How Matildas rose from ashes of ‘innuendo and mystery’ in Aussie sport’s ugliest split
THE IMMEDIATE STAJ EFFECT THAT PUT MATILDAS ON WORLD MAP
They would be undone by Japan once again, but there was clearly optimism this team was headed places under Stajcic. However, the road to that game was not easy as a late Sam Kerr goal rescued a point in their group stage game against Japan while Alanna Kennedy’s stoppage-time strike pushed their semi-final against Thailand to extra time, where they would go on to win via penalties.
However, details of the survey’s findings have remained a closely guarded secret in the immediate aftermath and the years since in one of the messiest sagas seen in Australian football. “In a nutshell, what happened was shrouded in innuendo and mystery. But it happened. It wasn’t the best possible time for anyone involved in that era.”
With the tournament to take place in three years’ time, who would be appointed as the man or woman to take charge of the Matildas for their most important tournament to date?THE BRUTAL 25-YEAR LOW AND TOURNAMENT FAILURES THAT ALMOST DOOMED GUSTAVSSON Unfortunately for Gustavsson, he took on the role in the midst of the Covid pandemic, robbing him of vital time on the park with his new team and players.
There were glimpses at the high-tempo, attacking brand of football Gustavsson wanted to implement, but the team’s high line was constantly exposed at the Olympics and were perhaps fortunate not to have conceded more. It was all part of Gustavsson’s brief to blood several youngsters and boost the Matildas’ depth across the field, something the team was sorely lacking prior to his arrival in 2020.
Played in front of just over 75,000 fans at Stadium Australia, the Swede oversaw a gritty 1-0 victory over the Irish, yet the headlines were dominated by Kerr’s shock injury diagnosis. Not many might have imagined the Matildas getting to this stage of the tournament, especially on the back of their Asian Cup performance and the Spain hammering even if it was a weakened squad.
“There were calls from very prominent people for Arnie to be sacked, and James Johnson stood by him. He’s done exactly the same with Gustavsson. But facts are facts: Gustavsson is the most successful Matildas coach at a World Cup and he’s helped a nation fall in love with the team.
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