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It was a heartbreaking end to the Matildas' Olympic campaign as they fell short of a historic bronze medal after a dramatic 4-3 defeat to the United States last Thursday.
While it was not the conclusion Sam Kerr and her Aussie teammates had envisioned, there were still plenty of positives and key lessons to be gained from what was a largely successful tournament for the Matildas.
We look at five key takeaways from the Matildas' Olympic campaign.
Kerr can’t do it on her own
Matildas captain Kerr continues to show the world why she is the best in the business - furthering her claim with an incredible Olympic tournament.
The superstar striker regularly put the Australian team on her back, scoring important goals or setting up a teammate when the game was on the line.
Kerr’s six goals in Tokyo was more than half of the 11 total goals scored by the Matildas.
Australia’s reliance on moments of Kerr brilliance have at times made the team one-dimensional, with opposition sides stacking their defence to stop the West Australian’s incredible ability.
In the bronze medal match, it was the Matildas' other attacking players who sparked the fightback and showed Australia’s potential when all their goalscorers are firing on all cylinders.
A share of the attacking load will be vital if Australia are going to taste success at the 2022 Asian Cup or the 2023 Women's World Cup on home soil.
Consistent and cohesive defence is a must
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has some work to do when it comes to Australia’s defence.
The Aussie backline flashed moments of brilliance throughout the Olympic tournament but too many times paid the price after costly errors.
It has been a constant problem during Gustavsson’s tenure as Matildas boss, with the side conceding 13 goals in his first three games in charge.
Since being appointed Australia coach, the Swede has only had minimal time with the squad so the early struggles can be excused.
However, he will need to get the Aussie defence reading from the same playbook and should also ensure his preferred system makes the most of the talent available.
The kids are alright
One major upside for the Matildas is the amount of burgeoning talent in their ranks.
In Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Courtney Nevin and Kyra Cooney-Cross, Australia have a group of young stars who will likely be the backbone of the side for the next decade.
At only 18 years of age, Fowler gave fans a flash of her potential with a brilliant goal against Great Britain in what was an encouraging albeit brief introduction to international football for the rising star.
Carpenter is the Matildas' next big star and her absence against the United States showed how, at 21, she has become an imperative piece for Australia.
The development of these Aussie rising stars will be an important storyline over the next two years heading into the Women’s World Cup.
Olympic disappointment to drive Matildas to 2023 World Cup
The pain of missing out on a medal in Tokyo was evident on the faces of all Australian players following their defeat to the United States in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
However, Gustavsson is determined to use his players' disappointment to spur them to new heights with a World Cup on home soil only two years away.
“I said in the circle [after the game] that I hope we never forget the feeling we felt after this loss because that feeling, we never want to feel again,” he said.
“We want to use it as fuel to make sure we work really hard to get better so - come that World Cup in 2023 - we want to have the feeling of excitement and celebration when we win.”
The fire in the belly from the defeat against the US will sting for now, and in some respects, so it should.
But when the opening game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup rolls around, the Matildas team that takes the pitch will be light years ahead of the one that finished fourth in Tokyo.
Australia can’t get enough Matildas magic
One thing which was very obvious during the Olympics is that Australians love the Matildas.
Australia’s win against Great Britain in the quarter-final captured a crowd of 2.24 million Aussies before 2.32 million tuned in for the semi-final against Sweden.
The Sweden match brought in the largest audience for a women’s sports broadcast in Australian history.
It was no surprise for coach Gustavsson, who believes the passion of his players connects with the Aussie public.
“You can win different things in life, you can win trophies, and you can win the hearts of people,” he said.
“The reason the viewing numbers are sky high with people watching this team is that they show that they wear their crest on the chest.
“They always give their best and the passion and the belief and what lives in this team in terms of the never-say-die attitude means we connect with a lot of hearts our there.”
While the results did not come for the Matildas at the Olympics, the team’s heart, humility and self-belief have been contagious, winning over new fans nationwide.
Despite the disappointing end to their Olympic campaign, Matildas defender Steph Catley summed up the feelings of all Australians as they look ahead to the Women’s World Cup.
“This is just what we are capable of in a couple of months together leading to the World Cup and other major tournaments coming up," Catley said.
"I can’t wait to see what we can do.”
