Australia banish World Cup demons and become the team to beat | Kieran Pender


By using an injury timeout to regroup, the Matildas show their increasing maturity and composure in win against Denmark

Four years ago, it was the nightmare in Nice. This time it was the celebration in Sydney. Where lapses of mental fortitude against Norway at the 2019 World Cup led to the Matildas exiting the tournament in the last 16, maturity and toughness saw them through against Denmark on Monday.

Without one, the Matildas may not have managed the other. This was a journey that began in the bowels of the Stade de Nice on a French summer’s night with the captain, Sam Kerr, in tears having missed their opening penalty of the shootout. In that moment, the striker made a commitment to her country: “We’ll come back.” She was true to her word.

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