The Lionesses will need to beat an entire nation in the grip of World Cup fever
The Independent says It was the moment Australia stopped. In Sydney, thousands gathered outside the Olympic Stadium and huddled together in the crisp winter air. In Melbourne, the Saturday night crowds at the MCG forgot about the Aussie rules match they had paid tickets for and rushed to find a TV or phone screen to see the drama unfold. Even several miles in the air, rows of passengers on a commercial flight were all gripped by the same tension that was uniting a country back down on the ground.
And then in Brisbane, as Cortnee Vine stood over the penalty to send Australia through to the Women’s World Cup semi-final, all those eyes were on her. After a goalless, nerve-shredding 120 minutes against France, the shootout produced an unimaginable level of drama, the longest ever at a men’s or women’s World Cup. Australia had already missed two chances to win it, then they simply had to score to keep their home World Cup hopes alive. When Vicki Becho struck the post with France’s 10th penalty and Australia were granted another opportunity, Vine stepped up and sent a nation into delirium.