An emotional Ante Milicic said he could not express the sense of desolation and loss he and his team were feeling after their World Cup dream died at the hands of Norway in Nice.
"I don't know if there are any words to describe how I'm feeling, more importantly how the girls are feeling," the Matildas coach said.
Matildas coach Ante Milicic was emotional after the loss to Norway.Credit:AP
"The first 10 to 15 minutes we started really well and had clear-cut chances to take the lead. Unfortunately, we can talk about a lot of decisions, the referee, coming back, the spirit the girls had to come back, the send-off, the shootout, there is a lot to comment on.
"But in the end, I am extremely disappointed. We're eliminated. We go home."
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He felt that on an evening when luck and officials played a key role in the outcome, little had gone right for the Australians, including the sending off of key defender Alanna Kennedy.
"I thought the ball was going to the goalkeeper [in the Kennedy send off], but in the end, it changes momentum, it changes your shape. I thought a lot of the big decisions tonight didn't go our way.
"On another night, it could have. I feel for Alanna, she has been outstanding all tournament and doesn't deserve to finish her tournament individually in that manner."
He was finding it difficult to express his feelings after five months of intense activity with a team whom he only took over in controversial circumstances at the end of January.
"It's too emotional and there's too much disappointment in me right now to come up with words, but what I will say is I am extremely proud of them and it's been an honour to work with this group.
"They're a special bunch of girls and have grown so close to me and I am disappointed I couldn't help them realise a dream they've been waiting for a long time.
"In the end, I take responsibilty for that and I hope tomorrow they can pickRead More – Source
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