{"id":3668,"date":"2023-07-20T00:05:07","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T14:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=3668"},"modified":"2026-09-25T15:01:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T05:31:05","slug":"womens-world-cup-preview-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/womens-world-cup-preview-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Women&#8217;s World Cup Preview: Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"240\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?resize=1024%2C240&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?resize=1024%2C240&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?resize=300%2C70&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?resize=768%2C180&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?resize=1536%2C360&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?resize=2048%2C480&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?w=2580&amp;ssl=1 2580w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SMC-TAG-1.png?w=3870&amp;ssl=1 3870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"this-is-the-moment-australia-has-waited-1120-days-for\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">This is the moment Australia has waited 1120 days for.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the moment Gianni Infantino declared Australia and New Zealand would host the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, every aspect of Australian football has been focused on this moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s been an at times turbulent ride. When is it ever not in Australian football?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four months after the announcement unheralded Swede Tony Gustavsson was announced as the man to lead Australia to their first ever World Cup on home soil, a heavy crown for any individual to wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The journey from then until now has been far from plain sailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Identifying a need to compete more regularly against the world\u2019s best, which in the women\u2019s game increasingly came from Europe, Gustavsson exposed the Matildas to a heavy schedule of matches against these nations &#8211; and in doing so the Matildas were exposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In April 2021 there were 5-2 and 5-0 losses to Germany and the Netherlands respectively, which raised more than a few eyebrows as to the direction the team was headed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concerns over that direction really intensified after what can only be described as a disappointing AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup in January at the start of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understandably, Australia entered the tournament as one of the favourites and made light work of the group stage; winning all three games, scoring 24 goals and conceding just one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-x\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This time tomorrow. \u23f0<br><br>\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfav\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea: 20.7.23 (8pm AEST) <br>\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AccorStadium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AccorStadium<\/a>    <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Matildas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Matildas<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/C6ruGyfURG\">pic.twitter.com\/C6ruGyfURG<\/a><\/p>&mdash; CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheMatildas\/status\/1681604800633516032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 19, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A quarter-final against South Korea was seen as a tricky assignment, but one that Gustavsson\u2019s side was capable of navigating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 1-0 loss to the Taegeuk Ladies wasn\u2019t in anyone\u2019s script. It was the Matildas\u2019 worst result at the Women\u2019s Asian Cup since Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I take full ownership for performances, so do the players but we also know that football can be this way sometimes,&#8221; Gustavsson said in the aftermath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I can throw up a lot of stats here with everything from shots, and final third entries and all those things. But at the end of the day, games in tournaments are won and lost inside the 18 and Korea won that game today. And that&#8217;s why we lost the game.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The criticism was fierce, with leading analyst Andy Harper declaring the result a \u201cdisaster\u201d and a \u201cfailure\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(Gustavvson) backed himself into a corner, in my opinion, with this team and going to this tournament with a full-strength squad (as) the best in Asia, and he needed to win it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwenty games now under Tony Gustavsson, and I want someone to plot me the growth trajectory on this team. I want someone to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe, and his coaches, and the high performance staff, have to be able to plot after 20 games a trajectory of improvement, and I can\u2019t see it \u2013 but I\u2019m willing, oh so willing, to be educated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-x\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;It&#39;s a disaster and it&#39;s a failure&#8230;anything less than a Final is totally unacceptable with this squad&quot;<br><br>Andy Harper didn&#39;t hold back after Australia&#39;s shock quarter-final exit in the Asian Cup. Is Harps on the money with his assessment? \ud83e\udd14<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/AUSvKOR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AUSvKOR<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/WAC2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WAC2022<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/urcDHx3vfi\">pic.twitter.com\/urcDHx3vfi<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 10 Football (@10FootballAU) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/10FootballAU\/status\/1487738766101909505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 30, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was still worse to come<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spain put seven past an under-strength Matildas, which was followed up by back-to-back losses against Olympic champions Canada on home soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The noise around his future was deafening. So close to a World Cup on home soil, it was an alarming form line that no doubt would\u2019ve had those at Football Australia worried. This was meant to be their crowning moment, but rather than climbing the mountain the Matildas were headed for the cliff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, call it good planning or good luck, Gustavsson has turned things around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those Gustavsson exposed to international football are now no longer floundering, but flourishing, and there\u2019s now an undeniable depth to the squad that was named to represent Australia at this World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Names like Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Ellie Carpenter may be the headline acts, but just as important are the likes of Clare Hunt, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Cortnee Vine, all players Gustavsson has given an opportunity to during his tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since back-to-back losses, on home soil no less, to Canada in September of last year, Australia has won nine of their last ten matches, including headline wins over European champions, England, France, Spain and Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"CommBank Matildas v France | Key Moments | International Friendly\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/crfnfrh_2Mc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s four teams inside the world\u2019s top six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s that form line that has everyone in Australia dreaming again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"the-coach-tony-gustavsson\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">THE COACH &#8211; TONY GUSTAVSSON<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Appointed in September 2020, just as the global pandemic was starting to bite, the affable Swede has certainly faced his share of challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Preparing any team for a World Cup is difficult, but having to navigate a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic in the middle of that threw up more hurdles than ordinarily would\u2019ve been the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While he may not have had the profile of other names reportedly on Football Australia\u2019s hit list, his time spent as an assistant with the US women\u2019s national team under Jill Ellis was an alluring selling point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting some of that US magic dust? Yes, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the key reasons I\u2019m here is that I believe a lot in this playing group,\u201d Gustavsson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of potential here, they have shown their qualities, but I also think that together I can take them to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a id='xBEihFNFS4pJyIFD5VjjYg' class='gie-single' href='https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1555344995' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;'>Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'xBEihFNFS4pJyIFD5VjjYg',sig:'Kay9Hy_TByZk23PyZlMeSDFRlZ13sTmmIlA5Zb0n_J4=',w:'594px',h:'384px',items:'1555344995',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Affable, friendly, but slightly quirky, the 49-year-old has struck up an incredible rapport with his players. While it\u2019s rare for players to openly question their coach in any circumstance, even at the deepest depths of their struggles, the Matildas never lost face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The way they spoke of their belief in Gustavsson seemed like more than just a token gesture of support. It seemed genuine. They had never lost hope in him and he never lost hope in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a special group of players who, when you see the anticipation around the tournament and level of interest for women\u2019s football, have already sparked a transformation,\u201d Gustavsson said. \u201cWe can\u2019t wait to get the tournament underway in front of a record crowd of support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"players-to-watch\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PLAYERS TO WATCH<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Sam Kerr<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What else is there to say about the Chelsea superstar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there were any doubts about her status as a truly elite player when she headed to south London, they have more than been answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her trophy cabinet is littered with individual and club awards, and her reputation as one of the world\u2019s best and most lethal strikers is firmly entrenched. She is the face of this team in more ways than one. A captain, and a leader, she carries the weight of a nation not seen since Cathy Freeman coming into this tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sam Kerr &amp; Tony Gustavsson | FIFA Women&amp;apos;s World Cup Pre-Match Press Conference | CommBank Matildas\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/coNheFbFyTA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not that you\u2019d know it from her demeanor. If there is any stress or nerves, she isn\u2019t showing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAny time you go to a World Cup whether its your first or your third or fourth, it\u2019s an amazing feeling,\u201d she said recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s something you can never take for granted and I never will. But to do it on home soil is a once on a lifetime opportunity for not many people so I\u2019m very very honoured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvery time I talk about it I get emotional because I can\u2019t believe\u2026we\u2019re hosting a Women\u2019s World Cup. When I started playing for the Matildas I would never have dreamt of this. I\u2019m very excited and just want to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Caitlin Foord<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the other side of London to her strike partner, the Arsenal forward has been in sensational form for club and country in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A former AFC Women\u2019s Player of the Year, she battled injury towards the end of the Women\u2019s Super League season but is now fully recovered and ready to light up this Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Kerr the focal point of the attack, Foord had often but pushed out wide, but Gustavsson\u2019s move to bring her in just behind Kerr has been the catalyst for their turnaround in form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI like to get the ball at my feet and dribble and stuff like that. And Sam\u2019s first run would probably be to run in behind and get the ball like that,\u201d Foord said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe do work really well off each other, and it does come naturally. I guess it helps when you\u2019ve played many years together and grown up together and adapted our game together, in a way. There\u2019s just excitement as well, when we play together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think that\u2019s why it just works \u2013 if I come, she\u2019ll go. And obviously, the option is there to do the opposite. But, naturally, our first instinct is opposites anyway, so it creates two options.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MATILDAS SQUAD ANNOUNCED: FIFA Women&amp;apos;s World Cup 2023\u2122\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OhSIElULmeA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Ellie Carpenter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s scary to believe, given all that she has achieved, that Ellie Carpenter is still 23 years of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dashing full back debuted for the Matildas aged just 15 and her tender age saw her break the record for the youngest ever player at both the Olympics and NWSL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in the final of the 2022 UEFA Women\u2019s Champions League Final, which her Lyon side won 3-1 against Barcelona, threatened to derail her World Cup dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But such is her determination she returned to action in March, well ahead of schedule, and she will attack this World Cup &#8211; and attack is the right word when it comes to Carpenter &#8211; in peak fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Honestly, I think it was the best thing that&#8217;s happened to me,&#8221; she said earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I really needed this break. I was really fatigued; I&#8217;ve played a lot &#8211; a lot &#8211; of football in the last year-and-a-half. I was just on the verge of being burnt-out, really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The injury came and obviously it was disappointing, but at the same time, it was the perfect time for me to reset, get stronger, have a rest, have an off-season that I never really have had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I think I really, really needed it and I think I&#8217;m better from it. I&#8217;m more refreshed. I feel better on the pitch than ever before. As much as I never want a long-term injury, I think it was a blessing in disguise.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Listen to <strong>The Asian Game Podcast<\/strong> as we preview Australia&#8217;s chances at the FIFA Women&#8217;s World Cup 2023<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Embed Player\" style=\"border:none\" src=\"https:\/\/play.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/27484722\/height\/128\/theme\/modern\/size\/standard\/thumbnail\/yes\/custom-color\/65cec1\/time-start\/00:00:00\/playlist-height\/200\/direction\/backward\/download\/yes\" height=\"128\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" oallowfullscreen=\"true\" msallowfullscreen=\"true\"><\/iframe>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is the moment Australia has waited 1120 days for. From the moment Gianni Infantino declared Australia and New Zealand would host the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, every aspect of Australian football has been focused on this moment. It\u2019s been an at times turbulent ride. When is it ever not in Australian football? Four [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_gspb_post_css":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[131,214,213,212],"class_list":["post-3668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-australia","tag-fifa-womens-world-cup","tag-matildas","tag-womens-football"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Women&#039;s World Cup Preview: Australia - The Asian Game<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/womens-world-cup-preview-australia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ro_RO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Women&#039;s World Cup Preview: Australia - The Asian Game\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This is the moment Australia has waited 1120 days for. From the moment Gianni Infantino declared Australia and New Zealand would host the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, every aspect of Australian football has been focused on this moment. It\u2019s been an at times turbulent ride. When is it ever not in Australian football? 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