<\/p>\n
Tony Gustavsson is resigned to accepting that, as a coach, you’re only as good as your last result.<\/p>\n
“So right now, I’m probably a s*** coach,” the Matildas boss concedes with a big grin.<\/p>\n
After seven straight wins, the defeat against Scotland may have looked a bit of a stomach-churning dip in what he calls his “roller-coaster ride” towards a home World Cup with Australia’s women’s team.<\/p>\n
Yet the great thing about the unflappable Swede is he’s not about to become carried away even if that ride should rise to an exhilarating high on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) through his Matildas ending European champions England’s 30-match unbeaten streak in London.<\/p>\n
“You’re seldom as good as people say you are when you win, and you’re seldom as bad as people say you are when you lose – you’re somewhere in between,” Gustavsson said.<\/p>\n
So, regardless of whether his side can finish their testing overseas program before July’s World Cup by taming the roaring Lionesses at Brentford, Gustavsson is more interested in what the Matildas performance will teach him about his players’ character for the big show ahead.<\/p>\n
It’s been a difficult UK send-off for him with key players already sidelined and others dropping out like flies, but the relentlessly upbeat Gustavsson sees an opportunity in every setback.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been learning a lot about ourselves in terms of our game style and how we can play and want to play,” he says of his merry-go-round of selection.<\/p>\n
“This is not an identity for this team that I’m trying to implement; there’s a clear identity in this team that already goes decades back, even before this generation.<\/p>\n
“This is a team that’s in your face, never takes a step back, press aggressively, want to attack, to go forward, score a lot of goals.<\/p>\n
“Now it’s about getting the right player in the right position with the right mindset. In two years, I’ve learned a lot about the players.”<\/p>\n
And he could be about to learn an awful lot more.<\/p>\n
With attacking options limited – totem Sam Kerr’s injury status remains unclear – and a makeshift back four in the absence of Steph Catley and Alanna Kennedy, the Matildas could be on a hiding to nothing against the world’s No.4 side, who are unbeaten in two years.<\/p>\n
Against Scotland, Australia seemed taken aback by their opponents’ physicality. England will take that approach and double the intensity.<\/p>\n
“The Scots weren’t afraid of us. We definitely have to come out a lot stronger in the next game,” said Alex Chidiac, Friday’s impressive impact sub.<\/p>\n
“It’s all testing us for the World Cup, but we have to bounce back quickly. It’s a big test of our character how we show up against England.”<\/p>\n
What Gustavsson has seen of his side that rebounded from a 7-0 hammering by Spain to end up defeating the same team eight months later persuades him they’re made of the right stuff.<\/p>\n
“They want to inspire a nation. This World Cup is a huge, massive opportunity that they can do that – and they want to carry that nation and be proud,” he said.<\/p>\n
“And the way to be proud is to represent in a good way on and off the field – and these players do that.<\/p>\n
“Every time they step on that field, they give it a hundred per cent. We didn’t lose against Scotland because a player was lazy or wasn’t giving it a hundred.<\/p>\n
“They always leave everything out there – that’s part of the identity of this team.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n