Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has sincerely apologised to the team’s fans after their Olympic gold medal bid was all but dashed by a 3-0 defeat to Germany on Friday morning.
The Australians were completely outclassed by the footballing powerhouse on a stifling and daunting night in the south of France.
The World Cup semi-finalists, seeking their first Olympic medal, simply could not find their rhythm against the reigning former champions in Marseille on Thursday, on the eve of the opening ceremony in Paris, 750 kilometres away.
“I just want to say that I’m very sorry that we disappointed the fans at home… I know we disappointed a lot of people,” Gustavsson said after the heavy defeat.
“We’ve lost a lot of one-on-one duels. This team is usually very physical, we win all the one-on-one duels, we’re aggressive, we run and our speed is superior to our opponents. But tonight it wasn’t like that.”
Australian fans expressed their dismay at the result on social media, with many praising Gustavsson and giving him special treatment.
“Tony Gustavsson has rarely put a foot wrong in major tournament matches during his tenure, but this one is up there with Nigeria’s nightmare,” wrote one fan on X. “Wrong tactics with high pressing and therefore starting the wrong players.”
“Tony Gustavsson is the Brad Fittler of women’s football. He’s holding our team back,” said another fan, referring to the NRL great who stepped down as NSW State of Origin coach after the team lost two series in a row.
A dejected Tony Gustavsson is pictured after the Matildas’ heavy defeat to Germany in Marseille on Friday morning.
Australian fans turned against the coach after the terrible defeat, with some even calling for his sacking.
Pictured: A sample of some of the online comments criticising the Swede on Friday.
Others were more direct, writing: “Can we fire Tony Gustavsson now?” and “How can Tony Gustavsson keep his job?”
Germany, inspired by their brilliant winger Jule Brand, could have won by an even bigger margin and the heavy setback in Group B leaves Tony Gustavsson’s side immediately on the back foot in a tough group that also includes a powerful US side.
This means they must win their next match against Zambia in Nice on Sunday and they will need to improve dramatically.
The Matildas barely created a valuable chance, any decent approach work was thwarted by poor build-up, and the Germans were decisive winners with two headed goals from Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller from corners, before Brand fittingly completed the most comprehensive of victories.
The Australians, who had suffered a major blow earlier with an injury that forced Tameka Yallop out of the team, were quickly alerted to the danger of the excellent Brand, who managed to fire home in the fourth minute after Kyra Cooney-Cross was robbed in midfield.
Shortly afterwards, a quick and terrific pass from German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger found Brand again, who cut back to Katrina Gorry and should have scored, but shot high and inelegant.
The Matildas contributed to a lively first quarter but their high line left them vulnerable to counter-attacks, and Cortnee Vine had to make a key interception to prevent Giulia Gwinn from volleying in to put the Germans ahead.
Mary Fowler (centre) and her teammates were devastated after the final whistle sounded.
The Australians’ hopes of winning gold were all but dashed by the defeat.
However, by the 24th minute the opening goal looked inevitable when Gwinn’s pinpoint corner to the far post was met by a perfectly timed downward header from Hegering, who had pushed her way past Ellie Carpenter.
Mary Fowler, who had an ineffective night in attack, almost responded immediately afterwards but was dispossessed as she turned into the fire in the box, and the Tillies had a couple of speculative efforts through Caitlin Foord.
The Germans could have gone even further before the break, however, but Sjoeke Nusken was halted by an excellent save from captain Steph Catley, who had won her fitness battle.
Luck was on the side of the Australians and their defence was again torn apart early in the second half when Brand took the ball from Clare Hunt, which set up Alex Popp, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Alanna Kennedy.
The Australians were again undone by a Gwinn corner in the 64th minute, when Schueller was left unmarked and headed in from six metres.
Brand was rewarded for her brilliance by scoring four minutes later after a superb team move, started by goalkeeper Berger, tore through the green and gold defence.
The Germans had a fourth goal ruled out for offside soon after and threatened to inflict further damage on the Tillies, who pressed in vain for a consolation goal after introducing Michelle Heyman, surviving an even worse fate.