Gustavsson has hinted his future with the Matildas is contingent on more high-performance investment as his charges attempt to move on from Women’s World Cup heartbreak.
Gustavsson urges more investment but will he stay?
“From a broader perspective … I know the FA is keen on making an in-depth review of each tournament like they did after the Olympics, after the Asian Cup, that will be made now as well,” Gustavsson said.
Australia’s head coach Tony Gustavsson wants more investments into women’s football in Australia. Source: AP / Tertius Pickard
“In that review, I think we’re going to learn a lot about me as a coach, about the team, about preparation, about investment. What I can say is I love working with this team. It resonates with me as a coach; their identity and their why.
“But I also want to be very clear that I want to see investment now, I really do. I want to see investment. And I mean like a real investment that we’re serious about what we’re doing.”
“These players have, in some ways, overachieved … The next step now is investment. Long-term investment, not just a quick fix, because a lot of these players are going to play at the Olympics as well.”
Players moving on from tough defeat
“We want to win something. Until we do that I don’t think we will be satisfied.”
Sam Kerr said it will take a while to move on from the defeat. Source: AAP / Jono Searle
Skipper Sam Kerr will relish the prospect of kicking off Olympic qualifying in front of her home crowd in Perth in October, after she moves on from this defeat.
“What we’ve done for the country is amazing, but the bronze medal really, for us as individuals, as a team would have been nice. So it’s a bit sad, but we’ll get over it and we’ll move on and come back stronger.”
The Matildas set sight on Paris Olympics
Australia will host Iran, Taiwan and the Philippines in Perth in October and November in the second round of the Asian Football Confederation qualifiers for Paris.
“I’m excited about the Olympics. But we can’t jump ahead and think we’re going to be there … So we need to focus on one step at a time.”
Keys to Brisbane city and a platypus called Matilda
The players, and in particular vice-captain Steph Catley, were surprised on-stage by Nikki Webster with a rendition of her 2000 hit Strawberry Kisses, one of the Matildas’ songs of the tournament.
Matilda had been found under a bush on the NSW Central Coast and was weak, severely malnourished and covered in ticks, which compromised her waterproofing making it difficult for her to swim and survive on her own.
The puggle was around four months old when she was admitted to Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital in April. She was in poor condition and weighed only 280 grams. Credit: Supplied
Thanks to around-the-clock care from Taronga’s Platypus team she now weighs in at 694 grams and is eating and foraging on her own.
“We are incredibly proud of the Matildas and the spirit they have shown throughout the Women’s World Cup and Tilly is emblematic of that perseverance,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
“We know their legacy will be remembered for generations and, now one of our most iconic native animals shares the same name.”
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