Matildas' win over France reportedly delivers biggest TV audience since Cathy Freeman race

Preliminary television ratings show an average of about 4.17 million people were watching the Matildas take on France in what is understood to be one of the most-watched sporting events across Australia in the past two decades.

Fans celebrate at Melbourne's Federation Square after the Matildas scored the opening goal in their FIFA World Cup round of 16 match against Denmark. Source: Getty / Asanka Ratnayake