Great post. Pretty much how I saw it. Norway would have been a tragedy beaten had they lost. Could have easily put another couple past us but for bad luck and some superb Williams saves.Australia has been shaky at the back for months. Even in the Cup of Nations the defence was clearly the weak point, but the opponents Australia played weren't good enough to take advantage. In the two friendlies before the World Cup, Australia conceded eight goals. Not going to win too many games with that sort of shoddy defending.
Milicic was trying to get the players to adapt to his style of play and the FFA responded by giving him two friendlies after the Cup of Nations (which was scheduled while Stajcic was still coach) and a two week pre-World Cup training camp to give him the opportunity to work with the players.
By contrast, the USWNT played five friendlies between the end of the SheBelieves Cup and the start of the World Cup in April and May. And that is with a coach who has been in the job for five years.
The early exit falls on the shoulders of Gallop and the FFA board. They simply didn't give Milicic the tools he needed to get the squad ready for the World Cup.
Matildas very disappointing in both the Italy and Norway games. They leak goals, struggle to maintain control of the ball and are quite one dimensional up front for a side ranked #6.