Matildas fever sweeps Australia as women's team makes history in FIFA World Cup

Australia is abuzz with Matildas fever as the women's national football team created a historic moment for the nation during their World Cup campaign.

After a hard-fought journey, the Australian Women’s football team is now primed for a showdown against England in the second semifinal match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. A victory in this match could propel Australia into its first-ever World Cup final, offering a chance to become the first host team to secure the tournament win, alongside the USA.

All for Australia

James Johnson, the CEO of Football Australia, expresses delight over the impressive attendance and television viewership numbers. However, what brings him the greatest joy is the genuine affection Australians have developed for their national soccer team, affectionately known as "the Matildas."

The Matildas have ignited the nation's fervor, with their jerseys becoming a stylish trend across Australia. This support has even transcended into other widely followed sports. For instance, the Australian men's basketball team adjusted their FIBA World Cup schedule to avoid any clash with a Matildas match.

But, why the name Matildas?

Back in 1995, when Australia secured their inaugural spot in the Women's World Cup, they were initially referred to as "the Female Socceroos," a playful nod to the men's team moniker created by merging "soccer" and "kangaroos."

However, in anticipation of the tournament, the Australian Women's Soccer Association organized a competition for viewers to propose a more fitting nickname. Among the contenders like "Soccertoos," "Blue Flyers," "Waratahs," "Lorikeets," and "Matildas," the latter emerged as the clear winner.

The name "Matildas" triumphed in the poll and has since become a permanent fixture. This moniker draws inspiration from the iconic Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda," classified as a quintessential "bush ballad." To numerous Australians, this melody holds the status of an informal national anthem.

Matildas road to the semis 

The road to this historic moment for the Mtildas was certainly not an easy one.

• The beginning of their campaign was marked by a horrible calf injury to Sam Kerr, one of Australia’s star players and also the team’s captain. The player, who was dubbed as the driving factor in Australia’s World Cup campaign, had to make an early exit due to an injury in their match against Republic of Ireland. However, they managed to pull off a 1-0 victory.
• Their next match was probably their biggest scare so far, with a defeat against Nigeria that threatened their World Cup Campaign entirely. 
• The Matildas bounced back from this loss with a 4-0 win against Canada, which helped them book their tickets to the Round of 16 clash against Denmark. They emerged superior against their opponents advanced to the Quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory against Denmark, creating history by reaching the semis of the competition for the first ever time.
   

You can watch the FIFA Women's World Cup matches on Star Sports Select, Star Sports Select HD and DD Sports. 

You can also livestream the matches on FANCODE