“I don’t know if there are any words to describe how I’m feeling, and more importantly how the girls are feeling.”
So admitted Ante Milicic, looking like a broken man as he faced the press after his Matildas lost to Norway.
It was easily the most entertaining match of the tournament so far, but that will be no consolation for the Australians.
The Matildas conceded in the first-half to Isabell Herlovsen, before Elise Kellond-Knight scored directly from a corner late in the second stanza to send the match to extra-time.
Neither team could gain an advantage over the additional 30 minutes, setting up a thrilling finale.
But wayward Australian spot-kicks and Norwegian accuracy sent the Matildas crashing out of the tournament.
“Anytime you don’t win the World Cup you’ve underachieved,” offered a despondent Sam Kerr, who missed Australia’s opening penalty.
Here are some key takeaways from the Stade de Nice.
Penalty lottery goes against Australia
When Norway won the coin toss to decide which nation would take the first penalty, the odds swung against Australia.
When Norwegian superstar Caroline Graham Hansen clinically finished the opening spot-kick, those odds soured further for the Matildas.
And when Kerr skied her response high and wide, the writing was on the wall.
Australia’s troubles where compounded when Guro Reiten converted Norway’s second, and Ingrid Hjelmseth saved Emily Gielnik’s attempt. At 2-0 down, the shootout had been lost.
“I had been trusted to take it and I was confident in taking it and I just skewed it,” Kerr reflected.
“I’ll grow from this and become a stronger person mentally. I feel like I let the team down but the girls have been quick to cut that out.”
Williams and Carpenter shine for Australia
It was an embattled defensive performance from the Matildas in Nice, but throughout it all custodian Lydia Williams and right-back Ellie Carpenter remained composed.
Williams pulled off six or seven world class saves to deny Norway – helped also by the woodwork, which twice came to Australia’s aid.
Despite being unable to stop any Norwegian penalties, Williams was easily Australia’s best player on Sunday.
On the flank, 19-year-old Carpenter stopped numerous dangerous manoeuvres from Norway in their tracks, and provided attacking threat when marauding forward.
The Matildas’ loss has caused much heartbreak, but in Williams and Carpenter there is plenty of hope for the future.
Refereeing controversy strikes again
Referee Riem Hussein and the VAR were at the centre of the action in Nice.
Australia were awarded a penalty in the 41st minute after Chelsea’s Maria Thorisdottir controlled the ball in the penalty area with her upper arm.
But a VAR review subsequently overturned the decision.
Controversy struck again in extra-time, when Alanna Kennedy was awarded a straight red card for tugging on Lisa-Marie Utland’s shirt.
The decision seemed suspect, but a VAR review confirmed it.
“I felt at the time that my body was in front of hers,” Kennedy said afterwards.
“It was more or less a 50/50 and as a striker you go down and milk it a little bit, but the decision is what it is.”
Milicic wouldn’t be drawn on the accuracy of the sending off.
“I thought a lot of the big decisions tonight didn’t go our way,” the coach said. “On another night, they could have.”
And the Matildas were insistent that the referee was not the cause of their World Cup exit.
“We’re not going to blame our loss on the refs,” Kerr said.
“They have a tough job out there. She was nice and respectful and that’s all you ask of them. She wasn’t the reason we lost today.”
Determined Norway progress – but will they have the legs against England or Cameroon?
By beating Australia, Norway secured their first set of back-to-back World Cup victories since 2007.
They now head to Le Havre, where the Grasshoppers will face either England or Cameroon on Friday (AEST) in the quarter-finals.
While they will have an extra day’s rest, the exertions of a physical 120 minutes plus penalties – and the travel to northern France – will no doubt take a toll on the Norwegians.
Milicic had no desire to speculate on how far Australia’s vanquishers might progress in the tournament.
“They beat us, how far they go in the tournament doesn’t interest me,” Milicic said. “Good luck to them, they won the game.”
Australian fans – and the Matildas – will never stop singing
After a nightmarish night in Nice, it was heartening to see Australian fans – resplendent in green and gold – serenading the Matildas well after the final penalty had been taken.
“We feel so lucky to have that many fans who want to follow us around the world,” Kerr said after the match.
“I wish I could say thanks to every single one of them.”
The captain and her colleagues tried their best to remain upbeat afterwards and immediately turn the focus to the future.
“I hope tomorrow they can pick themselves up and carry on,” coach Milicic said.
Kerr’s defiant words will echo with Australian fans long after this traumatic exit.
“We’ll come back.”
Kieran Pender is covering the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup for The World Game. Follow him on Twitter:
