Head Coach: Tony Gustavsson Group: G
Confederation: AFC Ranking: 9
Highest 4 (2017)
Lowest 16 (2003)
Federation: Football Australia
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The Tokyo Olympics arrives at a time that is perhaps less than ideal for the Matildas. Everything hit pause for a good 12 months; a new coach was hired during that time and recent results haven’t been kindest on the face of it.

But dig a little deeper and there’s some promise for Australian fans. Twelve months off national duty has seen many Matildas flourish abroad, like Sam Kerr and Emily van Egmond, while others at home pulling off the seemingly impossible to secure a spot in the national team such as Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin.


Furthermore, the break meant the constant cycle of year-round club competition was broken, with most players not backing up European or American seasons with Australia’s W-League.

Prior to meeting up with Japan in an Olympic’s warm-up, the Matildas are still on the hunt for a victory under coach Tony Gustavsson.

But the signs are promising. New formations, a new fearlessness of adapting within a game and changing the plan, whether that’s structural, when to apply pressure or playing more direct.

The Olympics have arrived at an odd time during the Matildas’ cycle, but the pieces look to be there to once again spark the dreams of a nation.

‘Never say die’ is the mantra of this side after all, and perhaps that’s what spring the Matildas beyond a quarter-final appearance.

Squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Coach

Matildas’ head coach Tony Gustavsson’s may have spent less than 12 months with the team, but that doesn’t mean he lacks experience. Most notably in the women’s game, Gustavsson was part of the United States Women’s National Team’s coaching staff during their golden era, working under the greats of Pia Sundhage and Jill Ellis.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Gustavsson took over from Ante Juric in September, leaving the role as head coach of top flight Swedish men’s team Hammarby IF. His philosophy has been to improve on each performance. The time he has had with the Matildas has been short and balanced with player wellbeing. The Olympics will be the first true assessment of a full-strength Matildas under Gustavsson.

Gustavsson is the man expected to be at the steering wheel of a home World Cup tournament for the Matildas, so expectations are high.

Last Olympics

Ask any Matildas about what has been a nightmare on repeat since Rio 2016, it’ll be THAT penalty shoot out against Brazil in the quarter-finals. 

An early injury to Steph Catley forced a shuffle of the deck, leading to an incredibly tense match with the Matildas resolute in defence and securing the odd gasping moments on the counter. Alanna Kennedy missed the last penalty. The photo of the defender, hands on head, with Brazil celebrating in the background is etched in Matilda’s history.

The group stage saw the Matildas succumb 2-0 in the opening match to Canada, who would go on to tie down the bronze medal. A 2-all draw against Germany ignited dreams of bigger things, with a 6-1 victory against Zimbabwe securing passage to the quarter-finals as a third-placed team.

Read More: Canada Olympic Preview

Qualifying Path

The Matildas were in cruise control for much of qualifying, securing convincing victories against Asian minnows.

Then came China. The Chinese put up a stern test, with discipline off the ball keeping the Matildas out of the attacking half. An Emily van Egmond rocket broke the 0-0 deadlock. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The long road to qualification was sealed by a tense 2-1 win over Vietnam.

Read more: China Olympic Preview.

The Strengths

Recent cycles have seen the Matildas tagged as youngsters and a new generation. That’s no longer the case. The team finally can be considered experienced, most having been to multiple World Cups and an Olympic games.

With that experience comes familiarity. Even if the Matildas move into new territory of different formations, they have the advantage of familiarity with much of the squad having stuck together over the past five years.

Add in a flurry of players who have established themselves in top European club sides over the past 18 months, where they’ve learnt new styles and techniques.

The Challenge

A new coach with new ‘non-Australian’ ideas that looks beyond the 4-3-3 norm is the biggest of challenges.

The previous two coaches have been textbook Football Australia approved coaches, sticking to very similar structures and ideas of how to play and build up. Gustavsson has already looked beyond that, playing 3-5-3 often in the warm-up matches.

Key Players

Sam Kerr

All eyes will be on the Chelsea forward as they were at the France World Cup two years ago. There’s little doubt Kerr should strike fear in every defender and goalkeeper. 

With the right service, Kerr could walk away with a slice of Matildas’ history of going deeper than a quarter-final, and perhaps the golden boot.

Ellie Carpenter

Carpenter has perhaps slipped under the radar by her decision to play at Lyon, a team who failed to reach their usual expectations of a Champions League final this season.

However Carpenter is in fine form, having continued to develop her game further since leaving Australia’s shores. The fullback has flourished into a world class player, with an engine better than an energizer bunny and the ability to put in a cross on a dime. 

Prediction 

There’s no easy group stage in Olympic football and the Matildas would know from experience that none of their opponents can be considered ‘easy’.

New Zealand is the first game of the group for the Matildas and a must win. It won’t be easy against our traditional rivals, but it’s do-able and a necessity to reaching the next round. It’s going to be tough sailing if the Matildas don’t secure the three-points. If they do, it’ll be a boost ahead of the battles to come.

There will be familiarity when meeting Sweden. The pair played out a stalemate in June. Both teams will likely shuffle the deck and there’s the competitiveness of the Olympics to factor in. 

The last game against the United States will be a stern test. The most recent match between the pair was a 5-2 riot. The USWNT are on a 40-odd-game winning streak. The Matildas have shown they have the talent to beat the Americans, but it’ll take something special on a big stage to do so. The final match of the round is always a gamble, desperation can be at play, so can saving players legs for what’s to come.

If the Matildas bring out their best, this is the group of death this tournament. But that will depend on things clicking. If everything clicks into place, a second or third place that’ll secure passage to the quarter-finals is nearly guaranteed, with a potential semi-final within reach. 

Things don’t click in time? The Matildas could be left staring down the barrel of disappointment.

Matches

Date Local Time AEST Venue Team A v Team B
21/7/2021 08:30 PM 9:30 PM Tokyo Stadium Australia vs New Zealand
24/7/2021 5:30 PM 6:30 PM Saitama Stadium Sweden vs Australia
27/7/2021 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Ibaraki Kashima Stadium USA vs Australia 
Follow Beyond 90's coverage of the Olympics.
MOLLY APPLETON
MOLLY APPLETON
Molly is a Contributing Editor for Beyond 90 who endeavours to provide quality analysis of the game and telling a compelling story. Getting her start through her own blog at Molly’s Footy Rants, Molly has since become a match reporter for Football Federation Tasmania and has covered the 2018/19 W-League season with The Women’s Game. She also works at Channel 7 Tasmania in television news.
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