Bold Matildas ready to risk all in the Lionesses’ den
Ian Chadband |
Australia’s injury-depleted Matildas are prepared to risk a mauling when they promise to go head-to-head with England in the Lionesses’ den with an aggressive, in-your-face approach.
Coach Tony Gustavsson revealed on the eve of Tuesday’s international at Brentford that he has “eight to 10” players unavailable for the contest against the side he rates “the team to beat” currently in world football.
Gustavsson, who explained he had lost two more unnamed players to injury in training on Sunday, also refused to reveal whether Sam Kerr, who missed the defeat against Scotland on Friday, would be fit to start their last overseas test before July’s home World Cup.
“I can’t say that now,” said the Swede at the team’s HQ outside London on Monday, when asked about his possible line-up. “I keep it like a World Cup, who’s available and who’s not. So I’ll keep that close to my chest for tomorrow.”
What he did promise rather bullishly, though, is that his Matildas would be “true to our identity”, attack the European champions, who haven’t been beaten in 30 games, and dare to dare.
“What we’ve said is no matter who steps on the field, we need to stay true and loyal to our identity and test ourselves, even though we might be down the depth chart,” said Gustavsson, rating this the toughest challenge of his two-year reign.
“We’re going to play our attacking game. We’re not coming here to just try to keep the score down and say ‘let’s try to survive this game’. That’s not what we’re about.
“But it might cost us, it might be a high score, but we’re going to be true to who we are. But our pressing game is going to be challenged big-time, it’s going to be a huge challenge against the Lionesses.”
Gustavsson believes it would be a “massive achievement” for the Matildas, currently ranked 10th in the world, against the No.4 side “that right now is the team in the world to beat”.
“Thirty games unbeaten, they play modern football with high intensity, extremely high tempo in everything they do. Their pressing game is fantastic, and their goal movement brilliant,” said Gustavsson.
“But I also know what lives inside this (Australia) team. You know the DNA of the ‘never say die’ attitude in the Matildas way before I came – and we’re gonna bring that tomorrow and we’re gonna show that we’re gonna be in your face.
“We’re gonna be aggressive. We’re going to press and we’re going to try to be who we are. And we’re going to try to beat England our way.
“And if we don’t, and if we have some goals (against us), we’re going to learn a lot of where we are in the process of playing the way we play.
“We’re not going to shy away from this challenge, it’s the toughest maybe ever since I came on board, and all these players won’t shy away either. That’s who they are.”
AAP
