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Opinion
A lot has been written about the failings of Tony Gustavsson’s Matildas team on Thursday night as the desperate long-ball tactics failed to rescue a result in a disastrous second-half performance.
The ominous introduction of Barcelona superstar Asisat Oshoala with the scores locked at 1-1 immediately paid dividends and it wasn’t long before the game was completely out of reach for Australia.
The Nigerians had engaged their goal-scoring weapon, the Matildas were missing theirs. The outcome was perhaps not as surprising as we were all led to believe.
The outpouring of emotion in the aftermath of that defeat to the unfancied African side was acidic yet understandable. Calls for Tony’s head were unrealistic and predictable, the armchair experts with the benefit of hindsight had Alex Chidiac’s late introduction on par with a criminal offence, and moving a defender into the role of striker was seen as the final act of a coach seemingly destined to lead his team to a glorious failure.
On one hand, this public haranguing of our national team coach is disturbing and unfair; on the other hand, it shows that women’s football is definitely riding a high of interest in Australia, and we should be perversely happy that football is the No.1 topic of conversation online and in the news, however good or bad.
For anyone who was lucky enough to have Thursday night’s match day experience in Brisbane, you will know that this was an incredible occasion.
From the raucous pre-game at the Lord Alfred Hotel on Caxton Street, the march to the stadium in full voice and the non-stop singing and chanting throughout the entire 100 minutes, this was as close to the perfect game day for many ardent Matildas supporters.
Instead of the active fans being looked down upon by the rest of the crowd, as is often the case, the beat of the drums and the will to win was infectious and the whole stadium joined as one to try and lift their team when they needed it the most.
In fact, the final whistle came as a shock, as the belief of a dramatic comeback hadn’t waned one bit during the extended period of additional time.
The post-game interactions between players and media were telling. The overriding emotion was frustration.
Alana Kennedy looked irritated, Caitlin Foord lamented the timing of the equaliser, having been on top in the first half.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Nigerian defender Onome Ebi walked unhindered through the media mixed zone smiling and clapping to herself as the reporters crowded around the Australian players.
Kyra Cooney-Cross knew that her team should have finished their chances. Christy Ucheibe and Toni Payne breezed through with a dancing Uchenna Kanu, the mood of the Nigerian players in complete contrast to their opponents.
Clare Hunt acknowledged the crowd’s part in the rousing finish, but conceded that the defence had been opened up. Clare Polkinghorne didn’t agree that the result was a shock, they just didn’t take their chances, while Alex Chidiac was coy when asked if her cameo tonight would result in a bigger role in the must-win game against Canada.
She did reiterate that Gustavsson has a game plan, and teammate Emily van Egmond said the finish to the game showed the Matildas DNA and that they will always fight to the end.
Did this show a united team? Did it suggest that the Matildas players are fully behind their coach and 100 per cent committed to the cause? Of course it did.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
This is their home World Cup, they are on the journey of their lives, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cement women’s football in the hearts and minds of a nation. The whole country will be watching on this Monday night as the Matildas return to action, knowing that they will have to send one of the big guns Canada home in order to progress on their upwards trajectory.
Will they be successful? That’s another question.
The result on Monday night will determine the legacy of Gustavsson.
Will he be remembered as that coach who lost a load of games early in his tenure, charmed the nation into believing his ways through a strong run of results in meaningless friendlies, before getting his squad selection all wrong and failing when faced with difficult tactical challenges as his team bowed out unexpectedly in the group stages of a home World Cup?
Or will he be known as the man who navigated the Matildas through a difficult group stage and went on to charm the nation with an incredible run of victories to win the hearts of Australia in an incredible World Cup journey?
There is absolutely no reason for any sane person not to believe the latter.
Why would you want the Matildas to fail, when they are still masters of their own destiny and one win away from the knockout stages? What part of your psyche gives you pleasure in wallowing in the failure of others?
Now is not the time to grieve. It is the time to believe.
Let’s continue this discussion on Tuesday morning.
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