Matildas v Sweden: Weary Australians fall short in third-place play-off but secure a legacy that will live on for generations

The Matildas won’t be taking home trophies but can take heart from a far more enduring victory at this World Cup, writes Adam Peacock.

Top four it is.

No ornament around their necks.

A 2-0 defeat to Sweden in the third-place play-off is further than the Matildas have ever previously finished at a World Cup, but somehow further still from the place they aspired to be before Wednesday’s emotional semi-final loss to England.

Still, while bronzeware would have been nice, the Matildas can take heart from the fact they have attained something more ensuring at this World Cup: the love of a nation.

Many millions of Australians have watched the Matildas for the first time over the last month. They’ll be back. Plenty of others have bought their first pair of boots, some in Mary Fowler gloves or Hayley Raso ribbons. Their football journey has begun.

This is what the 2023 Matildas will be remembered for.

They are part of our country’s DNA.

The benefits of this will play out for many years to come, long after memories of the Sweden match have faded away.

World Cups are temporary. The Matildas are now forever.

The Australians entered their finale against Sweden unsure which emotion would define their night. Worry. Hope. Joy. Sadness. Anger.

Mary Fowler and her gloves are just one element of this team the nation has fallen in love with. Picture: Adam Head

Call it the five stages of the third placed playoff: the match you don’t dream of playing, but one you may as well make the most of while you’re there.

Hope quickly gave way to worry inside the first minute. Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius had a shot well saved by Mackenzie Arnold, at the Arnold End, where the Gold Coast product propelled herself into national consciousness seven days ago.

It was more than a warning. The Swedes started as if it was their first game of the World Cup, zipping the ball around at will and putting the Matildas under pressure without it.

It wasn’t until Hayley Raso forced a good save out of Zecira Musovic that the Matildas found their feet, which brought a few precious moments of hope. Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross were also impactful.

But anger would soon set in. Clare Hunt unluckily clipped the back of Blackstenius’ boot. A tiny foul, but still a foul. The Matildas felt hard done by. Tony Gustavsson and Sam Kerr flailed arms at the fourth official, yelling at non-existent clouds on another perfect night in Brisbane.

Fridolina Rolfo’s penalty was perfect.

Sweden 1, hard done by Matildas 0.

The red mist remained for the home side. Caitlin Foord, who used to play tackle footy in the backyard with such ferocity she made the boys cry, smashed into an opponent. The Matildas, quiet and polite through the opening stages, found their inner feral.

Tony Gustavsson didn’t swing the changes at half time. Picture: Getty Images

Halftime was the time for Tony Gustavsson to try a change.

He has avoided doing so all tournament. Same tracksuit. Same pre-game meditation. Same starting eleven, even after Wednesday’s gut-busting semi-final loss.

But there was no change of personnel.

Gorry was placed under all kinds of pressure and the Swedes pushed the Matildas back into a state of worry with unrelenting pressure that did not allow Australia any kind of time on the ball.

Kerr sprinted over to Gustavsson for a quick word during a short stoppage. How to adjust? What to change? Finally, it became clear Gorry could barely move, her heavily strapped left leg like an anchor.

Emily van Egmond was brought on, but the worry soon gave way to sadness when a lightning quick Swedish counter was beautifully finished by Kosovare Asllani.

Two-nil.

Try as the Matildas might, they couldn’t rally for one last charge. Cooney-Cross, in particular, gave her all. No wonder Chelsea are interested in the 21-year-old. She is the future of this team and, perhaps, any club in the world.

Sam Kerr played through pain in an effort to lift Australia to third. Picture: Adam Head

The star of now, Sam Kerr, got clattered late on and, for a moment, it looked like her World Cup would end the way it started: in a tracksuit. She battled on, though, providing cheer to the crowd on an otherwise difficult night.

In the end, with legs heavy and tanks on empty, the Australians fell short.

The Matildas remain without a medal at either World Cup or Olympic level but they are closer than ever before. Only the bravest of souls would bet against them going further in 2027.

They have changed the game in Australia forever.

Governments are making pledges. Civic receptions have been organised. More women and girls will want to play football than ever before.

That’s an almighty win, even if it comes without a trophy.

Originally published as Matildas v Sweden: Weary Australians fall short in third-place play-off but secure a legacy that will live on for generations