‘It was an emotional roller coaster for all of us’ – Australia’s coach, Tony Gustavsson praises their team after their victory against France in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

In the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal, co-host Australia will face France. Australia is bursting with confidence after coming back from the verge of elimination in the group stage and thrashing Denmark 2-0 in the last 16 stage. Prior to moving on to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, France defeated Morocco 4-0.

Le Blues were under a ton of pressure knowing they were destroyed by the US at this level four years ago, despite the clear victory over a strong team. Tony Gustavsson, the coach of Australia, expressed his satisfaction with his squad for the thrilling penalty shootout victory over France on Saturday, which, in his opinion, meant much more than just a spot in the Women’s World Cup semifinals.

The impact of Cortnee Vine’s game-winning penalty was already being compared to that of John Aloisi’s goal against Uruguay in 2005, which qualified Australia’s men for the World Cup for the first time in more than three decades. The significance of being one of the top four teams in the world for the first time was not lost on an emotional Gustavsson. The Matildas have now surpassed all the Socceroos have accomplished on a global scale.

“The amount of heart and soul and passion that this team showed tonight. There’s different ways of defining success but, for me, success is when you leave it all out there, no matter the result, you play with your heart and give it your best with the crest on your chest and the players did that tonight. That represents so much more than 90 minutes of football,” Gustavsson continued.

It was an emotional roller coaster for all of us: Gustavsson

Gustavsson had a special message for goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who saved three penalties but missed the one that would have given Australia the lead before sudden death despite the fact that Vine’s winning penalty strike will get all the attention.

“It was an emotional roller coaster for all of us. It was almost like it was written in the stars when Macca walks up to take the fifth… and then she hits the post. For Macca, missing that penalty and then staying in the game and being that player that wins the game for us, it’s unheard of. I mean, that mental strength of hers,” the Head Coach concluded.