‘The game has been put on notice’

• The Matildas have captured the hearts and minds of Australia
• Women’s World Cup drew huge TV audiences Down Under
• Johnson feels football could usurp cricket in Australia’s sporting landscape 

Cricket great Mitchell Johnson has warned soccer could replace cricket as Australia‘s national sport following the Matildas’ exhilarating World Cup run.

While Tony Gustavsson’s players finished just short of lifting the trophy on home soil, their fourth place was Australia’s best-ever result at a FIFA World Cup across both men’s and women’s football.

More significantly, the Matildas have captured the hearts and minds of the nation, with huge TV audiences and sold-out crowds.

And Johnson warned football’s new-found popularity will lead to more funds being directed towards the sport, which in turn will only accelerate its growth.

‘Has cricket been put on notice? I believe it has. The next decade…