An Edmonton function room was decorated in green and gold, drowned out by singing and cheering for many enjoying their first drink since early January. However others marked the occasion in far more solemn tones as they lamented the chance to go even further in the tournament, ruing missed chances and deliberating about what more could have been done.

After almost six months together, the Matildas finally parted ways on Tuesday in Canada after bowing out from the 2015 Women's World Cup following their painful defeat to Japan. However, after becoming the first senior national team to win a World Cup knockout match, there was much to celebrate for the players and their fans who travelled across the Pacific to follow Australia's highest ranked team.

Only a small handful of players travelled as part of the team returning to Australia as more than half the squad will return to club duty with overseas teams. Among those who are set to immediately resume club commitments are Kyah Simon who is bound for the Boston Breakers, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord with Sky Blue FC in New Jersey, Emily Van Egmond (German club FFC Frankfurt) while Steph Catley made the shorter journey to Portland.

Defensive midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight is said to be closing in on a move to Germany as well, however she says there is no decision yet on where she will play next.

"I haven't made a decision about my playing future for the next six months to a year. I need to have a good think about it and decide what path I want to take in football," Kellond-Knight said.

Striker Michelle Heyman and defender Laura Alleway head the list of players about to go on a break after the Matildas campaign while midfielder Teresa Polias will head back to her job as a teacher in Sydney's south-west.

The players won't likely form a camp like this again until next year when they commence their qualification process for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

"I can really step back and take a lot of positives from the World Cup. We have got a massive Olympic Games qualification campaign in February and we can't dwell on what happened in Canada," Kellond-Knight said.

The final round of qualifications will be a gruelling schedule of five games in ten days beginning in February where Australia must finish in the top two of a six-team group  to progress to Brazil. Pitted in a tough group alongside Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China and a yet to determined opponent, the qualification process may appear just as hard as the World Cup the Matildas performed so remarkably in.

After the game, the Matildas were still frustrated in the manner in which their tournament ended. Conceding a late goal from a set piece in particular was the point of frustration for a squad who underwent a great deal of analysis of Japan's threat from corners.

"It's just unfortunate to concede a goal from a set piece and it's sad that a whole match can be determined from that one mistake. I played and trained in Japan for three months and I know how hard they work at set pieces. In one session you'll take maybe 50 corners and free kicks for two hours," Kellond-Knight said.