Mackenzie Arnold is ready for the biggest night of her footballing career as a home FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final against England awaits West Ham United Women’s No1.
Australia will take on the Lionesses at Stadium Australia on Wednesday 16 August at 11am for a place in their first-ever World Cup finals. And ‘Macca’, and Australia too, are ready.
“[The Fans] have really grown with us throughout the whole tournament,” she explained. “From the first game, it has grown and grown.
“Even outside the stadium, seeing the support we’ve had all over the country has been unreal. They have been like the 12th man player for us.”
The lowest-ranked side left in the tournament has continued to defy expectations on home soil, with Arnold more than playing her part between the sticks.
Despite a defeat in their second group stage fixture to Nigeria, wins over the Republic of Ireland and Canada saw Australia progress to the round of 16. Here, a win over Denmark took Australia to the last eight.
France would then exit at the hands of Arnold and company. Arnold, starring in her third World Cup finals, was the hero in the shootout, and Player of the Match too, making three penalty saves to help her country to a thrilling 7-6 victory.
Belief is high ahead of the last four tie and the buzz of the women’s national team's success echoing Down Under. And yes there is a tough test awaiting in England, but Australia will be confident in causing another upset.
Afterall, Arnold played a vital part and kept a clean sheet as Australia ended England’s 30-game unbeaten run with a 2-0 win in a friendly played earlier this year. The chance to reach the World Cup final is on should they repeat the feat on Wednesday.
"Obviously we're not done yet, but to see the reaction we've received from the whole country has been absolutely unreal,” Arnold stated, “and I think this is only the beginning and there's much more to come.
“The legacy we wanted to leave throughout this World Cup, to inspire the generation coming through,” Arnold added. “I think we've done more than that. I think we've done more than what we thought we would accomplish.”
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