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.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Perhaps you’re right - give him another 4 years. We won!
Nick
Roar Rookie
You "absolutely agree" with what was a clear lie. This is what I don't get about you. You have the capacity to post so astutely, but then openly and happily agree with fiction. Swimming Australia has received $38m in funding across the last 12 years. A drop in the ocean.
Nick
Roar Rookie
We spend billions of taxpayers money on our swimming program. Absolute lie. $38 million across the past 12 years.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Wow I was there too. What an amazing night and the noise from the 40k plus crowd was phenomenal.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Good point! It can be hard to tell from the TV because when a team [e.g. the Matildas] has the ball in defence and deeper midfield, the narrow field of view often doesn’t show the attackers and the opposing defenders marking them. If there has been a turnover and the opposing defence is disorganised, the Matildas may try quickly moving the ball forward. Often however the Matildas have almost all been involved in trying to get the ball back, and the foremost attacker [Foord in the game vs Nigeria] will have 2 players on her, and so the odds of her being able to control it when it is hit forward quickly to her are low. So the Matildas move the ball around while their more forward players reorganise and move around trying to find a position where they can receive a pass. It is much easier to see all this at the game. The disadvantage of being at the game is that there are no replays of controversial incidents, but being able to see the whole pattern of movement makes it much easier to understand how teams try to build attacks.
Texi
Roar Rookie
Wasn’t it amazing? Pure entertainment.
Texi
Roar Rookie
Heh heh. Just like rugby. Why do they keep throwing it backwards?
jupiter53
Roar Pro
And sorry about the late post. I have been part of the 40K+ crowd at tonight’s spectacular Germany/Colombia game at the excellent Sydney Football Stadium.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Of course Melbourne is not a sporting backwater. The Grand Prix, the Australian Open, the Boxing Day Test, the spectacularly well supported AFL, a well performed NRL team, a Union team, basketball, netball, and so on. You can reasonably claim that in regard to Australia, Melbourne is the premier sporting city. However it is indisputably a backwater in regard to the most popular sport in the world. It does not have the facility to hold a decent sized crowd in a proper rectangular football stadium. If Victorians are content with this state of affairs, so be it, but in global terms, Melbourne is second rate.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Wife and daughters gathered around the TV eagerly watching the Matildas do their thing. Not a football following family but we all are confused by the Australia continually kicking the ball back towards their own goal? How do you expect to score kicking it at your own keeper continually was the common comment throughout the game.
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
The Vic Govt built the rectangular stadium for News Ltd and Storm and soccer got the benefit - and the ground is suitable enough for most rect games - I assume Marvel at 56K is not rectangular so not eligible - they should have thought of that when they bid....Marvel is fine for occasional local big rectangular games....
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
The Vic Govt is no friend of the AFL and wouldnt FFA have chosen the venues. Next you will blame the AFL for choosing the venues. Yes and it will all be forgotten when the Cup finishes. The draw is already biased towards the matildas - their 2 main opponents had to travel to perth and back ina tight schedule over 11 days
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Bizarre analogy. The draw is already biased towards the Matildas
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
There is no legislation against first nations people - they can legislate the Voice without a change to Constitution and the Opposition agrees to local FN councils instead of Canberra dictate - so learn some facts and wait for the vote
Texi
Roar Rookie
That is spot on. Grant was a nailed on starter earlier in the year, and Chidiac is a crowd favourite.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I was trying to nicely say a “sporting capital” should have facilities for the biggest sport in the world, so it is certainly lacking that status. And The Voice only has 48% support in Victoria compared to NSW’s 46%. Looks like Victoria will be part of this global embarrassment too!
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
so labelling melbourne a sporting backwater is utter nonsense …. and the poster who made the claim should rightly be called out for it ….. and when the world looks at the state-by-state breakdown of ‘the voice’ referendum, victoria will be a definite YES win ….. cant say that for NSW based on current polling……. and queensland will be a definite NO vote …. lets chat about backwaters and ‘global embarrassment’ then huh
Grem
Roar Rookie
Yes, they have hosted many great international events such as tennis, Grand Prix, etc. They don’t have a decent rectangular field for big events though. A World Cup football game that can draw 50 – 80000 people should not be in Melbourne because of this reason. In the past Victoria has brought in EPL teams such as Liverpool. Manchester United, etc. They have held State of Origin in rugby league and The Wallabies games in union. They could also host Socceroos important play offs for The World Cup – these are packed events at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium – these games have drawn large crowds and should be at a rectangular stadium, not grounds such as the MCG. An appropriate rectangular field in Melbourne could be filled regularly enough to justify it. It would cost less than the fine the government will likely get for breaking the Commonwealth Games contract. And, in my opinion, if The Voice goes down our country should be embarrassed.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Spot-on, Waz. This is a World Cup, a massive deal, & the thought of limiting the crowd numbers is jarring. It’s damaging to football. I constantly hear that Melbourne is the “sporting capital of Australia”, which honestly, is bizarre. The Matilda’s deserve better.
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
perhaps thinking melbourne is a 'sporting backwater' is more than a little unhinged .... i could point to a long list of international sporting events held in this city over the last 12 months that would shame sydney and brisbanes combined efforts