Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson didn’t want to say he’d be using Wednesday’s friendly against Mexico for some Olympic “experiments” but conceded trying new things was crucial preparation for the Paris Games where the Australians would be without superstar captain Sam Kerr.
Gustavsson held firm on the Football Australia line to shut down talk about the legal battle facing Kerr, who refused to tell the coach or the governing body about the late-night incident with a police officer in London that resulted in allegations of a racial slur.
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He said he’d been ploughing on with Paris preparations amid a mini-injury crisis and the Mexico clash, the first of three final preparation games, where he’ll also be without key players including Katrina Gorry (ankle), Clare Hunt (foot), Courtney Nevin and Chloe Logarzo (both hip).
Emily Gielnik also suffered a calf injury in camp, while Aivi Luik, who the coach said was playing the best football of her career, suffered a hamstring strain.
While Gustavsson is confident they will be available for the Olympics, he knows he’ll need a few more tricks up his sleeve in the pursuit of a maiden medal and for games against first the Mexicans in San Antonio and then two home matches against China.
So he’s been using matches behind closed doors during the team training camp in Florida to find out what works best.
“It was a massive opportunity for us to try different ways, different players, different tactics, different game management stuff in a closed-door environment to not reveal too much,” Gustavsson said on match eve.
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“Trying things we feel the need to improve come Olympics.
“Tomorrow will be a time – I don’t like the word experiments – but it will be a day when we’re going to try a lot of things.”
Gustavsson said he didn’t have a “timeline” on the recovery of the injured players including Gorry, who had surgery on the ankle issue that ended her season at West Ham in the UK early.
“There’s some core players that were a massive part of our team in the World Cup … I don’t know the timeline when they get back,” he said.
“I hope, first of all, that they will be available for selection for June. If not, I hope they’re available for selection for the Olympic roster so that I have a tough job because that selection is going to be a tough job.”
Gustavsson also said the Kerr issue wasn’t one he was spending too much time on, knowing she wouldn’t be in Paris as she recovers from an ACL injury.
“Football Australia and myself are going to respect the fact that there’s an ongoing legal process,” he said.
“During that time, my focus is going to be 100 per cent on players that are available for selections.”
Steph Catley will wear the captain’s armband in place of Kerr and said the growing amount of worldwide club experience among the Matildas squad ensured all those covering for injured players, and looking to earn a spot in the 18-player Olympic squad, could keep playing the electric football that has become the Matildas’ trademark.
“Most of our players are either playing overseas in big teams in massive competitions or doing really well in the A-League … looking great technically, understanding things really quickly tactically,” she said.
“I’ve never seen this team look so comfortable and confident on the ball, playing through lines and figuring out different presses in different ways as well as they have recently.
“That’s what excites me the most, the way we’re playing and the type of football we’re playing, so I’m excited to keep building that.”
Australia will face Germany, the US and either Zambia or Morocco at the Olympics.
Mexico v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2024 (local) / Wed, 10 April 2024 (AUS)
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 10.00am (AEST)
Venue: Toyota Field, San Antonio, TX