THE SQUIZ
The Matildas have done it again… Our national women’s football team beat Denmark 2-0 in front of a Sydney crowd of +75,000 last night, securing a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. It’s the fourth time we’ve made it this far in the tournament, having done it before in 2007, 2011 and 2015. We haven’t ever progressed to the semis, but after last night’s commanding performance, we can dream, right?

STEADY ON… HOW’D IT GO DOWN LAST NIGHT?
The first goal came 30 minutes into the first half with a perfectly weighted pass from Mary Fowler, allowing Caitlin Foord to drive home a nutmeg (sorry, we’ve been waiting to use that word – it’s when you shoot through the goalie’s legs). Goal No 2 came in the second half – and it was just as delicious. It saw Hayley Raso claim her third for the tournament. All of this happened before Our Sam even got out of her trackie dacks… She ran on with 11 minutes left in the game for the first time in this World Cup with her huge smile and was met by loud cheers. Someone else we’d also like to think was smiling for the Aussie win was Our Mary… The Crown Princess of Denmark now has no reason not to cheer for Australia…

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
On the Matildas’ side of the draw, we’ll likely play France (if they get past Morocco tonight) in the quarter-final in Brissie on Saturday arvo. And whoever wins that is looking down the barrel of a semi-final against England – unless Jamaica/Colombia (who also play tonight) cause a massive upset. And on the other side of the draw, there are some absolute belters coming up… Giant killers Sweden (who defeated #1 ranked USA on Sunday) are taking on red-hot Japan in one quarter-final. They’ll meet the winner of the bookies’ favourite, Spain v Netherlands, in the first semi on Tuesday next week. Long story short, after tomorrow night, there will be 8 teams left; after Saturday, there will be 4, and a winner will be declared the weekend after that…