As the dust settles from the Matildas’ devastating loss to England, coach Tony Gustavsson has some difficult decisions to make. There is still one more prize to chase: a bronze medal in the playoff match against Sweden.
But as evidenced in a mostly flat semi-final performance against England from too many players, many of the team have run into the proverbial brick wall. A combination of a high energy style of play coupled with a curiously uneven use of the bench has left too many players exhausted.
What to do? Does Gustavsson stick with eight players who have started every match, and of which four of the back five have not missed a single minute, or bring in some fresh legs, which would also mean selecting a less than top XI to start the playoff match?
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and defenders Stephanie Catley, Clare Hunt and Ellie Carpenter have played every minute. Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry and Cooney-Cross have started every match but been replaced for short periods, Raso the most often.
In addition, Cortnee Vine and Emily van Egmond have also participated in all six matches, starting twice and coming on as a replacement four times.
Somewhat fortuitously, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy each missed a match through injury and illness. Both fully fit, they should be able to start for this final game, as should the mighty Sam Kerr now fully recovered from her calf injury.
What other players can be injected? I certainly think Charlotte Grant with her tremendously infective enthusiasm, should start, probably for Hunt. While Tameka Yallop and Alex Chidiac ought to expect some decent time off the bench.
My starting XI for this final match would be (4-4-2): Arnold(k), Carpenter, Grant, Kennedy, Catley, Vine, Raso, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Fowler, Kerr(c). Off the bench: Hunt, Gorry, Chidiac, Polkinghorne, van Egmond, Yallop, Micah (backup keeper) .
It would be ideal to give more players a break but unfortunately the team can’t afford the luxury. Also, are we the fans overcooking the supposedly poor rotation off the bench? How much more time could various players have been given?
Certainly an average of 10 minutes more player. But would that have really made a significant difference, someone being replaced at the 65-70 minute mark instead of the 75-80 minute mark?
One thing I disagree with strongly is bringing a player on for only a minute or two, as happened with Yallop and Grant. If you’re not going to give a player a minimum 10 minutes game time, then why bother?
Also, Gustavsson didn’t have the luxury of England in the pool games. Having already qualified for the Round of 16, England was able to rest several key players against the lowly China. Australia didn’t have this luxury. After the unexpected loss to Nigeria, Australia had to play their best available team against Canada. The rest had to wait, if at all.
And of course, once Australia qualified for the Round of 16 and was into the knockout stage, where only injury or illness, or for that matter form, could excuse a key player from starting selection.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
One final observation. Gustavsson has talked a lot and enthusiastically about his Sports Science and Sports Medicine (SSSM) support team. They have all the data available to them including satellite GPS body trackers inserted into the back of the players’ shirts, monitoring their every vital movements.
This being so, surely it must have been evident to the SSSM staff and relayed to Gustavsson that quite a few players were at the end of their physical endurance. I guess the discussions and decisions around this will be one of things we only learn about further down the track.
Finally, my heartfelt congratulations to the Matildas. Over the past month or so you have taken us on a fabulous journey bringing so much joy to millions of Aussies. It has been refreshing to watch and listen to you girls, instead of the usual bland, cynical fare we get from the male footy codes.
But so many others have cashed in your fantastic efforts: FIFA, Channel 7, world media, sponsors and government political wannabes. Now it’s time for the federal and state governments to follow the same lead that England has done with their women’s game and inject massive funds into the development of players and resources.
As England demonstrated, if you invest in a sport, you will eventually reap the benefits. I would be interested in the thoughts of those of you who more qualified on football matters than myself.
sheek
Roar Guru
Iron Fist, That's a very fair observation. The Nigerian loss obviously ruined any chance of giving other players a run against Canada. It needed all top hands on deck! Not that there might have been many as Oz still wanted to qualify top of pool.
sheek
Roar Guru
Garry, Interestingly, Raso has been subbed each game, although admittedly late. So she is probably a bit fresher than the other full-gamers. Gorry is most probably due for a spell. I agree with Greg, Grant for Polkinghorne & Chidiak for Gorry. Catley, Carpenter, Foord, Hunt & Raso are all stuffed, but unfortunately not everyone can be afforded a break. But according to media reports, GT has no intention of changing his lineup.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Rec is recoveries I believe.
Iron Fist
Roar Rookie
England resting players wasn't a luxury. They earned the ability to do it. If Australia did the job v Nigeria, TG would've been able to manage his players deep into the tournament the way Wiegman was able to. That's tournament football. Fatigue is cumulative. Get the results and defeat the teams you're supposed to defeat, and you won't need the pressure and constraints of a sudden death group game. Besides, this 3rd place match may be important for the players, but ultimately it won't be remembered by many. I even had to look up who Argentina defeated in the World Cup last year!
Garry
Roar Rookie
Garry
Roar Rookie
use the USA today site to compare Cooney-Cross with Gorry..Kyra wins every time! ps includi\ong a phenomenal 100% successful tackle rate!
Garry
Roar Rookie
Im not sure she has officially retired, I know she was thinking aboout it though.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I not sure what stats Rec is but she topped that HOWEVER her pass stats was 74% way below Cooney-Cross. recovered? received?
Garry
Roar Rookie
I would agree with 2 adjustments...Kennedy is still concussed so Luik in. Then Vine for Raso
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Para, I did make a throwaway comment on another thread that the Matildas ought to bloody well go & win in 2027 with Sarina Wiegman at the helm. I agree she out-thought TG tactically in the s/f. But I guess Wiegman is hot property & Australia would be well down the list of getting her signature. Heather Gariok & Elise Kellond-Knight were two of the impressive ex-Matildas commentators, although EKK is just retired & only 33.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It is a goal of mine. A game at Hindmarsh would be special.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Thanks Grem, yes can not wait for it to come around. If you ever get to Hindmarsh, give me a heads up and I would be happy to shout you a beer. I am now seeing the first signs of promotional material for the ALW, so good to see.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Sheek - I have been loving your comments during this campaign and I can't add any more to what you have written. It's a well-thought-out article. Perhaps, there could be one idea, I would like to see come to the fore. I would like to see our next Matilda's manager be a woman. Since our expensive male manager was completely done over, by a woman manager in the semi; maybe, men's football managers should butt out, and leave the Women's World Cup to women managers. We have had some interesting young ladies who added a lot of good commentary in the TV broadcast and they know their football. So why not have the next Matildas manager an Aussie woman?
Grem
Roar Rookie
Croatia.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I read every word and absolutely love your passion for the game. Hoping your Reds go well this year. What a joy it will be to watch players like Gauchi, Irankunda and Goodwin take the field this season.
sheek
Roar Guru
Simoc, I had to look it up – Croatia – but that doesn’t make it less relevant. In the short-term we only care about the winners, but with the passing of time, runners-up, 3rd, 4th & quarter-finalists are all important. Croatia have now had a 2nd & two 3rds at the men’s football world cup. That’s a very big deal for a small country. Finishing top 8 is also a big deal in both men’s & women’s football world cups, rugby, hockey, basketball, etc & other sports. In the Olympics, making the last 8 usually means a final, especially in sports like athletics & swimming. Over time, a country’s achievement in not only winning, but being finalists, final 4, & final 8, all add to the lustre & glory of a country’s particular record in a particular sport. Sweden’s women have finished 3rd three times, which might not have meant much to them at the time. But looking back, that’s a damn fine record. Now it’s Australia’s turn to get a 3rd. Go Matildas!
Simoc
Roar Rookie
I disagree Sheek. These guys are pro footballers and two games per week is the requirement in tournament play. They knew that coming in. It might not have been apparent to you but England had most of the best footballers on the park and their one touch possessions meant we were chasing hard. That's why we got worn out. They'll be fine after 3 days, though the Swedes got a day extra. Kerr has been injured so isn't as match-fit as the others. She is the best and on her day would have nailed all three second half chances normally, such is her quality. It wasn't to be but Australia did create good chances and if we do that again against Sweden we have a good chance of winning. The Swedes have lost in semi-finals time after time so will be worse off than us who have never played for third place before. But anyway I think it's a meaningless match, but nevertheless an international game. And always good to win. Who got third in the mens World Cup?
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
As a mature aged male, I have seen many things in my football life, some I wish to remember some I wish to forget. When I sat in front of my TV during covid and heard them [FIFA] announce New Zealand and Australia were going to hold the World Cup, I was astonished, part of me said watch us do this then I asked myself, will we watch those games between two nations whom most Australians had never heard of. I watched as supporters went online and vented when the Matildas did not live up to our lofty expectations, how nasty some people could be. I was apprehensive. I wasn't filled with any sense of 'it will be alright on the night' type of feelings. Now I sit here with a smug look on my face, seeing how the whole nation has embraced the sport. Seeing AFL games put on hold, albeit for 5 minutes, seeing AFL coaches hold up a press conference so they could watch the end of a Matilda's game. Seeing the Boomers shifting their own match {thank you guys} so it didn't clash with a Matlida's game. Pinch me, is this for real, this wasn't a dream was it? Seeing numbers of people watching the game on TV, numbers I never thought, even in my wildest dreams were possible here in Australia. Seeing stadium after stadium breaking records for both male and female games. Seeing and hearing a roar when a true superstar took the field. The feeling of the emptiness of falling at the second to last hurdle, almost crying. Waking up 12 hours later and feeling so proud of a bunch of young women representing me, my sport, making an old man so happy. I regret my father wasn't around to see this, he predicted that I would see it in my lifetime, there were times I wondered, we had a knack of shooting ourselves in the foot at times like this. So like the author, I say Thank You, this has been the month of football I longed to see. My wife and I have sat through every match on Optus, screaming, and yelling at players most of whom we never knew of or may never see again. Marveling at the skills, sitting in awe of the talent on display. We have been blessed at seeing Marta play live, experiencing the vibe that Brazil fans bring to a game. Watching England play live, I never thought I would be privileged to see that. Not an exhibition game but a real-life do-or-die World Cup group match. I watch as a new superstar strutted her stuff, then have a brain fade and get sent off. Making plans now to get to Perth later this year so we can watch the next phase of the Matilda's journey. I love my football, I can't explain why, but seeing a keeper fly through the air and tip a ball over the bar, or watching Spain play through a static defence and ending up with a player just tapping the ball into the net, or watching Sam gather the ball in her own half, out sprint 2 English world-class players and then unleash a missile that had a South American commentator going mental in total joy. Seeing Mary Fowler win a ball, turn, look up and deliver a 40-yard defence-splitting pass into the path of Gorry who didn't have to break stride to slip the ball under a keeper. Things I could only ever dream of doing. These things will live with me forever. So Thank You once again. You girls are totally amazing.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Well said sheek. :thumbup: :football:
mrl
Roar Rookie
Matiidaitis is the most wonderful disease I have ever caught and whilst having so much fun catching it....although there was something in my teenage years which came close. Lets get this bronze medal and finish on a high!!!