus is scheduled to play Magda Linette of Poland, seeded 24, at 20:00. First server will be TBD

  • Kayla Day of United States of America, seeded WC is scheduled to play Sorana Cirstea of Romania, seeded 30, at 21:30. First server will be TBD

  • Alize Cornet of France is scheduled to play Elina Avanesyan of Russian Federation, at 21:30. First server will be TBD

  • Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, seeded 20 is scheduled to play Jasmine Paolini of Italy, at 21:30. First server will be TBD

  • Olivia Gadecki of Australia, seeded Q is scheduled to play Mirra Andreeva of Russian Federation, at 21:30. First server will be TBD

  • Anna Kalinskaya of Russian Federation is scheduled to play Katerina Siniakova of Czechia, at 21:30. First server will be TBD

  • Petra Kvitova of Czechia, seeded 11 is scheduled to play Cristina Bucsa of Spain, at 23:00. First server will be TBD

  • Laura Siegemund of Germany, seeded Q is scheduled to play Coco Gauff of United States of America, seeded 6, at 00:00. First server will be TBD

Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar

ATP Challenger Tour / Men’s Singles / Qualifying 1st Round

  • Mark Whitehouse of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland defeats Ugo Blanchet of France. 6-7, 3-6

  • Christian Langmo of United States of America defeats Rafael Giotis of Germany. 3-6, 6-7

  • Peter Gojowczyk of Germany defeats John Echeverria of Spain. 7-6, 7-6

  • Daniel Cukierman of Israel defeats Alexey Vatutin of Russian Federation. 2-6, 6-3, 3-6

  • August Holmgren of Denmark defeats Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria. 4-6, 5-7

  • Kenny de Schepper of France defeats Igor Sijsling of Netherlands. 6-4, 6-7, 1-6

  • Maxime Janvier of France defeats Daniil Sarksian of Russian Federation. 6-2, 6-2

  • Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina defeats Daniel Cox of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 6-4, 6-4

  • Gastao Elias of Portugal defeats Miguel Damas of Spain. 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

  • Adria Soriano Barrera of Colombia defeats Bernard Tomic of Australia. 1-2

  • Edas Butvilas of Lithuania is scheduled to play Charles Broom of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 13:30. First server will be TBD

  • Izan Almazan Valiente of Spain is scheduled to play Ulises Blanch of United States of America, at 15:00. First server will be TBD

Challenger Citta’ di Como

ATP Challenger Tour / Men’s Singles / Qualifying 1st Round

  • Santiago Rodriguez Taverna of Argentina defeats Karl Friberg of Sweden. 7-5, 7-6

  • Calvin Hemery of France defeats Luca Castagnola of Italy. 0-6, 4-6

  • Manuel Guinard of France defeats Matteo Martineau of France. 6-1, 6-4

  • Mathias Bourgue of France defeats Andrea Arnaboldi of Italy. 7-6, 6-3

  • Samuel Vincent Ruggeri of Italy defeats Kyrian Jacquet of France. 3-6, 1-6

  • Alexander Weis of Italy defeats Lorenzo Rottoli of Italy. 4-6, 2-6

  • Miljan Zekic of Serbia defeats Enrico Dalla Valle of Italy. 7-6, 5-7, 7-6

  • Salvatore Caruso of Italy defeats Rocco Piatti of Monaco. 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

  • Moez Echargui of Tunisia defeats Maxime Chazal of France. 6-1, 6-7, 3-6

  • Louis Wessels of Germany defeats Chun-Hsin Tseng of Chinese Taipei. 3-6, 2-6

  • Giovanni Fonio of Italy defeats David Jorda Sanchis of Spain. 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

  • Henrique Rocha of Portugal is scheduled to play Valentin Royer of France, at 14:30. First server will be TBD

Zhangjiagang International Challenger

ATP Challenger Tour / Men’s Singles / Qualifying Final

  • Yan Bai of China PR, seeded Q defeats Yusuke Takahashi of Japan. 2-6, 1-6

  • Linang Xiao of China PR, seeded Q defeats Alexander Zgirovsky of Belarus. 6-7, 6-7

  • Jie Cui of China PR, seeded Q defeats Shuichi Sekiguchi of Japan. 1-6, 2-6

  • Leonid Sheyngezikht of Bulgaria, seeded Q defeats Matthew Romios of Australia. 4-6, 6-3, 4-6

  • Hanyi Liu of China PR, seeded Q defeats Colin Sinclair of Northern Mariana Islands. 6-1, 3-6, 6-7

  • Mikalai Haliak of Belarus, seeded Q defeats Ray Ho of Chinese Taipei. 6-3, 6-1

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Spanish women’s football team refuses to play under Rubiales

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Rubiales is refusing to step down despite the uproar he caused when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during a medals ceremony last Sunday after the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.

The 23 members of Spain’s national women’s football team, crowned world champions in Australia on Sunday, say they won’t play for the team under the management of the federation’s current president, Luis Rubiales. 

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Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during a medals ceremony after the final without her consent and has since refused to resign, despite the uproar his actions have caused.

“After everything that happened at the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony, all the players who have signed this text will not honour a future call-up if the current management team is maintained,” the world champions wrote on Friday in a statement issued by the Futpro union, which is defending the interests of Jenni Hermoso, who was forcibly kissed by federation president Luis Rubiales.

Hermoso said in a statement on Friday “in no moment” did she consent to a kiss on the lips by soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, hours after Rubiales claimed in an emergency meeting of the Spanish soccer federation that the kiss was consensual.

Facing his possible removal from office, Rubiales refused to step down despite the uproar he caused with the kiss, which happened during a medals ceremony last Sunday after the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.

“I won’t resign,” Luis Rubiales declared four times in quick succession at the meeting and claimed he was a victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists.”

He was applauded by the overwhelming male assembly.

While Rubiales held his ground, federation vice president Rafael del Amo, who had been in charge of women’s soccer, announced that he was resigning, followed by at least two other federation members. Del Amo had urged Rubiales to also resign.

Among those supporting Rubiales were women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and men’s national team coach Luis de la Fuente. Until Friday’s assembly, he had received no public support in Spain, with political parties from both the left and the right speaking out against him.

Uproar in Spain

Rubiales kissed Spain and CF Pachuca player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the award ceremony after Spain beat England in the final in Sydney, Australia, marring the title celebrations with his actions.

Several Spanish media outlets reported on Thursday that Rubiales was planning to step down.

That same day, FIFA, football’s global governing body and organiser of the Women’s World Cup, opened a disciplinary case against him.

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Its disciplinary committee was tasked with weighing whether Rubiales violated its code relating to “the basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute.”

In an apology video, he said the kiss was “mutual and with the consent” of Hermoso. He received various applause from the overwhelming male assembly.

Rubiales described the controversial kiss as “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual,” although he said sorry “for the context in which it took place”.

Hermoso had said, “I didn’t like it [the kiss], but what can I do,” in a video streamed on social media last Sunday. 

In his speech to the assembly on Friday, Rubiales said Hermoso “lifted me up” in a celebratory gesture and he asked her for “a little kiss?” and she “said yes.”

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“The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters,” Rubiales said.

The televised broadcast of the medals ceremony didn’t show the first moments when Rubiales congratulated Hermoso. But it does show that his feet were on the ground before he held her face and kissed her.

Hermoso contradicted Rubiales’ version in a statement issued later through her FUTRPO players’ union. She said, “In no moment did I consent to the kiss that he gave me and in no moment did I try to pick up the president.”

“I won’t tolerate anyone putting in doubt my word and even more so that anyone invents words that I did not say.”

Rubiales said he would defend his honour in court against politicians, including two ministers, who called his kiss an act of sexual violence. One of them was acting Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, who urged the government to take “urgent measures.”

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“Impunity for macho actions is over,” Díaz said. “Rubiales cannot continue in office.”

Alexia Putellas, Hermoso’s teammate and a two-time Ballon d’Or winner as the best player in the world, posted a message of support on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“This is unacceptable,” the Barcelona player wrote. “I’m with you, my teammate, Jenni Hermoso.”

Other teammates quickly followed.

Aitana Bonmatí, the Spain midfielder named the best player of the Women’s World Cup, said on X: “There are limits that you cannot cross and we cannot tolerate this. We are with our teammate.” Team captain Ivana Andrés and Olga Carmona, whose goal won the final, also joined in showing their support for Hermoso.

The president of Spain’s women’s league, Beatriz Álvarez, told Spanish state broadcaster RTVE that she was not surprised because Rubiales’ “ego is above his dignity.”

“What surprises and scandalizes me are his words,” Álvarez said. “Every time he speaks he shows what kind of person he really is.”

Legal challenge

Spain’s government planned to file a lawsuit Friday alleging that Rubiales violated the country’s sports laws, according to Víctor Francos, secretary of state for sports and head of Spain’s Higher Council for Sports. If Spain’s Administrative Court for Sports agrees to hear the suit, the council will suspend Rubiales temporarily pending the court’s ruling, Francos said.

If found guilty by the court for committing sexist acts, Rubiales could be ruled unfit to hold office. Francos said he would ask the court to move its regular Thursday meeting up to Monday.

“The speech by Mr Rubiales before the general assembly of the Spanish soccer federation is absolutely incompatible with representing Spanish sports and with the values of an advanced society like Spain’s,” the Higher Council for Sports said in a written statement.

Spanish soccer club Barcelona, which provided nine players for Spain’s team, said Rubiales’ behaviour “was completely inappropriate.” Sevilla called for his resignation. Espanyol also joined in the criticism.

FIFA, the governing body of soccer, opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales on Thursday. The FIFA disciplinary committee will decide whether Rubiales violated its code relating to “the basic rules of decent conduct” or behaved “in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute.”

Disciplinary judges can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport. FIFA gave no timetable for the ruling.

FIFA’s investigation came after Spain’s acting prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said earlier this week that Rubiales’ attempt to apologize — after he first insulted his critics — was unconvincing and that “he must continue taking further steps.”

The Netherlands-based FIFPRO player’s union, which had already demanded action against Rubiales, reiterated its position after his assembly speech.

The only relevant institution to remain silent has been European soccer body UEFA, for which Rubiales is a vice president. FIFPRO urged UEFA to open its own disciplinary case.

Further inappropriate behaviour

As if the forced kiss was not enough, Rubiales had shortly before grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture from the section of dignitaries with Spain’s Queen Letizia and the 16-year-old Princess Sofía nearby.

The combination of the gesture and the unsolicited kiss has made Rubiales a national embarrassment after his conduct was broadcast to a global audience, marring the enormous accomplishment of the women who played for Spain.

“Spanish sports did not offer a good image as far as its leaders were concerned,” Víctor Francos Díaz Spain’s secretary of state for sports and president of Spain’s Higher Council for Sports told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Madrid.

Rubiales also is a UEFA vice president and was the European football body’s most senior elected representative at the final in Australia.

The former footballer has a key role in swooning football officials over the next year while trying to secure hosting rights for the men’s World Cup in 2030. However, whether he will oversee that campaign any further appears unlikely. 

Spain leads a joint bid with Portugal, Morocco and, currently, Ukraine for the 48-team tournament and is favoured to win next year’s decision.

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Investment in women’s and girl’s sport to triple following the Matildas’ record-breaking performance

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The Matildas might’ve missed out on a place in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, but they’ve certainly won Australia over, with one capital city handing over the keys to the city and vowing to build a statue in their honour. 

Excited roars echoed across Brisbane’s Riverstage on Sunday morning, with a crowd of fans gathering to celebrate the record-breaking football team.

The team — which features a huge number of Queenslanders — were joined on stage by coach Tony Gustavsson and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, donned in green and gold Tillies merch.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked the Matildas for bringing the nation together.(ABC News)

Ms Palaszczuk encouraged the audience to give a “mighty Queensland cheer” for Sam Kerr and her team, as well as the Matildas who came before them and “paved the way”. 

“They have proven, it’s not the shoes you stand in, it’s what you stand for that matters — and the Matildas stand for something; fair play, a fair go for women and for girls across Australia,” the premier said. 

“Their boots have stepped across a nation and united us all, they have shown girls everywhere that anything is possible.

“The Matildas have done Australia proud and we say thank you.” 

In a bid to “turn inspiration into participation”, Ms Palaszczuk vowed to triple investment into improving female facilities at local sporting clubs. 

“We’re going to increase the legacy funding for women’s football, including upgrades to major venues where football is played across Queensland,” she told the cheering crowd. 

“But wait, there’s one more thing — as a lasting tribute to the 2023 Matildas, we will build a statue at Suncorp Stadium. 

“There are plenty there, celebrating our male sporting champions, it’s time we celebrated women as well … you deserve your place amongst the greatest.”

Ms Palaszczuk presented the team with a photo and plaque commemorating “that heart-stopping moment” when Australia faced France in the quarterfinal shoot-out. 

Sam Kerr helped the premier unveil the framed photo, which shows the Matildas celebrating a win.(Supplied)

Captain Kerr said the gesture, from the city that hosted the team’s final game this World Cup, and the fans gathered to celebrate was “amazing”. 

“I think the team deserves it, and it sounds like the crowd loves it,” she said. 

“We would’ve played this World Cup with one person in the crowd, so for you to pack the stadiums out every game, it’s been a dream come true and we can’t thank you enough.

“[We] definitely felt the love, the fans outside our hotel, outside the stadium, sending messages, wearing our jerseys … we see everything, we appreciate everything. 

“It’s been the best four weeks of our lives.”

Sam kerr and Haley Raso celebrate

The Matildas have become a household name across Australia.(ABC News: Brendan Esposito)

When asked why this team had such a substantial impact on the nation, coach Gustavsson said it had to do with the values of its members. 

“I think the values that they stand for, not just the way they play football but the way they carry themselves … they’re authentic, they’re true, they’re passionate, and they play with love,” he said. 

“They connect to people, and I think that’s why they’re such a special team.

“I’ve coached a lot of teams, I’ve been to a lot of tournaments, but this is something else, this is just unique.”

Brisbane gifts Matildas keys to the city

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the crowd he loves to see the handmade signs held by fans at Matildas games because they “say so much”. 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner speaks into a microphone

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Matildas have united and inspired Australia.(ABC News)

“The love, the care, the effort that goes into that … it’s a reminder that sport, like nothing else, has the ability to unite and inspire us all,” he said. 

“It has the ability to break down barriers … but sport itself doesn’t do that, sport provides a stage, but what’s a stage without the players?

“We’ve heard the figures on this World Cup, and just how it has blown all of the records out of the water [and] there’s actually one team that’s done that more than any other team that’s played — the Matildas.

“But these things — the attendance records, the viewership — they don’t show the full picture. 

“How do you measure the inspirational effect that this team has had?”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stands with Matildas who hold key to the city

The Matildas accepting Brisbane’s keys to the city.(ABC News)

Responding to an excited audience member who called out that it wasn’t possible, Mr Schrinner said “that’s right, you can’t, it’s too big”. 

The lord mayor pointed to the Matildas slogan — Til It’s Done — saying the celebration wasn’t over yet. 

“This is just the beginning,” he said. 

“Words are never enough — but today, on behalf of the city of Brisbane, on behalf of the people of Brisbane, it’s my honour to give [the Matildas] the keys to the city.” 

Mr Schrinner described the gesture as “the greatest honour that a city can bestow on any person or any team”.

“But let’s be honest, this team doesn’t need any keys, they’ve smashed down the doors [and] ceilings,” he added.

Queensland the ‘heart of football’

Minister for Sport and self-confessed Tillies fan, Anika Wells, thanked the crowd for their role in “the greatest World Cup of any code, ever”. 

“This has been a transformative experience for Australia,” she said. 

The Matildas on stage in Brisbane

Minister for Sport Anika Wells said the Matildas delivered “the greatest World Cup of any code, ever”.(ABC News: Jess Stewart)

“I think the premier will back me when I say I think we can declare Queensland the new heart of football.

“My friend told me that he took his [daughter] to the under nine’s training the other night and, on the pitch next door, there were two 16-year-old boys playing and they were pretending to be Macca Arnold and Cortnee Vine.” 

The Matildas dance on stage with Nikki Webster

Both the crowd and the Matildas jumped up to dance to Nikki Webster’s Strawberry Kisses.(ABC News)

The minister referred to the one-in-a-generation moment “where the entire country is beside itself with delirious joy”, similar to that of the 2000 Olympic Games where Cathy Freeman won gold and home-grown star Nikki Webster performed.

In a fitting tribute to the last time Australia hosted the Olympics — in the city tasked with organising the 2023 event — the pop sensation took the stage to surprise the Matildas.

Webster performed the team’s favourite song, her iconic Strawberry Kisses live onstage, sharing the mic with the Tillies as they belted out the famous chorus.

The Matildas huddle around Nikki Webster

Nikki Webster’s iconic song has hyped the Matildas up as they progressed through the Women’s World Cup.(ABC News)

Upgrades to Queensland facilities

The legacy funding announced by the premier today will go towards upgrades at Queensland facilities that acted as training sites and base camps for teams that competed in the World Cup:

  • Perry Park — $150,000 for pitch and site facility upgrades
  • Spencer Park — $150,000 for pitch upgrades
  • Lions Stadium, Richlands — $1 million towards universal change rooms and field irrigation
  • Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex — $248,004 for pitch upgrades, a viewing platform and ancillary facilities

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‘We don’t need a public holiday, we need more funding’: Politicians urged to match Matildas’ fervour with funding

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told the Australian public to “watch this space” when it comes to more funding for women’s sport in the wake of the Matildas’ World Cup successes.

With much of the country swept up in football fever, pressure has been mounting on politicians to match platitudes with investment in the sport.

“We don’t need a public holiday, we need more funding,” Fitzroy Lions soccer coach Hayley Truskewycz told ABC’s Oliver Gordon for AM.

“We in fact have a waiting list, and we can’t find enough coaches. And we don’t have enough grounds, so we’re restricted by our resources and our facilities.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton this week pledged $250 million for grassroots women’s sport if the coalition wins government.

He wants the states to match that figure, bringing it to $500 million.

“We’ve still got young girls who are going to soccer games getting changed in the car or in the car park, which is completely unacceptable,” he told Today.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed the opposition’s credentials on funding women’s grassroots sports, pointing to the Morrison government’s sports rorts scandal.

“He sat in a cabinet that provided women’s sports programs to clubs that didn’t have women’s teams,” Mr Albanese told Sky News.

“Watch this space. We’ve been considering issues of sporting infrastructure and these issues for a long period of time.

“We’ll make an announcement at an appropriate time.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the Matildas v Lionesses semifinal.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr highlighted the call for more funding after the team’s loss to England’s Lionesses.

“We need funding in our development. We need funding in our grassroots. We need funding. We need funding everywhere,” she said.

“The comparison to other sports isn’t really good enough. And hopefully, this tournament changes that because that’s the legacy you leave — not what you do on the pitch. The legacy is what you do off the pitch.”

Chloe Logarzo, who plays for Western United in the A-League and competed with the Matildas in the last World Cup, said investment was needed in stadiums and training facilities from governments and sponsors. 

“We need people to be able to come to the games and help support us, because we don’t just want to let what happened in this last month slip away, we want to be able to capitalise on it,” she told ABC News 24. 

“Imagine what it could be like if we had the right investment, and where the national team could go — maybe win a World Cup and have an Olympic gold medal.”

Women earning a quarter of men’s World Cup prize money

Disparities between the men’s and women’s game are stark.

The men’s World Cup prize pool was $US440 million ($686 million). The women’s World Cup prize pool is a quarter of that, at $US110 million.

Sam Kerr running with hand in a fist.

Sam Kerr has joined the call for more funding for women’s soccer.(AP: Tertius Pickard)

In the Australian A-League, women are contracted for 35 weeks a year, compared to 52 weeks for men, giving female athletes a smaller pay packet.

Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Sarah Langman told 7.30 she was not paid for her first season playing with the A-League, and was paid just $1,200 in her second season. The minimum wage for players will be $25,000 for the upcoming season.

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‘Not a liveable income’: A-League Women players like Sarah juggle a day job to make ends meet

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Sarah Langman is a goalkeeper for the Central Coast Mariners and has been playing for the A-League for nine seasons.

But the disparity in pay and the part-time nature of the women’s league in Australia means she can’t focus on football full time. 

“In my first season in the A-League, I didn’t get paid. In the second season, it was about $1,200,” she told 7.30. 

The 28-year-old will commute almost two hours from Sydney to the Central Coast for training, as well as travelling for games, while keeping up a part-time roster as a massage therapist in Maroubra.

Australia’s A-League Women has fewer rounds than the men’s league and shorter contracts – 35 weeks compared to all-year-round contracts for men. 

The minimum wage for players will be $25,000 for the next season, which starts in October — an increase from $20,608 from the last season.

Sarah has been playing for the A-League for nine seasons. (ABC News: Shaun Kingma)

According to Professional Footballers Australia, 60 per cent of A-League Women players work outside of their football commitments, compared to 15 per cent of players in the A-League Men. Almost half of working players also study. 

A-League Men has also struggled to compete with salaries from international leagues.

Langman says while the improvement in pay is fantastic, the path to becoming a full-time professional footballer in Australia is extremely limited for women.

“It’s a bit hard if you’re paying for rent and food and petrol as well,” she said.

“It’s just not a liveable income for a professional soccer player. 

“A lot of my energy is going into driving and coming back for work. I could put 100 per cent commitment into the sport [on a full-time wage].”

Funding the grassroots

All of the Matildas had their start in Australia’s domestic league.  

Sam Kerr played for Perth Glory, Mackenzie Arnold played for teams including Brisbane Roar, and Mary Fowler for Adelaide United.  

Most now play full time in leagues abroad, with much more lucrative pay packets. Penalty shootout star Cortnee Vine is still contracted to Sydney FC. 

Sam Kerr smiling. She is wearing an Australia jumper.

Matildas star Sam Kerr says the funding difference between football at all levels in Australia and other sports is not good enough.(AAP: Flavio Brancaleone)

Moya Dodd, former Matilda’s vice-captain and former member of the FIFA executive committee, says the growth of the domestic leagues is crucial to producing homegrown talent. 

“It’s really important to have a platform in Australia where young players can step up and test themselves,” she said. 

It’s a sentiment that was echoed by Matildas captain Sam Kerr after Australia’s 3-1 loss to England in the semifinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“We need funding in our grassroots. We need funding everywhere. The comparison to other sports isn’t really good enough,” she said. 

“Hopefully this tournament kind of changes that because that’s the legacy you leave, not what you do on the pitch.”

The Australian Professional Leagues, the governing body for the A-Leagues, acknowledges the uneven playing field and is pushing for more funding from the federal government to improve conditions for women, including by extending the season. 

Man wearing a suit and glasses with dark frames.

Danny Townsend is the current chief executive of the Australian Professional Leagues.(ABC News: Marcus Stimson)

“We can’t do it alone. It shouldn’t sit with the responsibility of 12 individual [private] owners to fund the development pathway for women’s football,” Danny Townsend, CEO of the Australian Professional Leagues, said.

“Because at the moment there’s a hell of a lot of euphoria around women’s football, and the professional game here in Australia at the moment is not making a cent.”

The other big pay gap 

The prize money for the Women’s World Cup is $US110 million ($171 million) compared to $US440 million for the men’s Cup, a gap the Matildas and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) called out at the beginning of the tournament. 

“The women are going to earn a quarter of what the men earned for the Qatar World Cup. That’s just straight-up gender discrimination,” PFA chair Francis Awaritefe said.   

“FIFA has a reserve of $US4 billion. So if it wanted to at the moment, it could equalise prize money today.”

There are also calls to increase the World Cup’s “Club Benefits” — payments paid by FIFA to clubs used to develop stars.  

Club Benefits have increased from $0 in the 2016 Women’s World Cup to $US11.5 million for this year’s tournament. 

The Club Benefits paid to the 2022 Men’s World Cup was $US209 million. 

2023 Women’s World Cup

2022 Men’s World Cup

Prize money

$US110 million ($171 million)

$US440 million ($687 million)

Preparation funding

$US31 million ($48 million)

$US48 million ($75 million)

Club Benefits 

$US11.5 million ($17.9 million)

$US209 million ($326 million)

Table data: Professional Footballers Australia

“We would love that Club Benefits scheme to increase,” Mr Townsend said. 

“That will allow us to continue to reinvest that back in getting ourselves closer to that 52-week contract for our talented athletes.”

Moya Dodd says the systemic inequalities need to be addressed before the game can see real change. 

A woman holds a soccer ball and smiles.

Moya Dodd, former Matildas vice-captain.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)

“There are numerous data points we could see that show differences between what men and women get out of football,” she said. 

“My biggest concern is actually the systemic inequalities that lie within the system that would produce those kinds of unequal outputs.”

While the Matildas and administrators push to keep the new fanbase for women’s football, A-League players are preparing for the season which starts in October.

Sarah Langman is looking forward to her first season with the Mariners but is apprehensive about the juggle between work and football. 

“It’s a privilege to do what you love and kind of get paid for it. But I think if we got paid some more, even the same [as] the men … it would be a weight off my shoulders,” she said. 

“Younger players need a stepping stone and I think closing that gap will definitely help the future of football Australia.”

Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV

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‘That’s a gift’: How the internet reacted to the Matildas’ heartbreaking 3-1 loss to England

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Australia’s World Cup run has been halted by a ruthless England side, who ran out 3-1 winners in the semi-final.

Here’s how the internet reacted.

Pre-match, the phrase rang out: ‘Australia is one win away from the football World Cup final’.

Seeing these words form coherently into this gleaming sentence is like seeing the semi-trailer transform into Optimus Prime for the first time, a magnificent, fantastic reshaping of reality into the most astounding, spectacular thing you’ve ever seen.

But as we strode into this uncharted realm of rarefied tournament football, there the old familiar enemy sat, and it was something of a comfort to nestle into the well-worn grooves of animosity towards England, and of course reuse all the memes from the Ashes.

Matildas mania had again washed across the country, manifesting in new innovative ways. 

Patty Mills and the Boomers, whose game had been shifted to avoid being obliterated trying to compete in the Matildas’ timeslot, were repping Tillies jerseys in practice.

And while the sick cocktail of anxiety and hope recoated the lining of the Aussie fans’ stomachs, we could all be reassured knowing that, if things started going bad tonight, we could just pull a Barnaby and pop on the replay of Australia’s 2-0 friendly win over England back in April and cheer along with that, then turn off the television set and walk into the sea.

A jolt of pure hype rippled across the country as Samantha Kerr was named in the starting XI for the first time in this tournament.

The match kicked off.

Within 10 minutes, Sam Kerr had a chance, eventually confirmed as an offside one, saved one-on-one by Mary Earps, after being set loose by a superb Gorry lofted pass — the crowd’s appetite was whetted.

Georgia Stanway then had an equally good shooting chance at the other end, with Clare Polkinghorne caught out — a stolid kick-away save by Arnold kept her out.

England, perhaps attempting to combat the overwhelmingly home crowd, upped their physicality, earning and narrowly avoiding some bookings after some heavy challenges.

The complexion of the game was clear, though: Australia were ceding possession, England were venturing forward, Australia were trying to prosper on the break. 

Ellie Carpenter over hit a cross badly having been released by Hayley Raso after a neat interception and gallop; the physical play had set Australia off their rhythm in transition, the place where precision timing is paramount.

And England took the lead in a move dripping with both.

A neat exchange involving Alessia Russo on the left saw the ball cut back perfectly into the stride of Ella Toone, who struck it sharply inside the far post, into the top corner. It was a move that ticked and whirred like a pocket watch and finished with an almighty gong.

Mackenzie Arnold had gone six hours and 49 minutes without conceding a goal, but Australia were behind now.

The first half ended with a Steph Catley cross barely missing Kerr’s head, and as Carpenter went shoulder-to-shoulder with an English foe trying to retrieve the ball, she was barged out of the contest, conceding a throw; a fitting end to a half that saw England flex their muscles physically and tactically, and get the better of the Matildas. 

Early in the second half, Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord combined, the former crossing to the latter from the right hand side, but Foord’s header couldn’t trouble Earps — still, a good sign for Australia.

The parade of English fouls continued, some called, some allowed to slip on by, as England wrested back control of the match.

Lauren Hemp tested Arnold from distance, shooting powerfully, with Arnold scampering across to bat it away — Millie Bright nearly scored with a downward header from the resulting corner. 

And then the limelight hit our talisman just right, and she stood up to meet it.

Kerr collected the ball on the halfway line, turned and powered toward the England goal. All alone, she smashed her shot up and over Earps, slightly deflected off a defensive calf, looping just under the bar. A wonder goal. A wonder player. Kerr had hoisted the team on her back and had done it herself. The stadium erupted. The face of the home World Cup had scored the goal of the tournament.

The Matildas were electrified by the goal, and suddenly Kerr had two more chances, shooting wide then heading right at Earps, as the green and gold players poured forward, England reeling, the home crowd raining cheers down like a monsoon.

Lucy Bronze stopped the bleeding with a cross that spun across the face of Arnold’s goal, then Russo headed barely wide, with Arnold beaten — England were not about to roll over.

And then Hemp went one better. Carpenter dallied with a clearance, facing her own goal, and Hemp snuck it, stole the ball, and slapped a shot past Arnold. 

A scavengers’ goal, England back in front, 2-1.

Kerr’s face in the aftermath was etched with frustration; Australia had been level again for just eight minutes.

Emily van Egmond and Cortnee Vine had come on, but if England had been winded by that Kerr thunderbolt, they’d caught their breath now and were steadied.

Kerr had a golden chance to equalise again, meeting a gorgeous Fowler curled cross, but too firmly, heading over. Vine drew a super save from Earps a minute later. 

Then Kerr had an even better chance, seeing the ball punched to her by Earps from an Australian corner; Kerr lashed at it on the volley, hit it high and wide, with plenty of goal to aim at. Her face was creased with pain.

And it would be compounded, as England tore down the other end of the pitch moments later, and Russo slotted the ball past Arnold, making it 3-1, and sealing England’s place in the final.

Hemp drove through the midfield to lay on the assist, cementing her player-of-the-match performance.

The English time-wasted expertly, and, in truth, had managed this match perfectly outside of a divine intervention by Kerr.

Hovering around on the edge of fair play, pushing physicality to the legal limit, snatching seconds away from your opponent and taking your chances; it’s what every fan wants their team to do.

Had world-class full back Carpenter not dithered on a clearance, had Kerr been match-sharp enough to take that volleyed chance, had a butterfly flapped its wings slightly harder, then the result may have been different, but they hadn’t and it wasn’t.

As the England players embraced after the final whistle, the Australian fans felt hollow.

And then that void was filled, as pride rushed in.

This Matildas campaign has bathed the country in light and warmth, and the millions of fans that watched and cheered and cried and basked in that light and warmth now hold it in them.

It’s part of the people now, self-sustaining, never to dissipate, radiating out for others to soak up, renewed by the memory of that Canada win, or that Fowler through ball, or that Kerr strike. You can feel it now, and you will forever.

Plus, it’s not really over, not yet: there’s still the third-placed match to come. 

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‘I’m not built for this’: How the internet reacted to the Matildas’ penalty shootout triumph over France

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The Matildas are World Cup semi-finalists for the first time. And they did it after the longest penalty shoot-out a World Cup has ever seen. Here’s how the internet reacted.

Don’t throw off the vibe. Don’t burst the bubble. Don’t change a thing. 

A World Cup run is hard to start, harder to build, and harder still to maintain. The faster it gets, and the tighter the track as the tournament narrows, the more easily it can be tripped, toppled, sent whirring off course. 

Superstition abounded before this World Cup quarter final against France; match-day rituals were precisely observed, inadvertent jinxes were dodged at all costs, and the Australian starting XI was unchanged for the third game running.

It might have all felt a little too precarious, too good to be true, a twitchy tightrope walk with no net — yes, it might have, if the entire country hadn’t swelled up behind this Matildas team and its cause, a huge glossy wave of buttressing support.

Newspapers were plastered with Sam Kerr’s visage, and the doors of entire arenas were flung open to televise the game; never has a sporting campaign washed over the full breadth of the country like this, or been soaked up with such joy.

Caxton St was again sloshing with green and gold.

Final prayers were said.

The match kicked off.

A cagey opening, neither team pressing too furiously, or committing too much in attack.

The first chance of the match saw Kadidiatou Diani prey on a Kennedy miskick, sliced into the air, with the French striker spanking a shot wide; she had been dragged back too, Kennedy lucky not to be booked. 

A pair of France corners featuring the six-foot-three Wendie Renard was an horrific dance with doom, the second resulting in a one of the misses of the tournament, a point blank shot flicked over the bar by Maëlle Lakrar.

France were allowing Hunt and Kennedy to pass between themselves, but were swarming when the next, riskier pass needed to be made into midfield — it was uncomfortable viewing for the Aussie faithful.

The Matildas were vigorous in the tackle, running hard, but finding little in the way of fluid terrestrial passing, with most sequences of possession ending quickly in a ball lofted in vain over the midfield.

Mackenzie Arnold kept the score at 0-0, turning a shot around the post with half an hour gone.

A few breakneck Caitlin Foord-led surges aside, Australia had not troubled the French defence.

Then at the end of the first half, Mary Fowler had the yawning goal at her mercy, with the France keeper Pauline Peyraud Magnin out of her goal, and the ball squared to her.

She steered it goalward, and the Matildas going 1-0 up was as signed, sealed and delivered as a submarine contract.

Except Fowler’s shot was miraculously blocked by the thigh of Élisa De Almeida. A goal-saving block. God-like scrambling. A scarcely believable feat of defensive timing and effort.

A few minutes later, a lofted chip from Katrina Gorry sent Fowler in one-on-one again, but the keeper came steaming out, and stifled the finish.

A flurry of Australian chances to end the first half, but it finished scoreless.

When would we see Sam Kerr on the field? The second half began.

Fowler had the first chance of the second half, as the France keeper hit a poor clearing pass right to her; she swivelled and shot, but was deflected wide.

Then, with 35 minutes left, Kerr arrived, subbed on for Emily van Egmond.

She was instantly involved, surging forward with the ball setting up a move that saw Hayley Raso force a diving save with a goal-bound shot from distance.

The Matildas were leaning forward now, the field had tipped toward the French goal, the crowd was rattling the beams of Lang Park, and the chances were coming thick and fast.

Fowler had another golden shooting opportunity, hitting it right at the keeper’s legs, when either side would have bulged the net.

A France free kick that sent a ripple of panic through the Aussie defence reminded the faithful they were still a threat; one of these chances needed to be taken.

The initial plume of Kerr-mania subsided slightly, and France clambered back into the game, at first through set pieces, then eventually their passing game returned — in other words, the match was poised, waiting for one team to win it.

Caitlin Foord was toppled in the box, a penalty shout, her shirt pulled slightly. Not given. The final ten minutes of normal time began to tick down.

Arnold cut off several French crosses. Foord was a French toenail away from setting up Raso. Ellie Carpenter blazed over from distance. It was fraught.

Regulation time concluded, so to extra time we went.

Tony Gustavsson had only used one sub, and ten minutes of extra time came and went with the remainder of the bench unused.

A corner that had rolled out for a goal kick was awarded and spun in, France had the ball in the net, but the referee called a foul on Renard, dragging down Foord. Justice, if nerve-shreddingly arrived at.

The pacey Cortnee Vine came on, her first action was to flick the ball just past the post from a Foord cross. 

The match was contorting, gurning and thrashing to avoid going to penalties.

We were in the second half of extra time now, and Arnold tipped a powerful shot around the post. 

France was lifting now, forcing a perilous moment in the six yard box that needed a Catley block and hacked last-ditch clearance from the Matildas.

The final chances, corners, surges were the death throes of a match that had been torturous viewing throughout, that had rocked and jittered from beginning to end.

France manager Serge Renard subbed his goalkeeper off, in preparation for the penalty shootout. And a shootout would indeed decide this quarter final.

France went first: and Arnold saved it, shimmying, then diving to her right to put Australia on track.

Australia, and Foord, next: she slammed hers into the bottom corner. 1-0 Australia.

Diani was next, and stroked hers past Arnold. 1-1.

Steph Catley was next: her sidefooted shot, too close to the keeper, was padded away. Back on level terms in the shoot-out.

Renard, the French captain now: cooly finished to Arnold’s right. 2-1 France.

Sam Kerr, the talisman: slapped home, barely past the keeper’s glove, but there. 2-2.

Le Sommer next, and good. 3-2

Fowler next, just 20-years-old: smashed with venom into the bottom corner, 3-3.

The next France penalty … hits the post.

Then goalkeeper Arnold herself steps up, to win it: and she hits the post. Remarkable, excruciating, devastating, the story was written, and the fairytale ending was ripped away.

Arnold nearly saves the next penalty, getting her glove to it, but it flips past and in.

Katrina Gorry next, and she has to score to keep Australia in it: it barely creeps in after a solid contact by the keeper. This is almost too much to bear.

France’s next penalty is smashed into the roof of the net by Karchaoui.

Tameka Yallop now, still sudden death: she scores, passing past the keeper on the right. 5-5.

France’s next penalty; passed into the net, aerially, by Lakrar. 6-5.

Carpenter next, and we’re now so deep in the shootout line-up: in off the post, the least savable penalty you can hit. 6-6

Toletti next, and Arnold saves it low down to her left, near the post, a superhuman spring across the line.

But she was off her line — a retake, ordered by the VAR.

She saves the retake, same side, and this time it’s legal.

Now up steps Clare Hunt, with so few caps, to win it for Australia — and it’s saved, a strong hand down the middle of the goal. Astonishing. Another chance to win goes begging. 6-6, 18 penalties taken.

Feller next, and she hits the post. Once again Australia can win it.

Cortnee Vine now, and the whole nation asks ‘can she do it?’

She can. 

She wheels away, the crowd explodes. The Matildas make history. 

A semifinal. The first Australian team to make one at a World Cup. A marathon shootout, longer than any other in World Cup history, ends in glory.

Gustavsson drops to his knees, in tears. The players are leaping onto one another, the subs rush off the bench, it’s pure euphoria. 

At that moment, every one of the 45,000 people in the stadium, and every one of the millions at home, were hand-in-hand, the pure, golden current of the emotion of this triumph linking them together, feeding through them, all that hope shared and gripped tight and now this sweet glorious release.

The echo of this match will sing out sweetly for some time.

And a semifinal awaits.

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