by Ben Gilby (2/6/24)
Above: Lydia Williams and Tony Gustavsson speaking to the media today in Sydney. Image: Football Australia.
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson emphasised both the level of emotions around the Matildas squad ahead of tomorrow’s game with China and the steely determination to “show who they really are.”
As well as being Australia’s final game on home soil before the Paris Olympics, a sell out crowd of approaching 80,000 will be at Acor Stadium to acclaim Matildas icon Lydia Williams who will make her last appearance for the national team in Australia.
“There are a lot of emotions – emotions about selections (for the Olympics), but also emotions about honouring a legend of the game, and you all know what this team is about, it’s about the players and what they achieved and what they have done,” Gustavsson said.
“We’ve talked in the locker room about my first games and then Lydia talks about her first games and you realise ‘Wow! what a journey it has been!’, and to be a small part of that amazing journey is going to be very emotional tomorrow.”
Whilst there is plenty of attention on sending Williams and the team off on a high, the Australia head coach is clear that he is demanding a vast improvement from his players on Friday’s performance against China.
“All of us in the team, including the players, were disappointed about the performance, but we were happy about that last second goal that says a lot about the attitude and identity of this team with the Never Say Die attitude…we want to be much more energised, more powerful, more attack-minded than we were in the last game, and…there’s a team that want to step out there and show who they really are.”
He also revealed that Caitlin Foord’s availability for the game is still in question: “We’ll see in training today, we will put out a statement so that everyone knows.”
Gustavsson ended the media conference with an insight into how he strives to ensure both the Matildas players and fans are at the heart of everything he does – whether it be communicating clearly about selection plans or the scheduling of the squad announcement for the Olympics.
“You want to make sure that this team is connected to the fans – the way I’ve tried to do it is when I sit here in front of you I try to explain what we are doing as much as possible, so the fans understand why we are doing it as I know the fans want nothing more than for this team to perform at the Olympics.
“If they understand part of performing at the Olympics is looking at the selection of players…there will also be different opinions in this room and among the fans that everyone has their favourite player and ‘why isn’t she playing?’ that’s part of coaching, and I’m happy to take criticism for that. The important thing is I talk to the players, talk to the fans…explain why we are doing what we are doing.”
“I pushed very hard to get the (Olympic squad) nomination on home soil…because it was very important for me that the players could be with families and friends and also for Australia to connect to the Aussie spirit and the Matildas. I could have waited another month (to announce the squad) if you look at the deadline, but I really wanted to make sure we did it on home soil because that will create so much energy for us to perform in Paris as well.”
Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams reflected on her footballing journey and how the game has evolved during her career ahead of her farewell appearance on home soil tomorrow against China at a sold-out Accor Stadium in Sydney.
“Honoured, definitely. Probably the most exciting thing is that I get to share my final game with the team at home with the players, the coaching staff, and the team. It’s a closing of the circle, you don’t really get much time as an athlete to have hindsight, you have to move on from tournament to tournament, from club season to club season…over the last few months I’ve been able to have those recollections.”
Williams highlighted the change in coaching she has experienced over the past 20 years, with high praise for the techniques used by her final Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson.
“I guess it’s the shift in technical ability, the understanding of the game. When we first started, a lot of it was coaches trying to correct technique…the basic rules, and understanding of the game. Throughout that period, over 20 years of playing, you see the standards of coaching coming in. Tony (Gustavsson) makes it really self-reliant environment – it’s your duty to do the job and put you in the best shape, and the most important thing is your performance on the pitch.
“You want to know that you’ve done the work and you get the reward by playing and getting selected for teams and that’s really been the kind of way it’s been evolving in a real short time – five years – and bringing in these really dynamic coaches who are leading that way and really creating that culture shift in the team.”
“We’re all the same as when we first started, no-one’s really changed. We’ve known each other since we were 16 and we were those kids trying to look up to be a role model, and for some of us, we’ve become a role model, but throughout it all we’ve remained who we are and what we believe in.”
Lydia Williams on The Matildas.
Then there is the identity of the Matildas. Williams emphasises the oft-repeated We Are Matildas mantra – players, coaches, families, and fans all part of one group all pulling in the same direction.
“The one thing that I really wanted was that this team really fights for what they believe in, and we’ve really seen that throughout the years – that it’s OK to fight for things…I want that culture and environment to continue and I think it will. The girls have a fire in them, we’ve brought people in to lead the team in a positive way and really make sure that it is about results and the team and the culture and the Matildas as a whole. It’s not just one player, it’s not just one staff member, it’s not just one organisation – it’s everything. The Matildas are the fans, the family, and everyone in between.”
China: Milicic and Wang Yenwen on the journey ahead for restoring the nation to former glories
China’s former Matildas head coach Ante Milicic provided an insight into his new role with the former World Cup and Olympic runners-up, his focus on the rebuilding role ahead, and his thoughts on the retirement of Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams – a player he knows well.
Milicic has had a tough baptism this international window in his new role, he had to select this squad based on videos on computer due to the short period in between his appointment and the games in Adelaide and Sydney. He provided an insight into the reality of what it actually entailed.
“During the interview process, I had to watch a fair bit of the national team games, so I had a bit of an understanding of the national team. I had to look a bit deeper and watch the girls in the club competitions – in the Chinese Super League.
“That was the challenge when you are relying on video footage, you are watching the games, but looking at the number of match minutes and also the intensity to get an understanding of the way of playing and how in a short space of time we could bring that to the national team. With all our girls playing overseas, we’re not really getting the minutes they need…the girls in Celtic play a little bit more, but in the UK, the girls just aren’t getting the minutes, and in Spain and France, and that’s been the biggest challenge.”
There were a huge number of positives for Milicic to take from Friday’s first game in charge, but the performance and outcome do not distract him from the reality of the situation he and his team are in.
“We’ve played our first game together against a very difficult opponent, so there is a lot of analysis, there are a lot of things we need to work on. The girls tried to execute what we spoke about and what we worked on, now it’s a process of recovery and seeing who is in the physical condition to back up for what will be another strong game tomorrow night…we have one player who was not available for Friday, we have to see how she is for tomorrow.
“That’s things that we’ve got to deal with. Unfortunately for us as a squad, time is the enemy, so we haven’t had enough time to work on…when they took their pause in the first half they looked to adjust a few things, and that second half again they adjusted again. We haven’t been able to provide our players with feedback on how to adjust to the opposition when they do make some tactical changes.”
Rebuilding any team is a challenge, but one with such a successful past as China is one with even more difficulties. The women’s game is a very different beast now to the one that China were so strong in throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. So what are Milicic’s immediate aims in his new role?
“I just want to build a clear identity for the team. When the people of China watch their national team play, they see a clear style of football, they know what to expect…you just want to build some consistency around the side, so when you get to a major tournament, you know what to expect. I’m trying to look at it as a two-year block – what type of players I can bring in for the next two years…and the girls have been very receptive.”
Milicic was asked his thoughts on the development of the Matildas since he left the role as head coach in 2020. He is blown away by their achievements and proud of what so many of the players he is familiar with have done.
“They are a special group – what they have done for the game, not just in Australia but the world…they deserve everything that has come their way. It was nice to see them again as when I did depart the role (of Matildas head coach) I didn’t have that contact with them, so I really appreciated that.”
One of those players that Milicic knows well is Lydia Williams. China’s head coach made clear he is in awe of her longevity at the highest level and achievements across her career with the Matildas that began in 2005.
“When I got the news (about her retirement), we exchanged text messages. Lydia has been a fantastic professional and should be very proud what she has achieved and what she has done for the game…hopefully she is not lost to football because she has a lot of experience on and off the field. I’m proud that I got to spend a little bit of time with her on that journey.”
Also speaking at China’s media conference was striker Wang Yanwen who reflected on what she believes has to be done to restore her nation’s standing at the top table of women’s football.
“If we want to bring back our prime winning in winning football in the position of the world, with our domestic game the first thing we need to improve is the pace of the game and stronger contact with physical condition.”
She also outlined her thoughts on the first game between the two nations on Friday, saying, through an interpreter: “We were heading (winning) the game at the beginning and creating so many chances, but unfortunately they draw the game with us. A lot has been talked, and there are improvements to be made before the next game.”
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