Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has hinted that there could be some unexpected names in the starting line up for the first leg against Uzbekistan in a bid to manage player fatigue.
Gustavsson dubbed the first leg of the final Olympic qualifiers as “extremely important” but said so was managing player welfare.
The 23 women in the camp have all come from a range of domestic competitions – some midway through season, some in their off-season and others in pre-season.
Adding to the juggle is players like Alanna Kennedy who have only recently returned from injury or Arsenal midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross who has had limited minutes in the top flight English league.
Caitlin Foord has played more than 1000 minutes of football for Arsenal this season, while Mary Fowler has played just a touch over 500 minutes.
World Cup defensive star Clare Hunt could be one of the overloaded players – spending 1200 minutes on the field for PSG across their domestic competition and the Champions League. While fellow defender Clare Polkinghorne hasn’t played since the Swedish league wrapped up in November.
In his pre-match press conference Gustavsson, who didn’t want to reveal his starting 11, hinted that some of the decisions were out of his hands and based on recommendations from the medical staff.
“We came in with a lot of challenges this camp, some players were coming in with a lot of game time with fatigue and niggles, some players coming in with very little game time and underloaded,” he said.
“So it was important for us to find the right sweet spot in terms of training load and make sure the ones that came in with some fatigue and niggles are fresh on Saturday.
“Without revealing the line-ups there are a couple of players that came in with overload and niggles and we need to be mindful how we use them now in this first game if we do, how many minutes and how that can influence the availability in the second game and so forth.
“So we look at form and physical readiness for the game as well.
“We are going to go all in and maximise the performance in game one.”
Gustavsson dropped another hint that the line up could feature a few surprises in order to have the experienced stars on the bench as “game changers”.
“When you’re planning you are planning for a strong starting line up but maybe even a stronger finishing line-up because game changers are key in games like this,” he said.
THE MATCH
Despite Uzbekistan being the clear underdogs Gustavsson wasn’t willing to count them out of the contest.
The 47th ranked team in the world has never qualified for an Olympics before, or played at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But Gustavsson was quick to point out that any team playing at home can be tough to handle.
“You can play an opposition doing a certain thing, you look at what they have done in the past, but this is an Olympic qualifier against us, on home soil,” he said.
Gustavsson said Uzbekistan could bring a completely different approach to the match, play one way for part of the game and then switch it up.
“They have shown they are really well organised and have a clear game plan. They’ve been in a very long pre-camp going into this game as well.
“We know we are going to be playing a team that is very well prepared. We need to understand that and also be prepared for different types of challenges.”
One of those challenges the players will have little control over or time to adapt to is the weather.
It is forecast to reach a high of just two degrees in Tashkent on Saturday.
While the players based in Europe and England will be more accustomed to the brisk weather it will be a shock to the system for the A-Leagues players.
“The sports science team does a tremendous job in terms of acclimatisation – whether it is nutrition, whether it is recovery or training load or preparing for weather as well. I’m sure we are going to be well prepared,” Gustavsson said.
“It doesn’t matter the circumstances around them when they step on the field they always give it 100 per cent, no matter the pitch, the wind, the rain, the weather.
“This is a game when we have a game plan that we want to try to execute but we also need to be able to adapt to what’s thrown at us whether it’s tactics or weather or the pitch circumstances.”
BALANCE IS KEY
While Gustavsson kept the game plan under lock and key he did reveal the intention is still play the attacking, high-pressing style of football the Matildas became known for during the recent World Cup.
“No matter who steps on there we’re going to be true to who we are,” he said.
“I’m not talking formation when I talk about who we are, I’m talking about the principle of how we play. We’re always going to be a pressing team.
“We’re going to be a high octane energy team that likes to attack with numbers. We looked at different ways of how we can create those chances when the space is less which we think it is going to be in this game.”
Defender Alanna Kennedy, who is fit after a recent calf injury in the WSL, said she was feeling good and the team was “looking sharp”.
“To have made it this far Uzbekistan is obviously a team of good quality and I think for us it will be about being patient,” Kennedy said.
“I’m sure we will find them in a bit of a block at different points in the game and just being patient with our game plan and clinical in the moments that we do get up top, so it’s definitely a challenge ahead but we are well prepared for it.”
TIGHT TURN AROUND
While the focus is on the first leg of the two-game series Gustavsson said medical staff had also had to form a plan to optimise recovery ahead of the second game in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Players will have to endure a 20 hour flight from Tashkent to Melbourne, arriving on Monday – just two days before their second clash.
Kennedy said it was far from ideal but something the players, especially being from Australia, had to come to accept as part of being a professional footballer.
“I think if anyone is well prepared for it, it will be us,” Kennedy said.
“Of course there is the extra one percenters that you have to be more careful with, looking after your body recovery, what you eat and obviously what we prioritise during those few days, like just getting the legs going after the long flight.
“As a player I think it is more about mindset and what we can do mentally to be prepared but as well as physically for the short turnaround.”
Gustavsson said lots of strategies would be used to maximise recovery time.
“We need to be world class when we travel,” he said.
“Whether it is compression pants or getting used to jet lag, or sleeping routines or nutrition or recovery strategies – the players are all phenomenal when it comes to that and it comes down to mindset as well.
“I know once we step off that plane and come to Australia the players will be prepared as they can.
“I also know they are going to be refuelled and energised by the fans and coming back to play on home soil. That is going to compensate for a lot of lack of energy from travel.”