Gustavsson conundrum: Matildas boss, USA target at crossroads

Three wins from three, 13 objectives scored and none conceded, and development to the subsequent stage of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games secured. The Matildas travelled to Perth this week and professionally went about defeating IR Iran, the Philippines, and Chinese Taipei whereas promoting out each stadium alongside the way in which.

A house-and-away playoff towards Uzbekistan in February now awaits, in all probability probably the most beneficial draw that Tony Gustavsson’s aspect might presumably have acquired. And that is to not be disrespectful to the Uzbeks: It’s simply that they’re the least credentialled when different choices have been Japan, arguably the strongest staff in Asia, or North Korea, who emerged from actually 4 years of aggressive absence to prime a gaggle that includes World Cup individuals South Korea and China.

This worldwide window began with a number of questions for the Matildas, in addition to Gustavsson. Now, because the squad boards flights again to golf equipment throughout Australia, Europe, and North America, the main focus can flip to what was discovered from the previous week, and what it might imply for the longer term — particularly within the face of continued noise surrounding the way forward for Gustavsson. Progression to the subsequent section of Olympic qualifying was a base expectation, however there is a larger image at play right here.

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The coach occupied a peculiar place popping out of the Women’s World Cup, whereby he was broadly lauded world wide for getting Australia to the semifinals however questioned domestically for the way by which he did. Sources have advised ESPN that his work with Australia has resulted within the Swede being tapped as one among three most well-liked candidates for the vacant United States job alongside Australian-born Juventus boss Joe Montemurro and OL Reign mentor Laura Harvey. A two-time World Cup-winning assistant below Jill Ellis, Gustavsson has clear ties to the United States and was endorsed as a “strong candidate” for the function by Ellis even earlier than the official jettisoning of former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski.

That two coaches with important Australian ties are amongst the reported entrance runners for the largest job in girls’s soccer clearly speaks to the expansion of the game Down Under and the esteem by which Antipodean figures are held inside this house. Sources have beforehand advised ESPN that the USWNT had an curiosity in interviewing Montemurro for the teaching place following the departure of Ellis following the 2019 Women’s World Cup, solely to be blocked by his then-employers Arsenal.

Much of the home criticism of Gustavsson that contrasted with the worldwide adulation post-World Cup centred upon his squad administration at the event, on how an absence of rotations led to his most well-liked XI operating out of gasoline towards England within the semifinal after which Sweden within the third-place recreation. Gustavsson’s in-game changes towards one of the best sides on the earth got here below the microscope, particularly within the aftermath of the defeat to the Lionesses by which England boss Sarina Weigman completely snookered him.

More broadly, questions lingered about how the staff functioned. How this group of extremely gifted gamers, drawn from a number of the greatest groups on the earth, might largely have their outcomes predicted by the form of the sport: If they have been in a position to play because the reactive aspect with out the ball (that boded properly), or because the proactive aspect in possession (that did not).

It was additionally requested if the Matildas have been too reliant on a never-say-die, backs-against-the-wall, underdog mentality and in the event that they wanted to evolve to turn into a aspect that revelled within the favourites tag and comfortably put different groups to the sword. The Matildas’ most devastating win of the World Cup — a 4-0 thrashing of Canada in a must-win group-stage conflict by which they’d 39% of the ball — solely carried the stakes it did as a result of the aspect had fallen as favourites to a 3-2 defeat with 65% possession towards Nigeria the previous matchday.

At the core of the matter, actually, was: Yes, a semifinal was nice, however might it have been even higher with this group of gamers, with this home-field benefit, with so many different contenders throwing in the towel?

But if one goes to criticise the 50-year-old for these perceived shortcomings, it is simply as essential, and honest, to offer him his flowers when he seems to handle them and information the staff on the subsequent section of its evolution. Because the Matildas confirmed clear indicators of progress over the previous week.

Well conscious that they have been going to need to face opponents that might sit deep and defend in a low block, the Matildas displayed a constant dedication to attempting to play by way of them, to unlocking their opponents by way of mixtures and motion reasonably than simply devolving into the cross-spamming ways that had constantly reared its head in earlier irritating video games. Admittedly, there have been rising pains. When an experimental and unheralded XI performed towards Iran sitting so deep they have been in peril of falling between the sofa cushions, it obtained irritating. The 2-0 scoreline was considerably under what would have been anticipated from the 2 sides primarily based on résumés. Occasionally there have been a number of speculative crosses or long-range efforts hammered in. But these unhealthy instincts have been fought.

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Then towards the Philippines, who maybe, in hindsight, erred in not retreating utterly right into a shell because the Iranians and Chinese Taipei did, Australia’s first-choice XI sliced and diced. A front-two pairing of Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord demonstrated their deadly potential — a 4-2-2-2 system, as teasingly proven earlier than the World Cup, arguably Australia’s greatest solution to utilise its present expertise — and the transfer to shift Mary Fowler out huge (whereas nonetheless giving her licence to chop inside) proved devastating. The capability of the 20-year-old to maneuver and interchange with Foord, specifically, and mix in possession along with her and Kerr augurs a daunting potential triumvirate for opponents.

Indeed, in hindsight, it is exceptional to replicate that only a few months in the past Cortnee Vine was most well-liked in that place, with Fowler as a substitute seen as extra of a central choice. Prior to Kerr’s harm forward of the opening World Cup recreation towards the Republic of Ireland, Fowler was doubtless set for an off-the-bench function. That will not be taking place for some time but.

And then on Wednesday, towards Chinese Taipei’s iron tortoise — the sport by which some semblance of frustration and potential reversion was hinted at — the Australians as a substitute regathered themselves at from a 0-0 scoreline at half-time and maintained their give attention to attempting to get one thing going. Eventually, it was Fowler who discovered the important thing, or extra precisely a battering ram, to open up the defence with a darting run inside from the left and a world-class strike past Cheng Ssu-yu and contained in the far submit. Six minutes later Kerr pounced on a free ball after Foord had taken benefit of a one-on-one state of affairs with remoted Kai-ching Wu to get to the byline and whip the ball in. The injury was finished.

Sure, there have been different factors of nitpicking competition. The timing of runs and presenting of choices into the penalty space have been generally off. Kyra Cooney-Cross in all probability might have been given extra licence to roam ahead. But on the entire, even accounting for the lesser-heralded opposition, there was a course being charted right here.

“Last time we played them it was 0-0 at half-time and it took a corner to open them up. This time we opened them up in a completely different way,” Gustavsson stated after the Philippines recreation.

“I think it was a little bit of a crossroad moment for this team to be honest, in terms of what we want to be about now. We want to be a top team in the world, to be able to play like favourites and to be able to play parked buses. We proved today that we have taken massive steps.”

Indeed, the subsequent steps look clear. There’s a sure stage of grim humour to the Matildas seemingly showing on the verge of discovering one thing approaching an optimum deployment below Gustavsson — three years into his tenure when he is been given an extended rope than any coach in nationwide staff historical past — at the identical time because the USWNT, nonetheless the world’s greatest girls’s program, ramps up its curiosity.

A fortnight in the past, there in all probability would not have been that many tears shed among the many Australian commentariat had he made the transfer. But after this week, it is not so easy. There was sufficient proven on this window to get observers excited. Shortcomings have been labored upon. Improvements have been made. It might all fall over once more subsequent month in two friendlies towards Canada, however you at least wish to see if it does.

But does Gustavsson even need it?

“I love this team. And we have unfinished business to do,” he stated after Wednesday’s win.

That’s not a definitive sure. But on condition that it wasn’t couched in a requirement for extra assets, as different latest solutions on the subject have been, it is as shut as we have got so far.