Forget heartbreak, there are lessons for Matildas to learn for 2023 World Cup

Immediately after the Matildas’ 4-3 defeat to USA in the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympics, their coach Tony Gustavsson vowed to use the disappointment as motivation for future success.

“I said in the circle [after the game] that I hope we never forget the feeling we felt after this loss because that feeling, we never want to feel again,” he said “We want to use it as fuel to make sure we work really hard to get better come that World Cup in 2023.”

The Matildas leave Tokyo without a medal.Credit: Getty Images

It makes for a great soundbite but it’s one he’s used before. After their semi-final loss to Sweden, he also said their “disappointment has now turned to determination” to claim bronze.

The problem with relying on emotions is they are fleeting. What’s more tangible are the lessons they were taught on the field in Japan. If the Matildas are to make something of the World Cup on home soil in two years time, Gustavsson needs to sharpen his system instead of relying on the motivation of his players.

For starters, their drive has been anything but lacking at the Olympics. Their fighting spirit has been at the forefront of their admirable run to the semi-finals. However, the harsh reality is that it’s masked the Matildas being largely outplayed in most of their six games in Japan. Of those, they won just two; a 2-1 win over New Zealand that didn’t exceed expectations and a 4-3 win over Great Britain that only arrived after an 89th minute equaliser and extra time.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson on the sidelines.Credit: Getty Images

The “never say die” attitude Gustavsson heralds is why the scoreboard looked kinder in their 4-3 loss to USA in the bronze medal match when Australia were completely outplayed from start to finish. Had it not been for a string of fine saves by goalkeeper Teagan Micah, they could have conceded seven.

A big part of the Matildas charm over the past decade has been their resilience. The other has been their potent attack, lead by Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Kyah Simon. Gustavsson has focused heavily on their attack and mentality, proudly vowing to play to the team’s strengths.

“It’s all about goals, goals, goals,” Kerr said of Gustavsson’s strategy in April. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an attacker or defender, it’s about everyone getting in a position to score a goal.”

Almost immediately, it made him a popular figure within the team. That, combined with his passionate demeanour, communication skills gained dressing room support. But focusing almost entirely on a team’s strengths will do that, just as a student will warm to a teacher that doesn’t make them study subjects they fail.

Over the course of his 11 games in charge of the Matildas, Gustavsson has paid little attention to strengthening their weaknesses. The team’s defensive frailties remain just as bad as when he took over. A once imposing midfield is abating. A team that displayed eye-catching spells of possession under former coaches Alen Stajcic and Ante Milicic now resorts to direct, long balls into the box. Tellingly, the player that delivered the most balls into the box at the Olympics wasn’t a midfielder or forward but an Australian defender – Steph Catley.

However, the biggest problem hasn’t been in possession but a backline that can be described as porous at best. Having leaked 14 goals in their five warm-up matches, the Matildas conceded 13 times in six games at the Olympics, conceding three goals or more in three matches. By contrast, finalists Sweden and Canada conceded four and three goals respectively on their way to the gold medal match.

Gustavsson has tinkered with various systems. He’s played a back three and a back four – often within the same game. He rarely changes personnel but when he does, it’s usually in defence. Amid the upheaval is a distinct lack of organisation and structure. It’s something morale alone can’t fix.

He’s done a fantastic job at creating a positive environment within the team and their mental strength has only been further amplified in Japan. But there can be no hope of medals in tournaments without a disciplined structure and a sound defence. If Gustavsson wants to never feel that pain of defeat again, he has to spend the next two years showing he can do more than build morale.

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