Matildas defeat only adds to Australia’s ongoing awakening

To match our level of excitement there would have been some open-air live venues across the metropolis. But this is the Lionesses, remember, and only a semi-final. They expected to be here.

Instead, those of collective mind gathered in pubs, while the rest of us went to places like the Vauxhall Food and Beer Garden with maybe 1500 English and Australians gathered in front of three huge indoor screens.