Gustavsson - You need to be proud of yourself when you leave everything out there
Tony Gustavsson was available to the media after the Matildas fell 3-1 to England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ semi-final.
He began by explaining his thoughts about how the game went in general.
“The first half… We didn’t get our transition game going,” he explained. “They were very good and efficient to take that away from us and I don’t think we were brave enough on the ball.”
He said that the second half, by contrast, was one of the better halves that he saw from his side overall at the World Cup. Unfortunately, from an Australian perspective, England were the ones who put their chances away.
“In tournament football it takes one moment, and England were much more clinical than we were,” he said. “We had three sitters to make it 2-2… then in the 86th minute, one ball behind and it’s 3-1 and almost game over.”
The coach cited the midfield battle as a fascinating tactical one, where “no one shied away.”
“I think it was an interesting tactical battle in there,” he expressed. “Everything from them wanted to close down our left side and slide out with one of the centre midfielders up for Steph… So it became a second ball game in there.”
“I think in the first half we didn’t move the ball quick enough… In the second half when we did have the bravery to play through the middle and get out to the opposite side we created 2 v 1 against the wing-backs. I also think they were good on the break.”
Gustavsson has spoken extensively about the reasons why the team play for much more than just football. He was asked about players talking after the match about the need for more funding in Australia, and the transformation of the country into a football nation.
“We’re very disappointed that we lost but hopefully we won something else,” he said. “We won the heart and the passion for this game in this country.”
“This has to be the start of something, and with that comes money as well.”
The team faces a very short turnaround to the third-place playoff against Sweden on Saturday. The focus will now switch to three day’s time.
“It’s an extremely short turnaround to that game now,” he explained. “I know we’re emotional, but we have no time to dwell on this one. We have a bronze medal game to play, we need to be ready.”
Sweden are a team that Australia have played a lot in recent times, including at the Olympics in 2021 and an international friendly in 2022. It means that the coaching staff won’t need to dig too deep into the archives to find footage to analyse – but Gustavsson pointed out that goes both ways.
“I know Peter and the Swedish team, but I also think they know us,” he said.
Australia’s goal in this match was a stunner from Sam Kerr. It was her first start in the tournament after picking up a calf injury the day before the match against the Republic of Ireland. Gustavsson said he was happy for her to get that goal, but that ultimately she would have preferred the win.
He told the players in the huddle to be proud of their efforts.
“We promised each other to leave everything out there, and every single player did,” he said. “I think that’s why the fans thanked them and supported them afterwards as well, because they see a team that leaves everything out there.”
“Yes we are disappointed that we didn’t win, but you also need to be proud of yourself when you leave everything out there and they did.
“We have no time to dwell on this… We have extremely limited time. If we get too emotionally dragged down on this one, we have no chance in the bronze medal game. We need to be strong now.”
Finally, he took the opportunity to praise the work of Kerr throughout the tournament.
“You’ve all heard me say that time after time, she means the world to this team,” he explained. “Not only as a player when she plays, but also the time she spent on the bench this tournament.
“The way she’s lead the team, inspired the team, and has been the heart and the soul of this team. Her and Steph Catley, captain and vice-captain of this team, are the heart and soul of this team and they do a tremendous job.”
Gustavsson will now look ahead to formulating a game-plan for the bronze medal match against Sweden.