FIFA Women’s World Cup: Matildas handle pressure easily in front of big Melbourne crowd
You’d think the Matildas played in front of 50,000 fans every second week going by the calm reaction from players. ADAM PEACOCK found out they only have one World Cup request however - cheer even louder.
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If the Matildas have any chance of letting the grand piano of pressure land on their back and suppress their true ability at the World Cup, it’s going to come out of nowhere.
After last night’s 1-0 win over France, there were nothing but calm words from calm players in a good frame of mind.
Mary Fowler, who scored the game-winning goal that carried the poise of a meditating monk, explained why the team, so far, had found a functional state of mind.
“We have such a nice group of girls, everyone is just willing to give their all for one another,” Fowler says.
“I think our team does it really well to block out the noise outside. We’re here for ourselves first and foremost, and we want to be able to have no regrets in that sense.”
“You just don’t question yourself, and everyone picks you up if you make a mistake.”
Hayley Raso, who set up Fowler’s goal, reacted to playing in front of 50,000 like it was a week-to-week normal part of life.
“It’s nice to play in front of fans like that,” Raso explains.
“To see everyone in the green and gold, to see a packed stadium, we thrive in that. You saw it tonight, having them behind us like a 12th man, so to come out in front of more next week we’re all looking forward to it.”
83,000 people in Sydney next Thursday is what lies ahead.
Ireland, the opponents on night one, had a torrid time in a warm-up game against Colombia in Brisbane at the same time as the Matildas-France game.
The closed door match, not even played in front of three men and a dog, was abandoned after 20 minutes, with tackles flying in and heads lost. Denise O’Sullivan, Ireland’s midfielder general, ultra-important to their chances, was reportedly taken to hospital.
The Matildas don’t have problems in comparison.
“50,000, packed stadium, the crowd was awesome. Bloody love it!” enthused defender Clare Hunt.
Caitlin Foord had one wish; that the crowd be louder next week.
All players, though, mentioned the need to stay humble.
Advice heeded from coach Tony Gusvasson.
“Yes we want to take it all in,” Gustavsson says, “and get motivated and inspired, connect with the fans and the nation and feel this momentum because I think that’s important to embrace. Don’t want to be boring in that sense.
“But then we need to park that, and go back to that game plan.”
The Matildas head to Brisbane on Saturday to jump into the World Cup bubble at the Queensland Academy of Sport and Gustavsson will spend the majority of his time delving into the science of football.
Pressing triggers. Build up patterns. Low blocks and mid blocks.
Advanced algebra for the untrained eye, and a quick way to infuse boredom into a 10-year-old, who just wants to see Sam Kerr do a backflip.
In order for that to happen, though, the boring process needs to be adhered to, or as Gustavsson says, “It’s not letting us get carried away and staying focused on the mission.”
Herve Renard, the French coach, leaves Melbourne with more problems than Tony Gustavsson, and he told French press the Matildas didn’t surprise him, but rather just impressed him further.
Renard made mention that the Australians are in an elite category physically.
Mentally they look in decent shape too.
Originally published as FIFA Women’s World Cup: Matildas handle pressure easily in front of big Melbourne crowd
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