Matildas captain Sam Kerr says she has “let the team down”, after the Australian squad bowed out of the World Cup in a penalty shootout to Norway.
Norway scored the first goal of the match, and Australia equalised this at the 83-minute mark, leaving the scores tied in a 1-1 deadlock.
The skipper took Australia’s first spot kick of the penalty shootout, but it went high and wide, and Norway went on to win it 4-1, progressing to the quarter finals.
“It sucks to lose in a penalty shoot-out, but we’ll learn from this and we’ll grow from it,” Kerr told reporters said after the match. “I feel like we’ve let some people down.
“A lot of the girls have sacrificed so much to be here. It has been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride to be here, but I’m so proud of the girls.”
Sam Kerr also spoke about the personal toll of the defeat, saying:
“What can you do? I’ve been trusted to take it and I was confident in taking it and I just skewed it. The girls have already gotten around me. I feel like I let the team down but they’ve been quick to cut that out. I’ll grow from this and become a stronger person mentally.”
Former Socceroo Tim Cahill congratulated the team on their effort, saying he’s “very proud of our Matildas and for the way they have flown the flag for our country.”
I’m sitting at home now very proud of our Matildas and for the way they have flown the flag for our country. To the staff and all the MATILDAS thanks for all your efforts and leaving your HEART and SOUL on the pitch @FIFAWWC #THANKYOUMatildas
— Tim Cahill AO (@Tim_Cahill) June 22, 2019
