Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson reveals game plan Paris Olympics clash against USA

The Matildas were in this exact same situation three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics when they took on the USA and pulled it off. Coach Tony Gustavsson explains how they can do it again.

For coach Tony Gustavsson it is like dejavu - the Matildas need a draw or better against USA to progress to the quarter-finals - the exact same scenario as the Tokyo Olympics.

The Matildas pulled it off with a 0-0 draw. USA then got their revenge beating the Matildas 4-3 in the battle for the bronze medal.

“We’ve been in this exact situation before in the Olympics in 2021,” he said

“We had three points off the two games, we played the US in the last round, and we needed a point to get to the playoffs.

“So we’ve been here before and have an experienced group like this, with the drive and the passion and the professionalism that they have it’s actually not too hard.”

The Matildas could scrape through off a loss if other results go their way - but Gustavsson isn’t willing to take that risk.

The Matildas prepare for their crucial clash against team USA. Picture: Michael Klein

Gustavsson said the USA team, which he has previously worked for as an assistant coach, was the most in form side in the world right now.

“Not just in this tournament but in the games leading up into as well,” Gustavsson said.

“We are playing one of the best teams in the tournament, we know they’re going to attack with numbers, they run a lot, they score in many different ways and they can score on the counter, they can score on a set play, the can sore on wing.”

To win or hold them out the Matildas need to tighten up the defence to the level it was during the World Cup. At last year’s tournament their defence was one of the best in the competition,conceding just the three goals in the group stage - all in a loss to Nigeria.

This tournament they have let eight slip through to the net.

Gustavsson is confident the girls can turn it around despite having just three days between games.

“We have conceded a lot of goals in this tournament and we need to be more compact in our defending,” Gustavsson said.

“We need to defend the set plays better, we have to show up. We looked at a lot of video because you can’t really train that much, you can do a walkthrough and such but you can’t train with intensity, this deep in the tournament.”

Australia conceded five goals against Zambia. Picture: Valery Hache/AFP

While not revealing what the line up will look like or if any changes will be made, Gustavsson did explain the type of game he hopes to execute.

“I hope to see a Matildas team that is very solid in defending but also very good with the ball,” Gustavsson said.

“We also need to be brave with the ball. There are very few weak areas in the way they play - but we’ve targeted a couple of them and hopefully we can get the ball into those spaces often enough to score.”

Gustavsson knows it will be a tough game. While a win and three points is always the ultimate goal, the coach said he had prepared the players for all situations - with the mission being to get out of the group.

“We need to be able to go in and out of all scenarios in a matter of seconds,” he said.

“Protecting a lead, protecting a tie point or going for a goal - we have all of those scenarios covered.”

Matildas winger Hayley Raso, who scored her first Olympic goal in the game against Zambia, said the team was recovered well and the comeback win served as a confidence boost.

“We just need to tidy up a few things, make sure we put away the goals, all our focus is on that game against the US now,” she said.

Originally published as Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson reveals game plan Paris Olympics clash against USA