Australia’s ladies have never made it past the quarterfinals of an Olympics.
Tony Gustavsson’s assignment in Japan is therefore obvious:
– It is clear that I can say that we should take one match at a time, but there is a very, very strong driving force to get us past that step now, he says.
– At the same time, we know that we have an extremely greater challenge than before. We may be the team that has had the least time together.
Just over a month before YOU Tony Gustavsson had not even met half of his players due to the pandemic.
But during a recharging camp in Europe, where Australia, among other things, played 0-0 against Sweden in a genre rep, polished on chemistry and tactics.
In the Olympic premiere on Wednesday, it was 2-1 against “neighbor” New Zealand.
On Saturday, Sweden is waiting, which impressed 3–0 against USA, in a summit of the group.
The Swedish weaknesses are few, says the coach profile.
– They keep a level regardless of who is on the track. So for us, it’s more about making sure they neutralize their strengths. We must define what they really want to do, and make sure that they do not do it too often, in neither defensive nor offensive play.
– Tony Gustavsson in the Australian national team “The Matildas” jersey during the Olympic recharging in Kalmar last month.
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer / TT
For almost a decade Tony Gustavsson has coached women’s football at the highest level in various roles.
The coach – with a background as a coach also for Hammarby’s men, among others – took Tyresö to the Swedish Championship gold (2012) and Champions League final (2014). During the 2012 Olympics, he worked as an assistant national team captain to Pia Sundhage for the USA and won gold, and in 2014–2019 he had the same role under Jill Ellis – a mission that resulted in two World Cup golds (2015 and 2019).
Meeting coach colleague Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden will be special – and homely.
– The fact is that even when I was in the US, there were some meetings against Sweden. I said before the draw that I would not be surprised if we were not drawn against Sweden and against the United States. So maybe it was “meant to be”.
The Swede has one of the world’s best player in Chelsea striker Sam Kerr in his team. But Sweden can be seen as favorites in the meeting. Not least after the elimination victory against the USA.
– I am very impressed with what Peter and Magnus (Wikman, assistant Swedish national team captain) have done with the team, says Gustavsson.
– There is a very clear line in the game and everyone works extremely hard for each other. So absolutely, they are much further ahead than we are. There is no excuse for us not to perform, but it is a fact that it is.