Here the Matildas stand, 90 minutes away from progressing to the final of the Women’s World Cup on home soil as a clash against eternal rivals England awaits.
To get to this moment in time, it has been a long, windy, bumpy, pot-hole filled road.
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There’s been some seriously troubling results and performances in previous tournaments.
There’s been the small hurdle of how Covid impacted international travel and the subsequent effect it had on the Matildas.
Yet Tony Gustavsson, who may have been left battered and bruised throughout the journey, remains upright and on the verge of continuing the Matildas’ dream run at the World Cup.
His tenure has experienced several peaks and troughs and his appointment followed high drama with the unceremonious sacking of his predecessor, Alen Stajcic.
Here’s a look back at the journey — from Stajcic’s rise and fall, to Gustavsson leading the Matildas to a historic footballing feat.
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THE IMMEDIATE STAJ EFFECT THAT PUT MATILDAS ON WORLD MAP
After six years filled with success and silverware with Sydney FC’s W-League side, Alen Stajcic was given a chance in the big chair in April 2014.
Hesterine de Rues had been ousted amid widespread reports of a player mutiny within the squad who didn’t see eye-to-eye with her methods.
Stajcic was brought in on an interim basis despite the 2014 Asian Cup rapidly approaching.
But the 49-year-old managed to guide the Matildas all the way to the final where they lost 1-0 against Japan, a team that would go on to make the final of the 2015 World Cup.
Stajcic would go on to earn the permanent gig and oversaw the Matildas’ 2015 World Cup campaign where they qualified for the quarterfinals thanks to a stunning 1-0 win over Brazil in the Round of 16.
They would be undone by Japan once again, but there was clearly optimism this team was headed places under Stajcic.
Victory at the 2017 Tournament of Nations, which included Australia’s first-ever win over the United States, created plenty of buzz around the Matildas as they returned home to play friendlies against Brazil in front of crowds upwards of 15,000.
The Matildas would also enjoy their highest world ranking ever under Stajcic, as they were ranked fourth in December in 2017.
But it would be just a year later when things began to turn a little stale.
A fourth-place finish at the 2018 Algarve Cup was followed by yet another appearance in the final of the 2018 Asian Cup.
However, the road to that game was not easy as a late Sam Kerr goal rescued a point in their group stage game against Japan while Alanna Kennedy’s stoppage-time strike pushed their semi-final against Thailand to extra time, where they would go on to win via penalties.
As Socceroos great Robbie Slater points out, a coach in the same gig for too long doesn’t typically end well.
“There is a life span,” Slater told foxsports.com.au.
“It’s rare and you do have the exceptions around the world, (Sir Alex) Ferguson and (Arsene) Wenger, but you’re talking about the very top of the tree.
“Coaches have a certain life span. You think of Ange (Postecoglou), he usually stays a couple of years and then moves.”
But Stajcic’s journey didn’t end because of results.
‘INNUENDO AND MYSTERY’: THE SHOCK AXING THAT ROCKED AUSSIE FOOTBALL
Shockwaves were sent through the Australian football community when Football Federation Australia (now Football Australia) sacked Stajcic in January 2019, just months before a World Cup campaign.
Stajcic’s axing was due to perceived “workplace issue” which came about as a result of two confidential surveys conducted by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and Our Watch, an Australian organisation aimed at ending violence against women.
However, details of the survey’s findings have remained a closely guarded secret in the immediate aftermath and the years since in one of the messiest sagas seen in Australian football.
Curiously enough, several of the Matildas stars voiced their support for Stajcic in the wake of his shock sacking.
Midfielder Chloe Logarzo wrote on Twitter: “Shattered with what we have found out TODAY.”
Kyah Simon added: “We’ve been preparing meticulously under him over the last 4yrs to have the best crack to win in France and under his guidance we have been the most successful team in Matildas history.”
Sam Kerr, who denied she had been “gagged” by the FFA to talk about Stajcic’s sacking, also came out in defence of her former boss.
“I have not commented because I wasn’t ready to comment while I am still shocked and upset,” Kerr said.
“My trust was in Staj to lead us to the World Cup final & I believe he was the best coach for that. Thankful for everything his (sic) done for me and the team.”
Slater was also caught by “surprise” by the call to bin Stajcic at the time.
“It wasn’t the proudest time for the women’s game when Stajcic was sacked after that survey,” Slater said.
“Certain people didn’t behave in the manner in which they should have, including board members.
“There were rumours about culture, but I think it’s important that a number of players came out and publicly supported Stajcic.
“In a nutshell, what happened was shrouded in innuendo and mystery. But it happened. It wasn’t the best possible time for anyone involved in that era.”
Ante Milicic, who had spent five years in the Socceroos national team setup, was appointed the interim Matildas boss and tasked with leading the team in the 2019 World Cup.
But he could only guide them as far as the Round of 16 as an exit at the hands of Norway in a penalty shootout and went on to resign from his role almost a year later.
Milicic’s resignation would come just weeks after FA had secured Australia the hosting rights for the 2023 World Cup along with New Zealand.
With the tournament to take place in three years’ time, who would be appointed as the man or woman to take charge of the Matildas for their most important tournament to date?
THE BRUTAL 25-YEAR LOW AND TOURNAMENT FAILURES THAT ALMOST DOOMED GUSTAVSSON
Tony Gustavsson was announced as the new Matildas boss in September 2020, ending the FA’s search for Milicic’s replacement.
Gustavsson arrived with plenty of tournament pedigree and experience having been an assistant coach with the United States in their triumphant 2015 and 2019 World Cup campaigns.
The 50-year-old, a maths and PE teacher by trade, enjoyed a playing career across several Swedish clubs before transitioning into the dugout.
Unfortunately for Gustavsson, he took on the role in the midst of the Covid pandemic, robbing him of vital time on the park with his new team and players.
In fact, the Swede’s first games as Matildas boss took place almost five months after he was appointed and the early results were brutal.
The Matildas shipped 13 goals in three games against Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark in a horror start to their Tokyo Olympics preparations.
Gustavsson’s side navigated a tricky group to progress to the quarterfinals, where they beat Great Britain 4-3 in an extra-time thriller but ultimately fell short to Sweden in the semi finals and to the US in the bronze medal match.
There were glimpses at the high-tempo, attacking brand of football Gustavsson wanted to implement, but the team’s high line was constantly exposed at the Olympics and were perhaps fortunate not to have conceded more.
Further tournament anguish would come at the 2022 Asian Cup as the Matildas crashed out in the quarterfinals to South Korea having missed several golden chances to take the lead.
Results wouldn’t get much better from there, as Gustavsson oversaw the Matildas’ heaviest defeat in 25 years when they lost 7-0 to Spain in June that year.
However, it must be said the team was without several of their heavyweight stars including Kerr, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, and Hayley Raso to name just four.
It was all part of Gustavsson’s brief to blood several youngsters and boost the Matildas’ depth across the field, something the team was sorely lacking prior to his arrival in 2020.
The tournament failures and Spain thrashing left many loudly calling for Gustavsson to be axed from his post, but FA CEO James Johnson opted to stick with his man rather than twist.
As proved by the Matildas’ stunning run from last October to their final friendly prior to the World Cup in which they won nine games from 10, it has paid dividends.
HOW GUSTAVSSON AVOIDED CATASTROPHE AS ‘LOYAL’ FA BOSS VINDICATED
Gustavsson would have had shivers sent down his spine when he lined up on the touchline for the national anthems ahead of the Matildas’ World Cup opener against Ireland.
Played in front of just over 75,000 fans at Stadium Australia, the Swede oversaw a gritty 1-0 victory over the Irish, yet the headlines were dominated by Kerr’s shock injury diagnosis.
The superstar striker was ruled out of Australia’s first two games with a calf injury and would be reassessed ahead of the final group game against Canada.
However, the focus quickly zeroed in on Gustavsson amid Australia’s horror 3-2 defeat to Nigeria.
It was a result very few saw coming, even without Kerr.
Gustavsson was smashed from pillar to post for his tactics, including Slater.
However, he could only praise the Swede for how he looked inward and tweaked his system for the do-or-die Canada game.
“I questioned and everyone questioned him tactically against Nigeria,” Slater said.
“To be fair to him, I think he did get it wrong tactically against Nigeria and he practically admitted that in the post-match press conference.
“But what he did against Canada was tactically perfect and he hasn’t taken a false step in the games that have followed.”
An impressive 2-0 win over Denmark in the Round of 16 followed, before the Matildas emerged victorious over France via the longest penalty shootout in World Cup history.
Not many might have imagined the Matildas getting to this stage of the tournament, especially on the back of their Asian Cup performance and the Spain hammering even if it was a weakened squad.
Yet Slater believes Johnson must earn plenty of plaudits for believing in the man he appointed to see it through.
“Since James Johnson’s been in charge, he’s stayed very loyal to his coaches both men’s and women’s,” Slater said.
“The same kind of thing happened to Graham Arnold at the end of our qualifying campaign where we finished third and went into the play-offs.
“There were calls from very prominent people for Arnie to be sacked, and James Johnson stood by him. He’s done exactly the same with Gustavsson.
“Given the results for both managers, he’s made the right call. Even if we lose the semi final, which everyone would feel a little let down by given the euphoria, but it still would be a successful tournament given we’ve never been to a semi final before.”
It’s hard to distil the secret recipe to Gustavsson’s success at this World Cup.
He’s made it to the final four largely without Kerr and has had to deal with the intense scrutiny and pressure that comes with playing in front of a home crowd for each game.
But facts are facts: Gustavsson is the most successful Matildas coach at a World Cup and he’s helped a nation fall in love with the team.
Slater feels the success shouldn’t be a massive surprise given Gustavsson’s credentials during the latter stages of World Cups.
However, it is the unbreakable bond and team spirit he has developed with the players that Slater believes has propelled the team this far.
“When you see what he’s done in this tournament and the way he talks, this group of players love him,” Slater said.
“It’s not feigned, it’s not acted. He’s created a culture where these girls are like one, whether they’re starting or not.
“Now they’ve embraced the support of the nation and the crowd’s behind them. It’s like the crowd’s an extension of this team, yet Gustavsson’s remained calm.”
The joy and euphoria attached to the Matildas is a far, far cry from the toxicity that surrounded the women’s game in the wake of Stajcic’s infamous axing in 2019.
A lot has changed in the four years since, whether it be from administrative level in the game’s governing body to the coaches or the large swath of newly-capped Matildas.
But it’s all arrived to this moment as Gustavsson prepares to lead his side into battle against England at Stadium Australia.
Who knows where the journey goes from here?