The Matildas might be out of the World Cup, but the journey that they have been on has inspired a nation – and now is the time to back them and Australian football into the future.
Speaking after the game on Seven, their lead pundits Elise Kellond-Knight and John Aloisi both pointed out the gaps in infrastructure between the Matildas and England, who now advance to the World Cup Final on Sunday.
Notably, both mentioned St George’s Park, the national centre of excellence, which has allowed both the Lionesses and Three Lions to make major finals.
“We should be so proud of the Matildas,” said Aloisi. “They have been inspirational throughout the tournament and we all feel down about the result. That second half result shows what we can do when we play good football.
“Let’s not stop there. Let’s keep building this game in our country. It is such a beautiful game and it means so much to so many people. You have seen over the last few weeks how it can unite a nation and we want to keep going this way.
“They have got St George’s Park. We need infrastructure in this country. Not only at senior level but grassroots level. We need the State Governments and councils to funds our game. That is how we will sustain and build success. This is a one off. We haven’t made the semifinal before.
“We don’t want to just make the World Cup, we want to win one. Let’s not stand still. Keep moving forward. We need that support from the government, especially now everyone wants to kick a ball, if they didn’t already.”
Kellond-Knight agreed, and said that it was vital to treat this as an amazing moment, before looking to improve next time.
“The Matildas, their journey is not over,” she said. “We will be in Brisbane for that third-placed playoff. Either way, it is the best that Australia has finished at a World Cup, male or female, and we know it has changed the face of women’s sport in this country.
“In terms of perspective, England have won the Euros last year and with their set up at St George’s Park and the facilities that they put in place, they are ahead of us. That has certainly reaped the rewards. We can learn from them.
“They have the best league. It attracts all our players and they all want to play in England. There is a reason why they have only lost one game in the last 38. This team is on fire and I think that they will win on Sunday.”
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Commentator Heather Garriock lamented the loss, but praised the way that England played and how the Matildas have captured the heart of the nation.
“It’s one that got away to be honest,” she said. “England were the better team on the night. At the same time we had the quality and we had the chances. I think that we didn’t convert our chances.
“But at the end of the day you have to congratulate England. We have captured the imagination of the Australian public. The Matildas and football are on the map and wow, everyone is in love with the Matildas and this sport. Sam Kerr gave us something in that second half that nobody will ever forget.”
Katrina Gorry cut a devasted figure after the final whistle, telling Adam Peacock that the Matildas lost out in the crucial moments.
“I guess that is football,” she said. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. It is just a crappy time to lose, I guess.
“I thought that we still created lots of chances and kept possession well in patches and we put a lot of pressure on them. We couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net and they did.
“It looked chaotic for the most part. You don’t mind that and getting stuck in and looking up and and finding Sam (Kerr) in those moments.
“We had to sit back and be compact and win the ball back in pressure pockets. We wanted to dominate the game. We didn’t do that.
“We wanted to create more scoring opportunities and we didn’t do that. We want to win the bronze medals and we have to recover and focus on the next game.”
Kerr was annoyed at herself about her miss just before England’s third, and that she had not been able to play a bigger part due to her calf injury.
“Really disappointed obviously,” she told Peacock. “We just fell short. Really proud of the girls for this whole tournament. I know it is hard to say that now, just disappointment and how proud I am of them.
“The one that I missed, the last little bit. I think I did everything that I could to be back in this tournament. If I trained more tahan five times in this World Cup maybe I would have sunk that one.
“I can’t put all the blame on myself. I have to think of all the things the team have done and I have done to be where we are now and inspire a nation. It is really disappointing.
“The support from the Aussies has been absolutely incredible. They have pushed us over the line and been at our hotel and on planes and we have felt the love. Hopefully way can get third for them.
“I can’t remember last time I missed three games in a row. I had it stick with the girls and they have been amazing and be ready for tonight. It has been an enjoyable ride to be on. Regardless of the calf, it has been an honour to be here.”
JoshW
Roar Rookie
Western Sydney is the logical solution as that's where the most football players come from. Fish where the fish are.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Now wouldn't that be special?
JoshW
Roar Rookie
You should probably have a look at how many codes play at Commbank Stadium before singling WSW out. I can understand why you did though, the club that ended any chance of AFL being something in Western Sydney.
sheek
Roar Guru
Rodger King, Many good points. Let’s just go & win the damn thing in 2027 under Sarina Wiegman, the England/Netherlands coach. She can be the first coach/manager to take 3 different countries to the final of 3 successive women’s world cups!
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
You can only share with us from your own perspective, I appreciate that. I disagree with some of your points, that's all. I can accept your POV of learning by looking back at the game in isolation, but I feel that is a tad unkind. I believe we have to look back at the last 3 years. See where we were and where we are now. I am not sure why Kane Cornes was willing to compare our response to a Socceroo loss to this game. Was he suggesting (do you think) that because the Matildas have taken us on this incredible ride, we cut them more slack than we might have if they were men? On a personal level, I am gutted when I lose, or the team I am supporting loses, be it on the biggest stage or watching Parklands football. Will these girls learn something from this loss, I hope so, and I expect so, being professional football players and having pride in their own performance they can only improve by striving to better their last performance. With all due respect to Kane Cornes, I believe he is only capable of sharing with us his thoughts based on his experience, but being a sports journalist, I also believe he has to make some kind of statement that draws attention to his brand of journalism. In my mind, his opinion doesn't hold much water. Were we soft on the night, that comes down to each of us to consider? At times yes, other times no. Were we over-awed by the occasion, quite possibly, never having played in front of 75,000 people or in a World Cup semi-final I have absolutely no idea how these young ladies felt. Each will handle it differently. Yes, let us analyze the whole tournament, not one game. What we did right and what we could have done better. Were we the best prepared we could have been? Do we need a central base for all our national squads to use? Is the female sport funded well enough to ensure that this isn't going to be just a one-off 'event'? Did we have the right coaching staff in place? I don't believe we can argue that England were hugely superior on the night without addressing my original POV. But as my late father always told me, "The winners are grinners and the losers can please themselves" This I do feel, the Matildas have given me a great lifelong memory, they have now set the bar so high, not only for us here in Australia but all future WWC. Women's football around the world I don't believe will be looked at the same way again.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
true, apologies, all non-Olympic sports though, I must add which makes the legacy rather hypocritical. As to concerts, they're also getting a new arena and have several venues around the city, many in prime locations.
sheek
Roar Guru
Rodger King, The Danish philopsher Soren Kirkegaard said “life must be lived forwards, but it can only be understood backwards”. This is so true. My comments are based on what I saw. Why was England so superior? The brutal truth is partly explained that Australia was so timid. Divisive AFL commentator Kane Cornes has come out & said that Australia’s response to the Matildas’ loss was ‘soft’ & I’m inclined to agree with him. We are disappointed, but we don’t want to double down on their own disappointment. But as Cornes further observed, if this had been the Socceroos, our response would have been much more brutal. England was up for the semi-final. Australia, playing in the most important game of their lives, wasn’t. “Why” is something we will only learn about further down the track. Life must be lived forwards, but it can only be understood backwards.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Interesting take you have. Saying that, in essence, the Matildas were no chance and that England was hugely superior. I put it to you that another match official may have flashed 3 or 4 yellow cards in the first 10 minutes, to let the Lionesses know that their tactics of kicking anyone who moved, wasn't going to be tolerated, may have changed the whole complexion of the game. Only she knows why she didn't. But looking backwards achieves nothing, the best team won on the night, the scoreboard says so.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Why just Sydney or Melbourne? This is a 'NATIONAL' thing. I suggest the South Australian government build it, build it to Football Australia requirements, and make Adelaide the home base for the Matildas. You guys on the East Coast can have the Socceroos.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
I dislike every sport going for a free ride and it seems swimming benefits most though appeals to few, apart from Gold medals. Expensive Gold medals. I think Queensland have shown what is required in Football (soccer) and the other states need to do likewise and hope for success in 20 years time. We have the talent but not the long term vision from those that wannabe heroes today. To me the Matildas have shown that Australia can achieve in the "World Game" and we need to take notice. The men are playing as well or better than we ever have in history. Believe! I think its organisation not money that delivers.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
As opposed to going straight into Pollies pockets, though as we see with the lobbyists, that bit comes later.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
I think it should be an oval 25000 (or less) seat stadium. You may get the crowd but will get the atmosphere and can play one off soccer, rugger games. The crowd are sitting on couches with a TV remote in hand.
Caractacus
Roar Rookie
England were worthy winners yesterday but they haven’t been anywhere near their best so far in this World Cup, I would say unsurprisingly given that they are missing Mead, Kirby and Williamson who are three key players including their captain and the best player in the last Euros.
Nick
Roar Rookie
*major beneficiary AFL, + cricket, + local concert events. Don't just blindly ignore everything else Lionheart.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Which league has a 7 day break to compensate for a few hours flight? A WCQ is hell of a lot bigger occasion than any domestic league in Australia. Baseball and Basketball play quite frequently so I can see there being an issue there but 7 days dor a few hours flight. Whats next mandatory nappy wearing for visits to pubs for the players in these leagues. Why is it ok for the most competitive and important matches to have 40 hours of flight time involved.
Adam
Roar Guru
Bellerive is not a viable stadium for any long term professional club...
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
I think WC for women will get much tougher in coming years as womens sport takes off in many more countries. Hopefully Aussies can keep stepping up to do well.
AR
Roar Rookie
"At least – the neither the AFL nor the vast majority of the clubs are privately owned." It's one aspect that has always been a tad bemusing about this debate. The $300M Parra Stadium, with its specific safe-standing seating configuration, as requested by the privately-owned WSW, was 100% paid for with public money. It's an impressive bit of lobbying by the WSW owners (less so, the Eels).
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
been working on this for some years now, it's not the first WWC
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
In these early days of womens sport progress, still well behind the mens in global depth terms, England and Australia were always going to do well. If Australia is so poorly funded, it still did not prevent it from making the semifinals.