Matildas v France kick off time, TV, odds: FIFA World Cup 2023, teams, Sam Kerr

Former Matilda Michelle Heyman has revealed the shocking amount that the players were paid for reaching the 2015 FIFA World Cup quarter-final.

As the Australian team gets ready for a quarter-final against France in front of a sellout game in Brisbane on Saturday, Heyman told The Project just how far the women’s game has come as FIFA talks about improving prize money for women.

FIFA has pledged to equalise World Cup prize money for their two senior tournaments by 2027.

The Project host Hamish Macdonald asked Heyman, the A-League Women’s all time leading goal scorer, what players were paid at the World Cup eight years ago.

“Michelle, let’s put this all in perspective – 2015 World Cup you got in the quarterfinals after knocking out Brazil. How much did you take home as a result of that tournament?” Macdonald asked on Friday.

“You really want to know?” Heyman said.

“Yes, I really want to know.”

“So the big $750,” Heyman said.

A gobsmacked Macdonald replied “Seriously?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t anything good back then. And it’s nice to see there’s a little bit of change in the last eight years,” Heyman said.

“But yeah, that’s what we all brought home each was the big $750!”

Heyman said she was pumped to see the Matildas doing so well at their home World Cup tournament, where games are sold out and merchandise is selling off the shelves.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has even floated the idea of a public holiday if the Matildas win.

But Heyman said there was still a long way to go for the women’s game despite the success of this tournament, which is being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“There’s zero equality still within the game. I think we’re getting paid four to five times less than what the men are for the World Cup. So it has come a long way in the last eight years since my World Cup. But at the same time, it’s still so, so far away from equality.”

She said the marketing of the women’s game had improved, but she didn’t begrudge the success — and potential financial bonus — the team was experiencing.

“They’re my girls. They’re my team,” she said.

“But I think that you can see the difference within companies jumping on board. Everyone supporting the Matildas. Ten years ago, there was none of that.”

- Via news.com.au

12.45PM: VIC PREMIER OPENS ANOTHER LIVE SITE FOR MATILDAS FANS

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has declared that Rod Laver Arena will be open to supporters for tonight’s quarter-final against France.

“Fed Square went off on Monday for the Matildas (against Denmark in the round of 16),” Andrew said. “And (on Saturday), Rod Laver will too,” Andrews said.

“We’re opening the arena and putting the game on the big screen.

“Gates 3 and 4 at Rod Laver Arena will open at 3:30pm. There are 12,000 seats which will be first come, first served.”

The MCG is another venue you can watch the Matildas play, prior to the Carlton and Melbourne blockbuster in the AFL.

However you may miss out on the drama of extra time, with the footage set to cut off after regulation time is up.

You can read the latest on that story HERE.

10.30AM: ‘AMAZING OFF THE BENCH’: LEGEND HINTS AT KERR ROLE

Matildas great Heather Garriock has declared Sam Kerr “would be amazing to come off the bench” in tonight’s do-or-die clash with France.

Speaking on Channel 7’s sunrise, Garriock was asked for her thoughts on Kerr’s fitness heading into the quarter-finals, and her response seemed to indicate she would prefer to back in the starting XI that defeated Denmark and Canada.

“Look, it comes down to the boss, Tony Gustavsson, and whether he feels starting her from the start. He said if she can play a full 90 minutes, she is going to start, so that comes down to the medical staff,” Garriock said.

“I think she would be amazing to come off the bench ... I just think the Matildas have played so well together and there are so many great players, X factor players.

“You have Caitlin Foord scoring goals, and Hayley Raso has scored three goals in the tournament and has been everywhere. Mary Fowler is unbelievable. I don’t know who you would lose, but having Sam Kerr off the bench or starting is going to challenge the French, for sure.”

9AM: TV RATINGS BONANZA: MATILDAS SET TO SMASH MORE RECORDS

The Matildas are set to eclipse their historic record for the most-watched female sports event in Australia with their Women’s World Cup quarter-finals match against France.

Their crucial win over Denmark on Monday obliterated ratings records, with the match peaking at 2.28 million viewers.

With a gobsmacking total reach of 4.88 million people who watched even just one minute on TV or 15 seconds online, the Matildas’ victory was the most viewed program in Australia this year.

Fans are divided in their viewing of matches in the streaming era between official free-to-air networks and online platforms.

As some subscription services such as Optus Sports don’t share their viewership data, it can be difficult to compare ratings over the decades but in the modern era, the Matildas could just muscle their way into the most watched sports matches in Australia.

Here’s how the records stand since the OzTAM ratings system was introduced in 2001:

■ 2005 Australian Open final

Seven – 4.04 million

Lleyton Hewitt was the first Australian player to play in the men’s singles finals in 17 years when he came up against Russian Marat Safin. While he had the entire country behind him, Hewitt went down in four sets.

■ 2003 Rugby World Cup final

Seven – 4.02 million

Tournament hosts Australia came up against England at Stadium Australia for the final having gone through their pool matches undefeated and beating New Zealand in the semi-final. Unfortunately the Wallabies went down in extra time.

■ 2014 NRL Grand Final

Nine – 3.99 million

South Sydney completed a fairytale season and ended their 43-year premiership drought with a 30-6 win over Canterbury’s Bulldogs. The match was notable for Sam Burgess playing on despite suffering a broken cheekbone in the opening tackle.

■ 2021 AFL Grand Final

Seven – 3.91 million

Melbourne won the grand final against the Western Bulldogs which was played in Perth because of the pandemic lockdowns on the east coast. When Fox Footy replay ratings were added to the free-to-air broadcast, the final was watched by an estimated average audience of 4.11 million.

■ 2015 Cricket World Cup final

Nine/Fox Sports – 3.9 million

The final at the MCG featured the World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand battling for the title. Michael Clarke’s team were the one-day victors by seven wickets, with Steve Smith scoring 105 runs.