Coach Tom Sermanni believes the nation's favourite team has risen again after the Matildas downed powerhouses Germany with courage, character and a moment of unalloyed gold in Duisburg.
Kyra Cooney-Cross marked her 50th cap with a 40-yard wonder strike while Clare Hunt also netted a maiden international header to gift Australia's soccer women the most unlikely, backs-to-the-wall 2-1 triumph on Monday evening (Tuesday AEDT).
More than 26,000 came to pay an emotional farewell to departing heroine Alexandra Popp at the MSV Arena but ended up having to salute a glorious piece of party-pooping by Arsenal midfielder Cooney-Cross.