That was probably not on the Matildas' minds as they left the pitch following a late 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening game of the World Cup on Sunday.
If there's a positive to take from the performance and result was perhaps a necessary wake-up call that the tournament is not going to be easy.
But more than that, it was good to see the disappointment that could be felt on social media and then the mainstream media coming from Australia. It was palpable and widespread. In some cases this turned to anger given the clumsy change of coach five months ago.
The criticism of strategy, tactics, game management and decision-making has been fierce. That the public and media are so invested speaks volumes. It reminds, if one is allowed to fall into the old trap of comparing the women’s game to the men’s, a little of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Punches have not been pulled.
At the moment it seems that the Matildas rival the Socceroos in terms of stature and interest and that is not an argument that can be made elsewhere in Asia.
If only the rest of the AFC could do the same - we really would be getting somewhere. The vast majority of the continent however is a long way behind.
At past World Cups, the usual state of play is for the media and fans to get on board according to the results of the team during the tournament. It is often up to the players to fire up the fans rather than vice-versa. If anything in Australia, the fans have been too fired up from the get-go.
Of course, it helps that the Matildas are good and seen as contenders. It is hard to drum up too much excitement in Thailand and South Korea as they know that they have little chance of being around for the pointy-end of the tournament.
There is interest but it is telling that in Seoul there has been considerably more attention paid to the U-20 team at the World Cup in Poland than the senior women in France. There was even more attention paid to the senior men’s friendly against the Socceroos last Friday than on the World Cup opener with France.
That would start to change if there was a shock result, a place in the last eight and the presence of some momentum.
It is similar in Bangkok. There is pride that the women are appearing at a second World Cup but the fact that the team are rank outsiders limits the anticipation.
China has a better record in women’s football and has, in the past, enjoyed powerhouse status and played the famous final back in 1999. The Steel Roses are not as strong as before and it will take something special to really make the Middle Kingdom look west.
Australia were paying attention months ago. There has been plenty of news and widespread features, comment, interviews and analytical pieces in the last few weeks.
It seems clear that the Matildas are one of the most popular teams in the country and are far from the afterthought that is the status of many women’s teams in Asia.
It could end up being a disaster with elimination from the first round a possibility but even then every great story needs a major disappointment at some point. Or the failed Italian job could end up being the catalyst that propels the team deep into the tournament and deeper into a nation’s consciousness. Or it could be somewhere in between.
Whatever happens, it will get discussed, debated and dissected at length and at width and that is something for Asian football in general to celebrate and to learn from.
