Brisbane ¨C Coach Tony Gustavsson expects Australia¡¯s run to the 2023 FIFA Women¡¯s World Cup semifinals to resonate far beyond the sport¡¯s regular audience as the Matildas¡¯ exploits dominated the nation¡¯s media the morning after their penalty shootout win over France.

The tournament cohost booked its first-ever appearance in the last four with a 7-6 victory on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Herve Renard¡¯s team in Brisbane on Saturday, triggering a bout of soccer fever across the country.

Record-breaking television and streaming figures ¡ª plus blanket coverage on the front and back pages of the nation¡¯s newspapers ¡ª greeted the win, and Gustavsson believes his players can be the catalyst for change throughout Australian society.

¡°I genuinely really believe that this team can create history in so many ways, not just winning football games,¡± Gustavsson said. ¡°The way that they can inspire the next generation, how they can unite a nation or they can leave a legacy that is much bigger than 90 minutes of football. I think that is also why I believe in them so much.

¡°The why is so much bigger than just football and when that drives you ... that is a powerful tool that can be very difficult to stop.

¡°I¡¯ve sensed that from day one working with this team, the inner drive and the why is what gets them to where they are today.¡±

The Matildas have temporarily usurped Australia¡¯s usual sporting diet of rugby league and AFL in the media, and attention levels are only likely to increase as Gustavsson¡¯s team faces the country¡¯s age-old rival England in Wednesday¡¯s semifinal.

Neither nation has ever advanced to a Women¡¯s World Cup final and the 49-year-old Swede, who was appointed as Australia¡¯s coach almost three years ago, is relishing another winner-takes-all clash.

¡°Recovery is key,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s good is that we have continuity in what we¡¯re doing. We have a clear playing style. We don¡¯t need to train to be tactically prepared.

¡°It¡¯s more about making sure we¡¯re mentally and physically prepared for the semi-final coming up.

¡°But these players are on a mission. I know that they¡¯re going to celebrate this one, but from tomorrow they¡¯re going to be focused again, they¡¯re extremely professional and they¡¯re on the mission.

¡°We¡¯ve shown that we thrive under pressure over and over and over again in this tournament and I think I have some unhealthy addiction to do-and-die games and these type of moments. I love it. It makes you feel alive.¡±