Team GB's Olympics exit shouldn't detract from Ellen White's masterclass

When a team's hopes of being crowned Olympic champions are dashed by one of their oldest rivals, it might sound a bit stupid to say they can take heart from their performances - but Team GB really can.

Hege Riise's side dominated for large swathes of their quarter-final clash against Australia on Friday, and were it not for some rotten luck and some equally fine goalkeeping from Teagan Micah they'd still be in with a shot of a podium finish.

It was one of those games where luck just didn't seem to be on their side, with Rachel Daly and Keira Walsh both desperately unlucky to see their respective efforts come back off the woodwork, and Mary Fowler's extra-time goal coming via a huge deflection off Lucy Bronze.

There'll of course be a few days of disappointment and pining over what could have been, but when the dust has settled Team GB can be proud of their efforts. And no player deserves to hold her head up higher than Ellen White.

The Manchester City forward found herself feeding off scraps in the early stages of the clash with Australia and subsequently dropped deeper and deeper into midfield in a bid to impact proceedings.

Because she was playing so deep, White found herself unable to reach a superb cross from Kim Little late in the first half, and there was an evident lightbulb moment where she realised her team needed her to lead the line where she looks at her most impressive.

The second half was a completely different story. This time when the ball was delivered into the box - with club teammate Lauren Hemp the provider on this occasion - White was exactly where she needed to be, and the glancing header she produced to arrow the ball into the far corner was nothing short of world class.

With the scores locked at 1-1, Team GB again looked to their main goal threat to lead the way, and White's persistence and battling in the penalty area saw her win a flick-on before the City forward reacted first to smash the ball beyond Micah to grab her second of the game.

From then on it all fell apart a little for Riise's charges, with some sloppy defending allowing lethal forward Sam Kerr the opportunity to restore parity for Australia with just one minute of normal time to play - a chance she never looked like missing.

With both sides forced to endure the rigours of extra time, White continued battle and charge around the top end of the field in search of any loose touch from the Australian backline, subsequently dragging her teammates up the pitch.

Chances were few and far between for the Team GB forward in the first period of extra time, and Riise's side were struck with a hammer blow with just a few minutes of the first period remaining.

After Caroline Weir had seen her penalty parried away by Micah, Australia struck twice to all but end the game as a contest thanks to goals from Mary Fowler and the unstoppable Kerr.

But that wasn't to be the end. White was in no mood to see her campaign end with a whimper and her hat-trick goal five minutes from time gave hope that the rollercoaster of a quarter-final could have one last twist ahead.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be, with White and her teammates left crestfallen at the full-time whistle, gutted and bemused in equal measure by how they'd managed to lose a game that seemed to be in the palm of their hand.

We all know football's not fair sometimes, but that doesn't mean Team GB should be disappointed with their showing at this summer's tournament, and one day Ellen White in particular will be able to look back on her campaign with immense pride.