Olympics 2024: How Matildas have found an inside run at glory at the Paris Games
The Matildas have left no stone unturned when it comes to preparing for the Paris Olympics, sourcing an outside expert to scout their group stage opponents.
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The Matildas have left no stone unturned when it comes to preparing for the Paris Olympics, sourcing an outside expert to scout their group stage opponents.
Matildas staff, including coach Tony Gustavsson still don’t know if Steph Catley, Kaitlyn Torpey, Tameka Yallop and Caitlin Foord will be able to play in the opening Olympic match in nine days time.
It is understood that all are undertaking individual training plans and Yallop’s lack of match fitness and time on the training park could put her in doubt for the first clash.
The players are in the safe hands of the Matildas medical staff.
Gustavsson can’t do much but wait, hope and throw everything he has into ensuring the team is as prepared as possible.
Football Australia hired Magnus Pehrsson back in May to serve as an adviser to the team and provide Gustavsson with inside information on Germany, USA and Zambia.
Pehrsson certainly has an eye for the job after 20 years experience as a manager of top flight Swedish and Danish clubs in domestic and Champions League campaigns.
He also served as the head coach of the Estonia Men’s National Football team.
“The progress of the women’s game has been exceptional the last couple of years and the evolution of the game now requires more in-depth analysis to understand the best teams in the world,” Pehrsson said.
“Coming in with fresh eyes, I hope to use my extensive experience as a head coach and tactical ability to provide insight that can assist Tony and the players for the months ahead.”
It isn’t the first time the Matildas have outsourced work like this - they did the same in the lead up to the World Cup.
Pehrsson’s first task was to prepare a report looking at how each of the group stage opponents could beat the Matildas. Highlight the weaknesses, the strengths of the Tillies and how each team might overcome those.
Something a long term coach might struggle with due to internal bias.
The second stage is to then learn everything there is to learn about the opposition and let Gustavsson and his team know their weaknesses and strengths.
Once the tournament kicks off preparation time between games will be very limited.
The Matildas will play every three days - if they progress to the gold medal match they will have played six games in sixteen days across multiple French cities.
Gustavsson won’t be using those few days in between to sit and explain every detail of the next opponent.
The players were presented with the information sourced by Pehrsson during their pre-Olympics camp in Spain.
Having this information early gives the players plenty of preparation time a Gustavsson a chance to reference those things during their training sessions - or plan sessions around a particular set up or formation.
Some players will already have knowledge of how USA player - they are familiar opponents.
While the Matildas haven’t crossed paths with Germany since 2021.
Matildas are yet to face Zambia.
A lot of focus has been on the threat of Germany and the USA. But as we saw at last year’s World Cup an unknown like Nigeria, who beat the Matildas 3-0, can never be ruled out.
Zambia is a rising force.
They are fast and have a number of technical players.
Their forwards - Barba Banda and Rachael Kundananji both in the past couple of months broke transfer records into the NWSL. Banda joined Orlando Pride for a fee of $1.1 million (AUD) and Kundananji was picked up by Bay FC for $1.3 million.
Even Matildas speedsters Ellie Carpenter and Cortnee Vine would struggle to match their pace.
But with the scouts’ knowledge in their back pockets the Matildas are aware of every threat all three teams pose and should not be caught off guard in France.
Matildas will play Germany on July 26 at 3am in Marseille.
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