Mark Bosnich points out Matildas’ ‘massive problem’ in Paris Olympics loss
A Aussie football hero has broken down a key problem for the Matildas after an embarrassing first up outing at the Paris Olympic.
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Football legend Mark Bosnich says the Matildas have a “massive problem” as the fallout into their crushing loss to Germany in its first game of 2024 Olympics continues.
Australia’s women’s football side was soundly beaten 3-0 by the Germans, in a wake-up call for our hopes of a medal in this campaign.
It was a disappointing start, albeit against a powerhouse nation, with questions raised over the sluggish style of play from the Matildas.
On Stan Sport this morning, former Socceroo Bosnich pointed out issues in the Matildas’ build-up play as the green and gold struggled to break down a tight German defence.
He pointed to some examples of misplaced passes and slow ball movement as Alanna Kennedy played out from the back, saying it appeared the players didn’t know where their teammates were going to be.
Kennedy could be seen gesturing for her teammates to make runs as she looked to play through the Germans’ mid-block.
“Well, this was for me a massive problem,” Bosnich said on Stan Sport’s Olympics Daily show.
“Now ideally, you want to have people in positions where they know they don’t even have to put their head up if they don’t want to but they know that somebody’s going to be there.
“And this was happening time and time again.”
The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper said he thought the Matildas were crowding around the ball carrier instead of making runs into space.
“When people are running to the ball you want to stay away, maybe give an option and that’s it,” he said.
“But that’s something that they need to sort out and so they’re very very quick and I’m not talking about a whole changes too late to do a whole change.
“But these little simple little like I said to these little details make a big difference in the big games.”
Bosnich said it was something coach Tony Gustavsson needed to sort out before the Matildas’ next match.
They next face low-ranked Zambia before a match up with perennial medal favourites the USA to close out the group stage.
“He’s done a brilliant job and getting into two semi finals, but now’s the time that he is going to really call upon all his experience, or his ability,” Bosnich said.
“Those players need to know what options that they have. I think they need a lot more structure than we probably actually realised as well.”
The Matildas are without one of the world’s best players in Sam Kerr at the Paris Games, who remains sidelined after suffering an ACL injury with her club side Chelsea.
Bosnich believes the team needs to be built around golden girl Mary Fowler in order to make up for the loss of Kerr - saying that was key to a deep run in Paris.
He said the players needed to take the loss “on the chin” and respond to the criticism the team has received in recent days.
“If you’re not capable of handling that type of criticism talking about other stuff, some people personal criticism can affect them, but if you can’t use that as fire then you shouldn’t be there in the first place,” he said.
Questions have also been raised about some players choosing to take a holiday before the Olympics, and how it might have impacted their preparation.
Former Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has also commented on finding the balance of a pre-tournament camp, after some players spoke of the brutal conditions faced in Marbella.
“Sometimes if your pre camp is too long then the players get into groundhog day mode and sort of feel more like going home,” he said.
“If you don’t have a long enough camp then you go in underprepared and that can get you into strife. So it is a challenge to get the balance right.”
After the loss to Germany, Gustavsson said he believed the Matildas were “ready” for the tournament but conceded they were outdone physically.
“Now when I say these things about match fitness and tempo that is not excuses at all, it’s just explaining where we are at right now and I think you can explain why we lose so many one-on-one duels,” he said.
“This team physically normally, wins all the one-on-one duels, we are aggressive, our speed beats teams, but that wasn’t there tonight.”
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