After the FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final, Australia coach Tony Gustavsson wondered what could happen. The Matildas, the Australian women's national football team, were beaten 3-1 by reigning European champions England on Wednesday. The match took place at the Australian Stadium in Sydney, watched by 75,784 cheering spectators.
Despite a fine goal from Australian star striker Sam Kerr, Matildas couldn't get past goals from Britons Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, and Alessia Russo. Before the game, Gustavsson pointed out the disparity in quality between the two sides, with some of his players coming from Sweden's middleweight teams or playing in Australia's less competitive domestic league. However, after the game, Gustavsson noted that Australia created as many chances as their British rivals. He told Channel Seven after the game: "It was one of those nights where they were more clinical than we were.
He praised his team's solid defense in the first half and encouraged them to play with more confidence.
Kerr, who made his league debut after recovering from a calf injury, was largely blocked by the England defense in the first half. However, she brought the stadium to life in the 62nd minute with a superb 25-yard strike that leveled the game. Despite this momentum, England remained resilient, with Hemp and Russo scoring to secure victory for them.
After the game, a clearly frustrated Australian team, some in tears, must now regroup for a third-place play-off against Sweden on Saturday. Despite the loss, Kerr expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of his fans. "We feel the love across the country," she said. "So hopefully it stays because it's been great for us."
