On Monday night over Zoom from the Matildas camp, Steph Catley said she still has wounds from the last time her team played England.
“I think that was probably one of the most heartbreaking games I’ve played in my career,” she said.
Sam Kerr is devastated after the final whistle in the World Cup semi-final between Australia and England.Credit: Reuters
It was more than two years ago when the Matildas were on the verge of their very own “Cathy Freeman moment” inside Sydney’s Accor Stadium during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The Matildas had made it through the quarter-final, knocking out an impressive French side after a gruelling match that ended in the longest penalty shootout of men’s or women’s World Cup soccer.
What lay between the Matildas and the final was a tormenting English side that went up 1-0 in the 36th minute when a goal from Ella Toone swung past Mackenzie Arnold. Kerr’s contender for goal of the tournament in the 63rd minute was overcome by late strikes from England’s Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
Loading
To rub salt in a wound, Toone and Russo are both starting in this morning’s friendly.
Not long after the semi-final whistle blew, our own Vince Rugari wrote of the Matildas: “These players have overcome what feels like a lifetime’s worth of trials and tribulations in the space of a few short weeks. In so doing, the country fell hopelessly in love with them. They have not won a trophy, but they have won what feels like a permanent place in everyone’s heart, and an unimpeachable new status within broader Australian culture – and as far as consolations go, that’s pretty damn good.”
To revisit the entire story from Vince Rugari, click here.
If you’re a masochist, there’s more. Emma Kemp’s post-match analysis from that night is available here.
- For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
- Source of information and images “brisbanetimes”“
