No medal at the Olympic Games could abruptly end Tony Gustavsson’s time as Matildas’ head coach

It is crunch time for Tony Gustavsson and his future with Matildas hinges on what happens in Paris next month, writes ERIN SMITH.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson’s time with the Matildas could come to an abrupt end if he doesn’t steer the team to an Olympic medal in Paris.

Gustavsson’s contract expires at the end of the Olympics.

During his reign with the Matildas he has witnessed an enormous surge in the sport but is yet to secure a win in a major tournament – finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Gustavsson, who named the 18-woman squad bound for Paris in Sydney on Tuesday morning, wouldn’t be pushed on his plans post Olympics.

The coach said he had spoken to Football Australia CEO James Johnson about his future but both parties decided to put a pause on discussions until post Olympics.

“We said let’s respect the current contract through this Olympics and then pick up that conversation post Olympics,” Gustavsson said.

“As of right now this is my last tournament (with the Matildas) but what’s important for me and the team is that we’re focused on what we have in front of us.

“What I can say and I think all of you here know is how much I love working with this team.”

Gustavsson speaking at the Matildas’ team announcement for Paris. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

With the Matildas brand growing and the side now the most loved Australian sporting team a passion and love for the team is unlikely to be enough for Football Australia to let Gustavsson to sign on the dotted line again.

Results is what they need and want to continue their growth – especially with no major tournaments slotted for 2025 and the home hosted Asian Women’s Cup scheduled for 2026.

Gustavsson is certainly taking the task ahead seriously.

Naming an expected squad with all the stars including Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter.

Injured midfielder Katrina Gorry has also been named and Gustavsson hopes it doesn’t backfire like the Kyah Simon situation did at the World Cup.

Gustavsson named Simon who was still recovering from her ACL in the World Cup team but a setback in camp meant the star didn’t take the field during the whole tournament.

Gustravsson has taken another gamble with the selection of the tenacious Katrina Gorry. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images

“Mini (Gorry), has obviously been selected on where we hope and think she can become July 25,” Gustavsson said.

“Her progress is going positively, she’s on track, but there’s always a question mark.

“She’s not playing football fully yet but based on the conversation with her we think she will be in a good place come July 25.”

Gorry played a key role in the Matildas fourth place finish at the World Cup. She was the engine room, the workhorse, level head and playmaker. Replacing her is not easy.

“Everyone saw what she could bring in the World Cup and even if she’s not fit for backing up 90 plus, I need a profile with her player at the Olympics.

“Obviously worst case, she’s not available, we have alternates.”

Foord missed Monday night’s clash with China after picking up a hamstring injury in the first friendly in Adelaide. The forward was medically cleared to play but Gustavsson opted to rest her to not risk any further damage before the Olympics.

“She has played for 18 consecutive months now, she needs a mental and physical reset – then come into the camp fresh in July.”

Caitlin Foord sat out the second friendly against China. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

What’s Next

To ensure players arrive in Spain fresh for their three-week pre Olympics camp players have been granted three weeks leave.

While they won’t be on the pitch they have each been given individual training programs to ensure they can hit the ground running in Spain.

The only exceptions are Emily van Egmond and Kaitlyn Torpey who are due to return to the USA to continue their domestic season with San Diego Wave.

There is one more FIFA window before the Olympics – running from July 8-16.

Gustavsson said he was investigating his options for playing at least one match in that window to give the team one more competitive match before the Games.

“When you’re that close to a tournament, in a perfect world, you’d like one game with unlimited substitutions and you can get game time for every player and work through that process but at the same time you want one game where it’s like a real game – where ranking points matters and it’s that competition mode.

“So if you can combine the two that would be a perfect world,” Gustavsson said.

“We might end up being in a situation as well when we’re left with a closed door game where we can test some game management stuff and tactics that we don’t want to reveal.

“We did that on home soil before the World Cup so we could fly under the radar as well.

“So it’s a combination of those two things.”

BREAKING ➡️ https://t.co/OzDRhIptYn#Matildas | #Paris2024pic.twitter.com/rcCYqpQFAo

— CODE Football (@codefootballau) June 4, 2024

Fight for Gold

Matildas attacker Mary Fowler said unlocking the right team mindset would be key to success in Paris.

Fowler was the youngest member of the Tokyo Olympics squad.

“There’s a lot of emotion going into this one,” Fowler said.

“The frustration and disappointment from not coming away with anything from the past few tournaments is definitely driving us to want to do better.

“I think that the emotional side will help us as well.”

Matildas will face Germany, Zambia and USA in the group stages at the Olympics. All tough opponents.

“It is hard to go deep into tournaments and physically it’s tough but I think especially with the Olympics you have such a short turnaround with games but the disappointment of not getting anything at the last couple of tournaments will really help fuel us.”

The drive and need to bring something home is shared by the whole team.

Hayley Raso said they did not want to finish fourth again.

Raso at the press conference for the Australian 2024 Paris Olympic Games Women's Football Squad Announcement. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“It’s kind of getting on our nerves a little bit,” Raso said.

“We really want to achieve something and bring something back.

“We’ve all got the same goal and will obviously be focusing on one game at a time but we want to come away with something from this one.”

Captain Steph Catley said the team was in a good place and while they hadn’t got the results they wanted at the last Olympics or the World Cup it all worked to put them in the best place possible for this tournament.

“We’ve had the highest of pressures and we’ve proven that we can perform under that sort of pressure,” Catley said.

“This team has a lot to be proud of already. I think we’ve left an amazing legacy for what we’ve just done at the World Cup and the way we’ve gone about what we’ve done over the last however many years but we are a really hungry, competitive team and obviously finishing fourth at two major tournaments has been hurtful to say the least.

“We do want something tangible to take away from what we’ve achieved.”

ENDS

Originally published as No medal at the Olympic Games could abruptly end Tony Gustavsson’s time as Matildas’ head coach