By Emma Kemp
Tony Gustavsson appears unlikely to rotate his squad for Australia’s final World Cup match, saying he won’t make selection decisions “based on emotions” when third place is at stake.
The Matildas coach has been averse to altering his starting line-up throughout the tournament and only used his substitutes sparingly in comparison with many rivals.
Proven players such as attacker Alex Chidiac and fullback Charli Grant received very little and almost zero game time respectively, and the main question before Saturday’s third-place play-off with Sweden was whether under-utilised squad members would have a chance to shine.
That question is underlined by the blanket of fatigue over many core members of his squad, who were visibly spent during periods of the 3-1 semi-final loss to England.
But Gustavsson couched the decision not in terms of merit, but emotion – suggesting he may field an XI similar to the previous six matches.
“If it was emotionally, those players would play, because they deserve to play,” Gustavsson said. “But I can’t speak based on emotions.
Alex Chidiac, who was brought on against England with two minutes of regular time remaining, appears unlikely to feature heavily against Sweden on Saturday.Credit: Getty
“This is a third-place game, we’re playing for a medal. I’m going to make sure we have a line-up there that is the strongest starting line-up we can have, but also the strongest finishing line-up.
“I’m just going to plan what I think is best for the team in this one game and not look at it as a bigger picture than that. It’s not about giving players experience just for the sake of giving experience. This is a game to win. We have had a clear strategy.
“I know there’s probably opinions in this room about that, which I think is fair because I like those types of debates – whether you should rotate players in a tournament, whether you should have continuity in the line-up, I think you saw in the Olympics, I think you’ll see now, that we have gone with a strategy where we think relationship and continuity in tournaments is key.”
One player certain to miss the match is Alanna Kennedy, who was sidelined against England through what officials said was “illness”. It has since been confirmed the centre-back has experienced delayed concussion symptoms stemming from the quarter-final against France.
Saturday’s play-off for World Cup bronze at Suncorp Stadium will mark the fifth time in Gustavsson’s tenure he has managed the Matildas against his native country, including a semi-final loss at the Tokyo Olympics.
Last November, Australia beat Sweden for the first time under Gustavsson – a 4-0 rout.
“These players don’t shy away from a tackle and neither do Sweden,” Gustavsson said on Friday. “It’s going to be a physical battle out there, for sure.
“I’ve gotten to learn how to play against Sweden in tournaments. It is special, I have to say it really is. I have a lot of very good friends in that team, both players and coaches.
“But when the game starts it’s 90 minutes of football and I know every single one of us whether it’s Sweden or us is going to do everything we can to win.”
Gustavsson is particularly good friends with Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson, who on Friday revealed the pair had attended a Kings of Leon gig together while in Auckland for last October’s World Cup draw.
“We were close to working together in 2008 when I was at Helsingborg and he was with Hammarby,” Gerhardsson said. “I was close to becoming his assistant, and we’ve kept in touch over the years. We’ve got a good relationship. He is a good lad, a good coach and he’s quite funny as well.”
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