Australia coach Tony Gustavsson rues what might have been after World Cup semi-final loss to England
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Australia's star forward Sam Kerr reacting her team's 3-1 loss to England at the Women's World Cup.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY – Australia coach Tony Gustavsson was left to wonder what might have been after the Matildas were dumped out of the Women’s World Cup semi-finals 3-1
Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo cancelled out a stunning strike from talismanic Matildas striker Sam Kerr in front of a raucous sell-out crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Gustavsson had highlighted the gulf in quality between the two squads before the match, with some of the Matildas in his starting line-up playing for mid-table teams in Sweden as well as in a relatively weak Australian domestic league.
But after the game, he said the tournament co-hosts had created as many chances as England.
“It’s one of those nights where they were more clinical than us in the finishing,” he told TV network Seven. “I think our defending was very solid in the first half. We told (the players) at half-time to be more confident on the ball and play the way we can.
“When we started to do that, we dominated the game but, unfortunately, it didn’t pay off with enough goals tonight.”
Kerr was making her first start after a calf injury ruled her out of the group stage but was kept quiet in the first half by the English backline.
But with Australia trailing 1-0, the stadium came alive as she collected the ball inside her own half in the 63rd minute, backed up England captain Millie Bright before sending a brilliant strike from 25 metres past the hapless Mary Earps.
Australia had the wind in their sails but England refused to wilt under the pressure and, in the 71st minute, Player of the Match Hemp put them back in front after a mistake by right-back Ellie Carpenter.
Russo then delivered the killer blow four minutes from time to cap what had been arguably England’s best performance of the competition.
“We can’t thank the fans enough, they’ve been amazing. We’ve felt the love all over the country,” Kerr told Seven. “Just to see the support has really pushed us on. So, hopefully, this stays around because this has been amazing for us.”
That feeling seems to be reciprocal.
“I’m still proud of the girls. They always show a never-say-die attitude,” said Gemma Ritchie, 26, a fan who works in the music industry.
“And even though they didn’t get the result, just making it this far, it’s still a monumental night for women’s sport in Australia.”
The Matildas’ run to the World Cup semi-finals has captivated the rugby and cricket-mad country, setting TV records, selling out merchandise and fuelling talks of a public holiday if they went all the way.
Children at Sydney’s primary schools were encouraged to wear green and gold ahead of the clash, practising penalty shoot-outs during lunch breaks and sports lessons.
A capacity crowd packed Stadium Australia, while tens of thousands more crammed into fan sites at neighbourhood parks and sporting ovals.
Said defender Stephanie Catley: “There is no argument now that people are not interested.”
Julie Dolan, who was the first captain of the Matildas in 1979, added: “Every time I walk outside, someone stops me and talks about women’s football. It’s unbelievable.” REUTERS, AFP, NYTIMES
