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Former USWNT coach Jill Ellis believes that Matildas mentor Tony Gustavsson is a candidate well worth considering should the current coach of the United States team be moved on. It was a disastrous World Cup campaign for the Americans in 2023 and their coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned.
Of course, Gustavsson would be far from an unknown quantity, having spent five years as an assistant with the American squad between 2014 and 2019, being involved in two World Cup victories.
The move would have seemed more logical and probable around 12 months ago, with Gustavsson not producing the Matildas results for which Australia had hoped early in his reign, whilst also still being highly valued and respected in his place of previous employment.
Tony Gustavsson produced a best ever result for Australian football, yet is the right man for the future? (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Now, after a stunning run to the semi-finals on home soil, things look very different and the man affectionately known as ‘Tony G’ will be enquired about by national teams looking to improve, despite being contracted to Football Australia for another 12 months.
Within that period, the Matildas will attack an Olympic campaign with new vigour, firmly of the belief that after the heroics of the World Cup, they can indeed compete with the best in the business on a consistent basis.
However, the core question is whether Gustavsson has done enough to have his contract extended and if he is a long term proposition.
Many had the 50-year-old hung, drawn and quartered some time back, thinking that the 2023 World Cup campaign would expose the supposed chasm that existed between the Matildas and the best of the Europeans, South Americans and the USA.
In essence, Gustavsson has silenced those critics, despite there being serious and fair concerns around his tactics, selections and ability to improve and develop the Matildas into the future.
Now, some will suggest that the World Cup draw opened up a little for the Aussies, that plenty of luck went their way in terms of who they drew as opponents and, putting aside the excitement and drama of the event, that the concerns with Gustavsson’s approach were still clearly evident.
There is no doubt that Gustavsson’s lack of confidence and decisiveness in making substitutions hurt the Matildas during the group stage.
His selection of Kyah Simon was an obvious error, especially when Sam Kerr went down injured, and all the ducks and drakes that went on between the coach and the media had many wondering whether the smiling Swede actually gets a kick out of mucking people about.
I know many who love his smile and persona; finding him a charming interviewee. Others see him as something of a clown and tactically inept.
Just six months back, I was informed by an insider at Football Australia that Gustavsson was known as the Matildas’ Ted Lasso, a reference to football’s most famous on-screen coach and the program that swept the world.
When Guus Hiddink took over the reins of the Socceroos in 2005, the powers at be knew exactly what they had hired; a winner with proven World Cup pedigree. He subsequently delivered.
Guus Hiddink (Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The sight of rolling triangles moving from one end of the pitch to the other was a masterclass, as the Socceroos began playing a brand of football better than any prior and the heroics of the team that went within a whisker of a World Cup quarter-final are well known.
Forever, the Dutchman will be known as “Aussie Guus” and will never have to buy a drink in an Australian pub.
Yet Gustavsson’s achievement with the Matildas is statistically greater and metaphorically more powerful.
However, there is a strong sense that the jury remains out. Out-coached during the semi-final by English counter-part Sarina Wiegman, with the loss of Alanna Kennedy forcing a reshuffle in defence that let the Matildas down badly.
Clare Polkinghorne was simply unable to cope with the English speed up front, Gustavsson then used Ellie Carpenter in a central defensive role that simply blots out her running power and exposes her weaknesses in that position.
Playing without the ball for such long periods and relying on dynamic counters such as the one produced by Kerr on Wednesday is dismissive of development.
England looked far more polished and composed on the ball, whereas the Australian’s control in midfield during the tournament was the reason for a lack of goals against the toughest opponents.
Does the dramatic shoot-out win against France somehow paper over the cracks? Just twice in the tournament did the Matildas exceed 50 per cent of possession, against Republic of Ireland and Nigeria, teams where that would be expected.
Subsequently, the Matildas achieved possession percentages of 39 against Canada, 44 in the Round of 16 fixture against Denmark, 49 against France and just 41 in the semi-final against England.
But for explosions on the flanks from Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord, a lavish pass from Mary Fowler or freakish efforts such as the one we saw from Kerr, it was hard to see from where the goals would come on a consistent basis.
Sam Kerr did everything she could against England. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
As a result, some pundits still have serious doubts around whether Gustavsson is the man to lead the Matildas into the future, certainly beyond the 2024 Paris Olympics, as his current contract will certainly be honoured.
It is a little sad that Tony Gustavsson will never quite garner the same love as Hiddink, around who there will never be a question.
Perhaps people’s minds are still anchored in the 16 losses and five draws during Gustavsson’s time at the helm and less on the 18 wins. It is far from a brilliant record and the coach was far from perfect during the tournament, however, the team performed and the nation was inspired.
Should we let him have another crack at the World Cup in 2027?