Matildas win over France a ‘celebration’: Gustavsson

The Matildas coach has declared the side a serious contender as an update is given on the fitness of captain Sam Kerr.

Australia captain Sam Kerr was put on ice after an hour but coach Tony Gustavsson says she has no concerns ahead of the World Cup. Picture: Martin Keep / AFP

Australian coach Tony Gustavsson says the Matildas are perfectly primed for the World Cup after burying any concerns they do not stack up against the world’s best.

Gustavsson says his players have taken the “final step” in their development towards becoming a side worthy of contender status, but has warned them going into “tournament mode” on Thursday will bring more challenges.

The 1-0 win was the Matildas’ fifth in a row against European opposition, and the sixth time in eight games they have kept a clean sheet.

Gustavsson said the team’s sublime recent record against the top-ranked nations was cause for celebration, referring back to the areas of improvement identified by the 2020 Women’s Performance Closing the Gap report which was released three months into his tenure as manager.

“This was a night to celebrate … to celebrate what we’ve done over two years in terms of investment in the women’s game, investment in this team with resources,” Gustavsson said.

Sam Kerr finished the final warm-up game with ice on her leg but coach Tony Gustavsson says she has no concerns ahead of the tournament opener on Thursday. Picture: Martin Keep / AFP.

“The stats showed we have had problems with top-ranked teams and especially European teams, and tonight I think represented the final step of that process and that journey in preparing for the World Cup.

“It was 0-0 when our captain Sam (Kerr) steps off, Caitlin (Foord) steps off, our vice-captain Steph Catley stepped off, and we can still compete with a top European opposition – it’s thanks to the patience and the belief in the process from everyone.”

Substitute Tameka Yallop only lasted 20 minutes after hyper-extending her knee in an awkward collision with an opponent, but Gustavsson said she wanted to stay on the pitch and was removed as a precaution, amid hopes she has not done any structural damage.

The coach played down concerns over Kerr’s fitness, after the star striker finished the match on the bench with ice on her left leg after she was subbed out at the one-hour mark.

She smiled and made a “relax” gesture with her hands when caught by cameras on the bench late in the match.

Tameka Yallop (right) suffered a knee injury shortly after Mary Fowler’s winner, with the Matildas hoping the veteran has no structural damage. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Gustavsson said the substitution was a pre-planned move, which the Matildas captain had actually pushed back to get the game time she felt was necessary.

Mary Fowler’s winner after Kerr and Foord had left the game vindicated the team’s trust in its squad depth, he said.

“We knew that was risky with tonight’s game to do that, but we trust the depth in the roster to do it,” he said.

“Sam was a pre-planned sub, we talked to her at halftime if she was ready to pull out, but she said another 10 to 15 would be good for her physically for the Ireland game.”

Gustavsson praised Alanna Kennedy’s impressive return after the veteran played 78 minutes alongside Clare Hunt in central defence, with the pair’s performance causing him a “headache” as alternates Clare Polkinghorne and Aivi Luik were given late minutes.

He said Mackenzie Arnold “proved a lot of maturity” with her composed effort in the win, in the strongest indication yet the 29-year-old will be first choice goalkeeper for the tournament.