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?
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
Hmmm! Hard to compare TG with GH. Very different coaches who were employed under very different situations with very different mandates. The only real comparison is both coached what I would deem our golden Generation. He shot himself in the foot with squad selection when Kerr injured her calf, and made the wrong choice for that first game. He fixed that when he moved Ford back out wide in the second game, and I though VanE was a stroke of genius up front. She gave no quarter to any of the defenders in those few games. I did not agree with his lineup changes when Kerr was finally deemed fit to play. The girls looked great up to that point and he should have used either Sam or Mary differently. Neither pressed anything like VanE when they played England, and once he had them both on, there was no knock out punch left on the bench. Vine is great, Chidiac also looked good for me, but Fowler and Kerr are game changers, that used better in the late stages in the tournament, could have given them the edge when they needed it. Again, we saw Guus do this in the Uruguay qualifier where he started the 3 man back line with Poppa, then brought on Kewell on the 35min (I think), changing the formation early and the game immediately resulting in that goal from Bresc. I really feel his success (semi final finish) after a very disappointing start to his time with the Matildas, was more a case of the girls just naturally developing over that period...he just happened to be in charge at the time. They are now 3 years older, 3 years more experienced and essentially 3 years better than they when they lost those early matches. He didn't make them better..... they just grew up. For me, Guus took a golden Gen and got the very best out of them. TG, while I really like the guy and don't doubt his belief in our girls, took the best players we have ever produced, asked way too much of some of them......and ran them ragged into the ground.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
your comments are nonsense. Is it bias or are you blind?
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Gustav could've had all the excuses in the world with Sam Kerr injured, and if the Matilda's didn't qualify after the the stage games he would have been justified, but he delivered tactically. No arguments, got the team to the Semi Finals. That is by no means mediocre.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Nah, sorry disagree, I know this wouldn’t have been possible, because Arnold is the men’s national team manager, but he would have won the WC with this team of Matildas. And all of the other stuff you mentioned, TV ratings etc. would have blown all of Tony G’s efforts away. Tony G, has made our girls play a style of football typical of Hoofall that was so popular in the 50s, the long ball BS, and crosses into the mixer. We were better than that under Alen Stajcic and Ante Milicic, where we played the short passing game, like the English do today and Spain. This final will teach you something, I hope you will detect the difference between what Tony G has turned our beloved Matildas into, to what we saw under, Alen Stajcic and Ante Milicic.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Not that I think Hunt is a bad player, but who gave the penalty away?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Thats because you didnt watch the 2017 tournament of nations. Thats still the Matildas greatest achievement. USA 1-0 Brazil 6-1 Japan 4-2 Three games three wins against three of the best nations. The amazing this about the Matildas squad is most of them were already picked by Tom Sermanni who last coached in 2012.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I don’t agree with you that Gustav is better than some Aussie coaches . He’s a very good motivator and seems very likeable, but tactically very mediocre, can’t change and make impacts during the game, doesn’t rotate players. Not that I see him getting sacked, but a good technical director would be seeking a step up in coaching now for the Matildas. As go Australians , No doubt Arnold and Postecoglu have achieved more in tougher environments than Tony . Id throw everything at the English team coach Weigman but she isn’t looking to leave .
Cameron
Roar Guru
Or simply, change the coach.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Gustavsson for mine, so much better than anything Australia has ever seen or achieved on the global stage, the way the Matildas have played has inspired a nation, they played as a team (mostly without their number 1 star) and achieved the results.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
They need to sack Gustavsson as soon as possible. That was a disgrace, Fowler put in her worst ever performance , kept losing the ball , could not defend, could hardly move, and its like he is completely braindead beyond a zombie not to take her off. Chidiac is a central box to box player and he puts her at right wing and moves Vine to right back. He took off all of Australias speed in Raso,Carpenter, Gorry and went back to what used to lose Australia matches by heaps of goals with Van Egmond in a defensive midfield. He is clueless and what was the point of leaving a hobling Kerr on. A homeless person could have done a better job in this match.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Wasn't a good contest. Matildas were just gased. Thanks to TG. The knives coming out are usually by people who have an idea about football and when pundits also say similar, you feel a sense of vindication. He's management of the teams subs was terrible throughout the whole tournament. The matildas quality is what kept us in the tournament. His man management showed as the tournament worn on after game 4.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Polkinghorne just lets the ball sail over her and watches on as Hunt then has to pick up the player. It was even worse against Sweden.
338
Roar Rookie
Usual rubbish. Australia gets beaten in a global contest and the knives come out. Sitting here in Brisbane Rectangular Stadium looking forward to a great contest for third. The team and coaching staff have been good. TG wasn’t oblivious to the risk of his strategy read his comments. Of course all other coaches were perfect. Australian media needs to unite behind football like has happened in the community this world cup. Let’s be positive instead of knifing the coach before the tournament is even over.
Blue007
Roar Rookie
Would love to see the Matilda’s win tonight v Sweden in the 3/4 playoff, but regardless of the result, Tony G is exactly the Matilda’s Coach Australian Football needs. Former US Women’s National team coach, a 2-time WC winner with Tony G as her Asst coach, has already said that people are underestimating Tony’s achievements with the Matilda’s in this WC. Pointing out it was done without one of, if not the best striker in the world. Sam herself, on the back of just 2/3 training sessions gave us a glimpse of her quality with that stunning goal in the semi against England. He has just taken Australia to our bestWC finish and in the process helped to elevate Football to the highest level in Australian sport by not just breaking, but literally smashing long-held TV Ratings previously held only by male sports. He has set a pathway for our future Matilda stars where they can earn more money than our male sportsmen. Tony G is exactly the Australian Football Coach we need.
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Polks was the CB against the English in the friendly before the WWC where we won 2 zip. Polks wasn't beaten in the semi. Polks sits just deep enough to act like a sweeper, If the ball goes over the top, she has the ability and smarts to nullify the ball over the top. Polks is the best at reading the game, better than anyone in the back 4. Kennedy isn't fast either and gives soft goals away, which we all saw a number of times in the last Olympics and in this tournament against Nigeria. Kennedy has a slight height advantage over Polks, but that is it.
chris1
Roar Rookie
So Casey Dumont is told by TG that she wasnt in his plans for the Matildas squad. She turns to AFLW and is now playing for Hawethorn. I mean, seriously? How hard is AFL! And she’s a keeper as well. Can catch and kick.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
This coach is a bit of a joke, but he is great around the players. As a suck up to the players I think he is no 1 and would be very well liked. That fluke combo of Fowler and Egmond making Australia into a counter attack team with their enormous pace on the wings was what saved them. Keeping old and injured players around is bizzare I dont know another coach who keeps injured players around in the actual squad. Australia should be playing a hard physical press to utilise physical players Raso and Foord, and be using Hunter and Chidiac in the midfield. If you look at Sydney FC in the A-league they dominate despite having lazy Ibini on the wing, the oppositon hardly get into Sydney FC half. If the best tactics Australia have with this squad are defend in their own half and counter attack then change the squad.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Polkinghorne was never in the contest, if the ball was over the top she never got back, Alanna Kennedy she was good at reading the long ball over the top Polkinghorne just missed them, and Polkinghorne was too slow following players short as well. The best central defender we have is Tobin, she is only slightly faster than Hunt but meaner and more physical and as good on the ball. Polkinghorne would be slower than any central defender in the W-league these days. The English hardly beat a player unlike that French sub what they did was usually hit the long ball and chase it down hard and push the Australian defenders out of the way.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I am not sure about his tactics either. I also don’t know who is out there that can do a better job. If there is someone (Joe Montemura?) and if the USA want Tony Gustavson, then sell him as he still has a year left on his contract.
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Grem – I’m on record saying he should’ve been replaced after the last Olympics and then ate my humble pie after the Canadian game, but now I am thinking he lost us the semi, because of his naivety. He certainly is not a Guus, and I really think he is not even a Grahm Arnold. In fact, I reckon, if Arnold had been in charge, Arnold would have won us our first World Cup title. I am now waiting to see what happens in today’s game, to see where we finish up. I just can’t hide my disappointment. Tony G, really needs to do something very special in the game against Sweden, if I am going to see any real value in keeping him on.