But being in touching distance of the World Cup, having reached the quarter final where they will play world champions Japan early on Sunday, makes it all worth it, they say.

Australia went through the unusual process of forming camp five months before their World Cup campaign where part-time professionals put aside everything else in their lives to adopt full-time demands of international football.

It began even before their camp formed on January 12 when forward Sam Kerr left her home in Perth to undergo personal training in Canberra. For nearly two months, she paid her own way on a meagre salary to continue her rehab after knee surgery to simply have the hope of making the squad.

While the Matildas were travelling Europe for a series of matches, Kerr trained alone at the Australian Institute of Sport without any funding from the governing body to meet a set of goals established by the team's conditioning coaches.

She met those, through an incredible work rate and one that was exemplary of the widespread attitude of the squad.

"I have lived in the female footballer's world for a long time and I have seen what they have to go through to achieve what they have to do," says coach Alen Stajcic as his squad prepares for Sunday morning's (AEST) quarter final World Cup match against Japan in Edmonton.

"It's a very hard existence, combining school, uni work, relationships, family time with football, it's really difficult because in essence their football is full-time in everything but remuneration."

Katrina Gorry threaded the pass that delivered Australia the win over Brazil and when she returns to Australia she desperately wants to move out of home. Up until now, she hasn't been able to afford to.

She would work part-time as a barista to supplement what income she does earn from football but she had to put aside work to be in camp for the past six months striving for World Cup glory.

Laura Alleway has been the unsung hero of the Matildas so far. A rock in defence, unbeatable in the air and a silent leader from the backline, it's taken her eight years to complete a Bachelor of Education. It's not that she's been unable to pass subjects, but she continuously had to put her studies on hold for football.

It is the same situation for Elise Kellond-Knight, the woman who was named player of the match for the past two World Cup games and did the unthinkable in shutting down the greatest female player of all-time, Marta. Her job on the Brazilian impressed all but perhaps her university lecturers – she's in her eighth year of studying pharmacy.

Larissa Crummer couldn't complete high school and left in year 10 to pursue a football career that will never offer her a full-time salary and certainly nothing to retire from.

She works as an apprentice plumber with her dad but so much time away places more stress on her father who now relies on her work. It goes beyond work and education, with the six months in camp straining relationships and family commitments.

Ashleigh Sykes lives with her boyfriend in Canberra but the distance has put that under the test. The staff too have sacrificed much for this tournament, with only two members are full-time employees with the squad.