Following two tense hours of football in Nice, the Matildas' hopes at the FIFA Women's World Cup rested upon Sam Kerr. And her alone.

"Only big players can miss penalties, because small ones don't take them," coach Ante Milicic said following Australia's penalty shootout defeat to Norway on Saturday. It's true.

That post-match comment from Milicic becomes rather conspicuous, though, bearing in mind two substitutions in the dying minutes of extra-time. Missed or converted, or if her effort was saved, that Kerr even took that first penalty for Australia was perfectly microcosmic.

Not to say that comment is a diversion of any potential blame, though it is definitely plausible to perceive it as such. Rather, this relates to the characteristic of bravery in football. Kerr and Emily Gielnik were brave to step up and live with the consequences, along with Steph Catley, who converted her penalty.

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The Matildas were resilient in searching for an equaliser -- and eventually getting it, somehow. At the other end, Lydia Williams showed remarkable determination to make crucial stops after suffering a knock from Lisa-Marie Utland. These are qualities that are not only admirable in life, but what Australians feel is synonymous with their sport. Will truly is a skill.

But luck runs out, and when that happened for a disjointed Matildas outfit on Saturday, Kerr then suddenly had to salvage everything. the preceding 120 minutes that effectively put Kerr in that moment of isolation were, tactically, the footballing definition of fear. Or inanity. Or both. Any way one looks at it in those terms, it's not good.

Milicic's pre-match comments were like a window into his framing of the game.

"We'll continue to be brave and play our way of football," he said. "A little bit has to do with our personnel, the changes that we've had and in the lead-up to both in this tournament.

"We're comfortable with the work we've done on our defensive issues and in transition, and we really just need to execute on the day. But again, I think it's clear that you'll know what kind of an Australian team will go out onto the pitch tomorrow night."

Last week's 4-1 win over Jamaica was undoubtedly Australia's best attacking performance of the tournament -- not in the amount of goals scored, but the nature of possession -- but changes were inevitable. Consequently, so, too, was a laborious struggle with the ball over 120 minutes, against a Norwegian side looking to play on the break.