Olympic qualification a must to ensure Matildas’ 2023 legacy continues to grow in 2024

The Matildas had every reason to celebrate this year but if they can’t deliver a gold medal performance at the Olympics all their hard work could be undone.

There is no denying the Matildas have had a spectacular year, but unless they can deliver the one thing that’s eluded them for more than a decade, all their hard work will mean nothing.

The Matildas finished fourth at the home FIFA Women’s World Cup and while it ended on a sour note with two losses to Canada, it is easy enough to sweep those under the carpet and never talk about them again.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson used the so-called “friendlies” against Canada this month to test some rising stars in a high-pressure situation.

The experiment backfired when the team lost the first game 5-0.

The second loss wasn’t much better but could be excused when you consider player loads and the amount of football the Matildas have played this year.

If we swipe those two games from the record, the Matildas really did shine in the past 12 months.

Matildas fans packed out stadiums in Perth during the Matildas Olympic qualifying games. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images.

Unprecedented levels of supporters’ gear were sold, Disney filmed and released a documentary, they broke crowd records and viewer records.

They were dubbed the winners of the prestigious Don Award by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, named the Champions of the Year at Marie Claire’s Women of the Year Awards, won the TikTok Australia Sports Creator of the Year award and were named Team of the Year at the GQ Awards.

Individual players also celebrated success. Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso and Sam Kerr were Ballon d’Or finalists, and Kerr finished second.

Kerr was also named the AFC Women’s Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Women’s Footballer of the Year.

The Chelsea super striker and rising star Mary Fowler are the most Googled Aussies in past 12 months.

However, these trophies and fancy awards mean nothing if the Matildas can’t continue to deliver results on the global stage.

Their next chance to do that is at the Paris Olympics in July.

They haven’t quite booked their seats on the plane yet. They have to beat Uzbekistan in a two-game home-and-away series in February.

On paper, a game against the 50th-ranked country that has never qualified for a World Cup or Olympics should be an easy win for the Matildas.

However, the Matildas’ loss to Nigeria in the group stage at the World Cup proves there is no longer such thing as an easy game in women’s football.

Kyah Simon poses with the Don Award next to Tim Cahill earlier this month. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

If the Matildas win both matches they will earn a spot at the Olympics. If the results are split 1-1 then it will come down to who has scored the most goals.

If that tally is also level, more weight is given to the number of goals scored by the away team.

Assuming the Matildas qualify for the Olympics, which they should, they need to go to Paris with nothing but the intent to win the gold medal.

After falling short at the past two major tournaments – the Tokyo Olympics and World Cup this year – the Matildas need a win.

Not just for their own confidence but to keep growing the women’s game and their following.

Their recent success has seen their fan base surge.

The impact of a medal-winning performance at the Olympics would be astronomical.

The Matildas generated a wealth of interest in women’s football across the country in 2023 following their success at the World Cup. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

But with the hype of the home World Cup likely to have died down by the time the Olympics begin, and the Games taking place on the other side of the world, a poor performance could be felt just as heavily as a good one.

It would send the Matildas crashing into the sand after the wave they have been riding and most likely have sponsors scurrying or lowering their contributions.

The Matildas are ranked the 11th best team in the world – not No. 1, not No. 5 and not even 10th.

They haven’t won a major tournament since 2010.

Without a win it will be hard for the Matildas to keep their fans captivated through to the next major tournament, the 2026 AFC Cup, which Football Australia hopes to host.

Originally published as Olympic qualification a must to ensure Matildas’ 2023 legacy continues to grow in 2024