H2H History
Dating back to 2013, these two sides have locked horns four times, both notching two wins apiece. They actually met prior to the World Cup in a friendly, with the Aussies running out as 1-0 winners thanks to a 66th-minute goal from none other than Mary Fowler..
Can Aussies Reach Semifinals?
It was always a longshot for New Zealand to go far in the Women’s World Cup, but the Matildas had a legitimate shot at making some noise. Needless to say, they have. Although Kerr has missed nearly every game thus far due to injury except for a brief appearance as a second-half substitute against Denmark, Australia has looked fantastic. They beat Ireland to open the tournament before a shock 3-2 defeat to Nigeria. But with their backs up against the wall, the Aussies bounced back and throttled Canada 4-0 to book their place in the knockout stages.
With over 75,000 screaming fans in Sydney, Tony Gustavsson’s side produced the goods versus the Danes. Caitlin Foord got the scoring started with a first-half goal before Hayley Raso added another in the second period to seal the deal. Even though Denmark controlled 56% of the ball, the Matildas made the most of their opportunities and stayed solid at the back.
Knowing their track record against France, Australia will have the utmost confidence in their ability to move on here. Plus the atmosphere in Brisbane is surely going to be electric and they will undoubtedly feed off that energy. There’s also a good chance Kerr starts here after fully recovering from a calf issue. The program’s all-time leading goal scorer is absolutely clinical in front of goal and can make a difference at any given moment. It would be a treat to see her on the pitch for the full 90 minutes. Although the Aussies are a slight underdog at most soccer betting sites, don’t take them for granted.
France Looking to Play Spoiler
Don’t get it twisted, Les Bleus are a slim +115 favorite at 888sport. It’s not like everyone would be surprised if they managed to knock off the co-hosts. That being said, France can play spoiler if it does happen. Going into the hostile environment in Brisbane won’t be easy but it also gives them more motivation to eliminate the Matildas.
The French have enjoyed a solid Women’s World Cup. While a scoreless stalemate with Jamaica to start off the competition wasn’t ideal, Herve Renard’s group responded with wins over Brazil and Panama. The Last 16 ended up being a breeze for Les Bleus as well, showing their quality vs Morocco. Striker Kadidiatou Diani continued her phenomenal tournament with an early goal and also tallied a pair of assists.
Kenza Dali netted shortly after Diani before Eugenie Le Sommer stole the show, bagging a brace. The Moroccans managed one shot on total and zero on target. France completely outplayed them but there is no question the Aussies will be a much more difficult task. Perhaps their toughest yet.
