Australia's penalty shootout defeat in Nice to Norway meant the team didn't reach the last eight for the first time since 2003.

Given the Matildas were top-seeded and carried the weight of expectation, the team's exit hit many hard.

Chloe Logarzo cried as she spoke on the way out of the ground. Others couldn't bring themselves to be interviewed.

"This is the best team we've had to win the competition. It's so hard, going out the way we did and especially with the belief we had," she said.

There was precious little time for the team to coalesce in Nice.

The team left the stadium well after midnight, with early morning flights taking many home or back to their clubs.

Others chose to stay in France.

Steph Catley, Lydia Williams, Amy Harrison and Chloe Logarzo had a picnic in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold strolled Nice's old town while they took in their disappointment.

Caitlin Foord made clear the team's next priority will arrive in July 2020.

"Olympics. We've got that to look forward to. This team is very special and we're going to do something special. Right now wasn't our time," she said.

"There's belief within this team. I think we played some good football and we walked away playing our football so there's a lot of positives."

For the team's off-field leaders, there is an acknowledgement the domestic completion must grow if Australia is to keep up with European leagues and teams.