25. France, highly ranked at five, played host nation Australia, ranked tenth. In a nail-biter that came down to a penalty shootout, how many penalty shots were taken before a result was declared?
From Quiz 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - Knockout Stage
Answer:
20
After an utterly ruthless display against Morocco in the previous round, France were expected to win but the Australians had the advantage of home soil. Possession was even and while there were plenty of shots (France's 21 to Australia's 15), neither side cracked and after extra time, 120 minutes, there were no goals on the board. The penalty shootout was even more tense. There were misses as well as great goals but neither side could get ahead. At 6-6, France could have won it with one last goal. Arnold, the Aussie keeper saved but was ruled to have left the line before the kick. On the retaking of the penalty, she saved again. Then the French keeper Durand saved the next Aussie kick from Hunt. France lined up the 19th kick, but Becho hit the woodwork. Both sides were running out of experienced kickers when Aussie Vine, in her first World Cup, stepped up. She converted and Australia won on penalties 7-6.
It was the highest scoring penalty shoot in World Cup history, men's or women's. Secondly, no Australian side, men's or women's had made it to a World Cup semi-final before.