Matildas desperate to bounce back with a win in World Cup third-place playoff

Having lost a playoff for a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the Matildas don’t want to experience the same pain on Saturday.

The pain of just falling short of an Olympics medal in Tokyo two years ago will provide the devastated Matildas with the necessary motivation to pick themselves up off the floor for Saturday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup playoff for third against Sweden.

Australia’s dream of winning the World Cup on home soil came to a shattering end when they were beaten 3-1 by England in Wednesday night’s semi-final in Sydney.

The Matildas’ hopes of Olympic gold in 2021 were also dashed in the last four with a 1-0 loss to the Swedes.

Backing up less than 72 hours later in the battle for a bronze medal, the Australians were beaten 4-3 by the US.

While finishing fourth was a much better overall result than many expected, the Matildas were heartbroken not to secure a medal.

Desperate to avoid a similar World Cup disappointment, the Australians will this weekend force themselves to finish the tournament on the high of a win – and a third-place prize – at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Matildas (back from left) Steph Catley, Clare Polkinghorne, Mackenzie Arnold and Sam Kerr want to finish the World Cup on a high. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“We’ve gone home from the Olympics empty-handed and we’re not going to be doing that this time,” Matildas vice-captain Steph Catley said.

“We’re going to bounce back, we’re going to get ourselves right and turn up for that game and give everything we have like we always do.”

At the Tokyo Games, 10 of the 11 players, including Catley, who started in the semi-final loss to Sweden also played from the opening whistle in the third-place playoff against the Americans.

The other player, defender Ellie Carpenter, was ineligible for the battle with the US after being sent off against Sweden.

Carpenter will be among those out for redemption – if selected – on Saturday after a below-par performance against England.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said his side needed to “be strong” in preparing to face Sweden.

“If we get too emotionally dragged down from this (semi-final) loss, we have no chance in the bronze medal game,” Gustavsson said.

“It’s an extremely short turnaround for that game now. We need to be ready.

“We’re tough, we’re fit, we dig deep, we have the support from the fans – we need to make the most of that.”

Socceroos great Robbie Slater urged Gustavsson to pick his strongest possible side for Saturday’s match.

“It’s a bit of cliche when everyone says no one wants to play in the playoff for third, but in reality they do,” Slater said.

“You want to finish third, not fourth. It’s important for everything – rankings, money, bonuses.

“It’s also kind of special because Australia is the host nation, That’s what sets it apart.”

Slater didn’t expect Gustavsson to show “sentiment” in his team selection.

“I don’t think he’s ever shown any. It’s not a friendly. It’s a World Cup match,” he said.