Matildas v Sweden World Cup: Australia devastated after losing out on third place

The Matildas captured the nation’s attention and had a brilliant tournament, but in the end the players wanted more. Go inside the heartbreak for Australia.

They’ve changed football in Australia, elevated women’s sports to new levels but all the Matildas wanted was a bronze medal to hang around their necks.

There were no smiles post match with players left feeling “devastated”, “heartbroken” and “disappointed”.

It was the second time in as many years the Matildas have lost a bronze medal match - the first was to the USA at the Tokyo Olympics, the second to Sweden in front of a sold out stadium in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Captain Sam Kerr said it would take a while to get over losing another bronze medal match.

“It took me a while to get over the bronze medal match losing to the USA, the sadness comes from just feeling like you missed an opportunity,” Kerr said after the game.

“I’m sure we’ll be able to smile about it tomorrow because there’s been so much support and love for us girls.

Sam Kerr (R) and teammates after the loss to Sweden. Picture: Getty Images

“But what we’ve done for the country is amazing but the bronze medal really would have been for us as individuals and the team, it would have been nice.

“It’s a bit sad but we’ll get over it and we’ll move on and come back stronger.

“We have to be proud of what we’ve achieved and it’s hard to kind of take that on right now but we should be proud of ourselves and how we’ve carried ourselves as individuals and as a team.”

Cortnee VIne, who placed the match winning penalty in the quarterfinal against France the last time the Matildas played in Brisbane - said the vibe was very different after this loss.

“Obviously we are devastated with the results, it’s not how we wanted it to end,” Vine said.

“It’s not how we wanted it to end but with the Australian public showing us their support post match, I think we have still won something.”

Emily van Egmond was injected into the game to replace the weary legs of Katrina Gorry with about 20 minutes left in the match.

The Matildas look dejected post game. Picture: Adam Head

“Heartbroken,” van Egmond said.

“I’m immensely proud of the group’s effort throughout this journey, it’s been one hell of a ride and to inspire the nation and capture the nation the way he have isn’t anything anyone would have thought we would have had the reach to do.

“Coming fourth is the best ever finish at a World Cup so it’s something special though.

“We obviously would have liked some sort of memorabilia to show for it. But I think we can all be proud of the group’s effort.”

Originally published as Matildas v Sweden World Cup: Australia devastated after losing out on third place