Matildas fans are dreaming of a maiden Olympic medal after two of their toughest rivals fell short of qualifying for next year’s Paris Olympics.
This week Germany and the Netherlands booked their places at Europe’s Women’s Nations League finals, where they will also fight for spots at the 2024 Olympics, but there was heartbreak for England who missed out despite beating Scotland 6-0 on Wednesday (AEDT).
The Germans drew 0-0 in Wales but secured their passage thanks to Iceland’s 1-0 win over Denmark.
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The Netherlands needed a 95th minute goal from Damaris Egurrola to see them to a 4-0 win over Belgium which meant they edged England on goal difference in Group A1 after the World Cup runners-up hammered the Scots in Glasgow.
The Dutch and the Germans will join France and world champions Spain in the semi-finals which take place in February.
The two finalists will qualify for the 2024 Olympics. If France, who are guaranteed a place as hosts of Paris 2024, reach the final, the team winning the third-place playoff will also progress.
England, who were hopeful of gaining an Olympic place for a Great Britain team which would have included their Scottish opponents, and the Netherlands went into the final round of games level on points but with the Dutch holding a two-goal advantage.
England quickly laid on the pressure, with Alex Greenwood and Beth Mead bracketing two goals in two minutes from Lauren James to give them a 4-0 halftime lead.
The Dutch, meanwhile, were only leading 1-0 through a 34th minute goal from Lineth Beerensteyn.
The English compounded their position when Fran Kirby added a fifth four minutes into the second half.
At that point, England had a two-goal advantage over the Dutch, but they then ran into some determined defence from the Scots who also went close, forcing a fine save from Mary Earps.
Beerensteyn added a second to give the Dutch hope, but the evening changed dramatically in stoppage time.
First, Egurrola found the back of the net to give the Dutch the advantage. That was followed by Lucy Bronze scoring a sixth for England but, even as they were celebrating, Egurrola snatched a second in Tilburg to send the Netherlands through.
“(Coach) Sarina (Wiegman) made sure we knew what was happening, and we knew what we were supposed to do,” said England forward Mead.
“We got the goals late on, we thought we had maybe gotten over the line but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”
Sweden also missed out on Olympic qualification after a 1-0 loss to Switzerland, meaning Sweden won’t be at the Olympics for the first time since women’s football was introduced.
The football world was struggling to comprehend the fact two of the biggest powerhouses in women’s football won’t get to play in the Olympics.
Australian fans were rejoicing, given the results mean that should they qualify, Matildas won’t have to face two teams that beat them at the FIFA World Cup.
England beat the Matildas 3-1 in the semi-finals, before Sweden defeated the Aussies 2-0 in the third place playoff.
Sweden also beat the Matildas 4-2 in the group stage at the Tokyo Olympics.
One fan wrote on X: “england AND Sweden aren’t playing the Olympics?!?”
Despite losing two friendlies to Canada in the past week, the Matildas are on track to qualify for the Olympics after three comfortable wins over Iran, Chinese Tapei and the Philippines.
They will need to beat Uzbekistan in a two-legged playoff in February to book their place in the 12-team competition at the Paris Olympics.
The Matildas finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics in their best result ever.
They also finished fourth on home soil at this year’s FIFA World Cup and will be desperate to go at least one better in Paris.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS – WOMEN’S FOOTBALL QUALIFIERS
Country (path to qualification)
France (host nation)
USA (2022 CONCACAF Championship)
Brazil (2022 Copa America)
Colombia (2022 Copa America)
Canada (CONCACAF playoff)
One Oceania qualifier (eight-team group stage to begin in February)
Two of Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain (UEFA Women’s Nations League A)
Uzbekistan vs Australia winner (AFC qualifying third round, February)
North Korea vs Japan winner (AFC qualifying third round, February)
Two African qualifiers (eight-team third round knockouts to be played in February)
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