Two former world champions and a rising African powerhouse stand in the Matildas' way. So how will the Olympic group stage define their medal chances?
It has been almost exactly a year since the Matildas ' remarkable run to the semi-final of their home World Cup: a run that created history on and off the pitch and brought a country largely uninterested in women's football along for the ride.
"We deserved to get something out of this tournament, and I know we have, but for us personally, to not have something around our necks is very disappointing. The upcoming Paris Olympics, which kicks off with the football tournament this week, is the last chance that some in the current squad will have to do just that.
By the time the Matildas qualified for their two respective semi-finals, the starting team that had played most of the tournament looked exhausted. And while the Matildas did shuffle their starting side during the World Cup, it was done entirely out of necessity, with injuries or illness forcing the hand of head coach Tony Gustavsson to dig into his bench to find alternatives. Whether that would have happened had all the players been fit is another question.
One of the Matildas' greatest advancements under Gustavsson has been their ability to shift their system, both in between games to suit different opponents, as well as during games that may not be going their way.In the past, the team had a tendency to become stuck within a structure that was comfortable, particularly a 4-3-3 deployed with a transitional, counter-attacking style.
At the start of the tournament, Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler occupied the central attacking positions, with Cortnee Vine and Hayley Raso racing down either wing. But the introduction of Emily Van Egmond saw the system shift slightly, with Fowler given more freedom to roam, Foord shuffled wider, and a more transitional style embraced.
All of this is to say that Australia's structural versatility, which they've developed over the past few years, will be crucial as they face three very different opponents in Germany, Zambia, and the USA. In fact, Kerr's calf injury on the eve of the World Cup was a gift in disguise in this sense, with a number of other players stepping out from beneath her long shadow and taking the team the furthest they'd ever gone in that tournament.
All of which is to say that Kerr, in addition to her goal-scoring, has played a key part in Australia's ability to find the back of the net with her movement, speed, pressing, and passing ability setting up her team-mates in front of goal.The only traditional striker called into the Paris Olympics is 35-year-old Michelle Heyman, a vastly different type of player to Kerr.
In addition, the inclusion of quick young wingers Cortnee Vine and Sharn Frier , as well as the versatile Kaitlyn Torpey, provides fresher legs in the same fast-paced style as what the Matildas have become known for. But recent history suggests that Australia are in a more solid position defensively than they have been leading into past Olympic tournaments. They've kept 19 clean sheets since the start of 2022, and have conceded just one goal six times.
And at the other end of the field, the Matildas' attackers will have to overcome some of the game's best defenders such as Giulia Gwinn, Kathrin Hendrich and Sara Doorsoun , Lushomo Mweemba and Martha Tembo , and Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, and Emily Sonnett before trying to crack past goalkeepers in Merle Frohms, Catherine Musonda, and Alyssa Naeher.More than 700 of the world's best football players will take to stadium pitches all over Australia when FIFA 2023 kicks off this week.
"We just need to be at our best every single game and every moment," Foord said in the tunnel of Stadium Australia a year ago.
Olympic Games Paris Group Of Death Zambia USA Tony Gustavsson Medal Sam Kerr Emma Hayes Steph Catley Barbra Banda Germany
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The late rule change to Olympic squads that could boost the Matildas' medal chancesOlympic squads have traditionally been 18 players with four emergency reserves, but a late rule change will now see the reserves given a greater chance to play.
Read more »
Paris Olympics 2024: The Matildas, the Boomers and many more Australian teams bid for Olympic goldTen teams across six sports will represent Australia at the Paris Olympic Games, and many of them have genuine hopes of taking a medal home with them.
Read more »
Matildas land in Paris days out from first Olympic clash with Germany7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Live updates: Matildas take on Canada in final friendly before Paris Olympic GamesWith the Paris Olympics just around the corner, the Matildas have one last friendly to iron out the kinks against Tokyo gold medallists Canada. Follow live.
Read more »
Catley in doubt for Matildas’ Olympic opener with mystery “lower leg” injuryNot for the first time, Tony Gustavsson is being coy about the fitness status of Australia’s captain on the eve of a major tournament.
Read more »
Catley in doubt for Matildas’ Olympic opener with mystery “lower leg” injuryNot for the first time, Tony Gustavsson is being coy about the fitness status of Australia’s captain on the eve of a major tournament.
Read more »