They fought hard, right up to the final siren….

The Matildas, Australia’s female soccer team, have gone down in a close match to Japan.

In the early hours of this morning, the Matildas played in a ground-breaking World Cup quarter final against the Asian champions.

With just three minutes until the end of the game, Japan scored one crucial goal.

Australian coach, Alen Stajcic, said, “In terms of heart and courage it was excellent. In terms of execution it probably wasn’t our best.”

The Matildas loss comes after Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, made another gaffe in a pre-recorded message of support to the Matildas. The PM said that, “Australia had never made a World Cup football quarter-final before.” Mr Abbott had seemingly forgotten the two previous quarter-finals that the Matildas have made in 2007 and then in 2011.

After their historic win against Brazil, the depth of the shocking pay disparity between the Matildas and the Socceroos has been revealed. If the Matildas had made the final of the World Cup, each player would have earned a total of $5,600, compared to the Socceroos who would have been paid a whopping $69,000 each.

Despite the loss, the Mamamia team would like to say to the Matildas: YOU ABSOLUTELY SMASHED IT. We are so proud to be represented by you, and can’t wait for Rio.

Other sportswomen to watch:

Female Aussie sportswomen to watch.

Torah Bright.

Leisel Jones.

Elizabeth Cambage.

Stephanie Gilmore.

Edwina Tops.

Catherine Cox.

Anna Meares.

Cathy Freeman.

Sam Stosur.

Madonna Blyth.