Spotted mimicking the foetal position, crouched against a goal upright and finally back on the pitch but only after the final whistle, Lydia Williams cuts a forlorn figure in the rawest of moments.

Goalkeepers are used to the solitude when standing in goal of a battle, but never like this, immediately after Australia's 2023 World Cup campaign came to an emotional close.

The Noongar woman that night looked as far away from a player on the bench could be from where the passion for the game started in Kalgoorlie, let alone from the rest of the Matildas side on the world stage.

There were just no words left following a famous playoff loss to challenging for a consolation bronze medal, yet still an overwhelming feeling of pride swelled in a tournament that is talked about 12 months on.

Hosting the magnitude of a World Cup and performing strongly in front of sellout crowds was seen as the turning point of the women's game in Australia.

But the standout image for many spectators in Brisbane and viewers watching from around the nation was the memory of Williams' heartbreak that some will remember the most about her career more so than the past goals she saved.

"I had just seen Australia hosted a World Cup and host it really successfully," a very guarded Williams told the National Indigenous Times.

"Obviously, there was the performance of the team, but also, yes, I just reflecting, I guess, on what was going to be my last World Cup, and I was just taking it in, on that pitch, on the goal post where I play, all on such a high-class, world stage.

"I was really just having my own moment, I have to say."

That deadpanning image was different to the rest of the Matildas, who still have a future of redemption ahead of them.

The dejected body language and the shedding of tears for everyone to see was more about nothing other than feeling the pain of the immeasurable defeat to Sweden.

The West Australian, who in recent years has called Canberra home away from plying her trade somewhere in Europe, has proven to be the ultimate team player up until the end.

No better example of this was in that World Cup, selflessly accepting to step aside for incumbent keeper Mackenzie Arnold, but still on hand and willing to give out advice while knowing that even though she was in the squad, albeit as a reserve, who would not threaten as the preferred choice despite nearly two decades in charge.

It was almost Football Australia's farewell present to Williams for her service, but frustratingly also to not pull on either the boots or gloves on home soil after starting out international matches in barely half-empty grounds surrounded by more family and friends, than local fans.

"It was amazing, just the selling out crowds in big stadium," Williams said about the surreal changes over the years.

"To have eyes on our football was really exciting and especially the results that went around with it as well.

"It has been really nice to be back here and see the capability and how they can all support our football in the future."

But in the aftermath of the penultimate 2-0 result of the tournament, Arnold returned the favour to her hero growing up as a vast majority of spectators holding back tears streamed out of the stadium.

The pair embraced amid the emotions of a final hurrah, the first hug for Williams, in recognition of the occasion for the 35-year-old all but finishing an international career of only one of two Matildas – the other being Claire Polkinghorne – to head to five consecutive World Cups.

"Mackenzie and I have been together, going to World Cups, even to Olympics, for quite the number of years," Williams said.

"Just the support we've had for each other over the years was displayed then in that moment and showing each other mutual respect and thanks throughout the whole campaign.

"It was a moment between us that was just reflecting on our journeys right until that point."

On reflection inside the changerooms, back on the bus to the team hotel and the period away from the playing squad, Williams took reflection to what she essentially took out of a World Cup that she did not play a single minute in.

While teammates celebrated every goal and every win through the tournament, Williams was only to happy to rejoice in the first-ever Cup finals that visibly recognised playing on Indigenous land.

From the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags flying high over the top of the venues to the Acknowledgement of Country, accompanied with traditional dancing for the world, and the exposure of Māori culture during New Zealand's leg of matches.

"I say to everyone when we play overseas to come to Australia, that it's the best place," she said.

"Australia and New Zealand has always been so far to them, but to see we had a World Cup and that multiple women got to see what we are all about, especially culturally, I just found it really special that we could just wave our flags.

"It was a real celebration of our culture."

The Matildas record-breaker finally did wind up the burgeoning international career one more time this year.

A second friendly against China in Sydney had Williams forever capped at 103 appearances.

She justifiably got the full plaudits for her time on the pitch from a ceremony and a vocal Sydney fan base, after coach Tony Gustavsson wanted to respect her legacy despite pulling her aside a year or so earlier to inform Williams that her understudy Arnold, at times a third-string goalie for past national coaches, was his long-term choice.

Williams is not one for talking up personal accolades, but accepts the legacy that she left may have happened in the familiar surrounds of the red dirt even when the veteran was not listed on the first 11 names on Matildas' team sheet.

"Lot of my friends and family back in WA have said they had special showings (of the World Cup) and a lot of my family have started putting (goalkeeper) No.1s on their shirts and been running around kicking a round football instead of an AFL ball," Williams said.

"To hear those things in the Communities has been really exciting and we want to continue to grow that exposure and hopefully get some more Indigenous kids playing the game."

Williams, who played out the recent A-League women's season with Melbourne Victory, one of 11 professional clubs around the globe she has appeared for at least once, is content to continue to be an ambassador for Indigenous football in perhaps her final sacrifice for the game.

That will be one way that the most iconic Aboriginal star since John Moriarty would freely walk away from the goals.

"It is obviously a big sacrifice to be travelling around the world to play for your sport and country, but hopefully on the back of this World Cup there is a lot more insight now about going out into Communities and really trying to promote the game," Williams said.

"Even just show young kids that there is something they can strive for whether it is playing in the A-League, which is great, or going overseas to pursue something there."