Aussies\u2019 savage World Cup ploy burns \u2018disappointed\u2019 Poms as leak triggers ticket warfare<\/a><\/b><\/p>\nTHE IMMEDIATE STAJ EFFECT THAT PUT MATILDAS ON WORLD MAP<\/b><\/p>\n
Hesterine de Rues had been ousted amid widespread reports of a player mutiny within the squad who didn\u2019t see eye-to-eye with her methods.<\/p>\n
Stajcic was brought in on an interim basis despite the 2014 Asian Cup rapidly approaching.<\/p>\n
But the 49-year-old managed to guide the Matildas all the way to the final where they lost 1-0 against Japan, a team that would go on to make the final of the 2015 World Cup.<\/p>\n
Stajcic would go on to earn the permanent gig and oversaw the Matildas\u2019 2015 World Cup campaign where they qualified for the quarterfinals thanks to a stunning 1-0 win over Brazil in the Round of 16.<\/p>\n
They would be undone by Japan once again, but there was clearly optimism this team was headed places under Stajcic.<\/p>\n
Victory at the 2017 Tournament of Nations, which included Australia\u2019s first-ever win over the United States, created plenty of buzz around the Matildas as they returned home to play friendlies against Brazil in front of crowds upwards of 15,000.<\/p>\n
The Matildas would also enjoy their highest world ranking ever under Stajcic, as they were ranked fourth in December in 2017.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Alen Stajcic oversaw the Matildas’ best run of results. (Photo by Marc Atkins\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBut it would be just a year later when things began to turn a little stale.<\/p>\n
A fourth-place finish at the 2018 Algarve Cup was followed by yet another appearance in the final of the 2018 Asian Cup.<\/p>\n
However, the road to that game was not easy as a late Sam Kerr goal rescued a point in their group stage game against Japan while Alanna Kennedy\u2019s stoppage-time strike pushed their semi-final against Thailand to extra time, where they would go on to win via penalties.<\/p>\n
As Socceroos great Robbie Slater points out, a coach in the same gig for too long doesn\u2019t typically end well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a life span,\u201d Slater told foxsports.com.au<\/i>.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s rare and you do have the exceptions around the world, (Sir Alex) Ferguson and (Arsene) Wenger, but you\u2019re talking about the very top of the tree.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoaches have a certain life span. You think of Ange (Postecoglou), he usually stays a couple of years and then moves.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Stajcic\u2019s journey didn\u2019t end because of results.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Results trended downwards towards the end of Stajcic’s tenure. (Photo by Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u2018INNUENDO AND MYSTERY\u2019: THE SHOCK AXING THAT ROCKED AUSSIE FOOTBALL<\/b><\/p>\n
Stajcic\u2019s axing was due to perceived \u201cworkplace issue\u201d which came about as a result of two confidential surveys conducted by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and Our Watch, an Australian organisation aimed at ending violence against women.<\/p>\n
However, details of the survey\u2019s findings have remained a closely guarded secret in the immediate aftermath and the years since in one of the messiest sagas seen in Australian football.<\/p>\n
Curiously enough, several of the Matildas stars voiced their support for Stajcic in the wake of his shock sacking.<\/p>\n
Midfielder Chloe Logarzo wrote on Twitter: \u201cShattered with what we have found out TODAY.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyah Simon added: \u201cWe\u2019ve been preparing meticulously under him over the last 4yrs to have the best crack to win in France and under his guidance we have been the most successful team in Matildas history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam Kerr, who denied she had been \u201cgagged\u201d by the FFA to talk about Stajcic\u2019s sacking, also came out in defence of her former boss.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Chloe Logarzo was one player left stunned by Stajcic’s shock axing. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cI have not commented because I wasn\u2019t ready to comment while I am still shocked and upset,\u201d Kerr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy trust was in Staj to lead us to the World Cup final & I believe he was the best coach for that. Thankful for everything his (sic) done for me and the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slater was also caught by \u201csurprise\u201d by the call to bin Stajcic at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t the proudest time for the women\u2019s game when Stajcic was sacked after that survey,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertain people didn\u2019t behave in the manner in which they should have, including board members. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere were rumours about culture, but I think it\u2019s important that a number of players came out and publicly supported Stajcic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a nutshell, what happened was shrouded in innuendo and mystery. But it happened. It wasn\u2019t the best possible time for anyone involved in that era.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ante Milicic, who had spent five years in the Socceroos national team setup, was appointed the interim Matildas boss and tasked with leading the team in the 2019 World Cup.<\/p>\n
But he could only guide them as far as the Round of 16 as an exit at the hands of Norway in a penalty shootout and went on to resign from his role almost a year later.<\/p>\n
Milicic\u2019s resignation would come just weeks after FA had secured Australia the hosting rights for the 2023 World Cup along with New Zealand.<\/p>\n
With the tournament to take place in three years\u2019 time, who would be appointed as the man or woman to take charge of the Matildas for their most important tournament to date?<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Ante Milicic lasted just over a year in the Matildas hot seat. (Photo by Linh Pham\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTHE BRUTAL 25-YEAR LOW AND TOURNAMENT FAILURES THAT ALMOST DOOMED GUSTAVSSON<\/b><\/p>\n
Gustavsson arrived with plenty of tournament pedigree and experience having been an assistant coach with the United States in their triumphant 2015 and 2019 World Cup campaigns.<\/p>\n
The 50-year-old, a maths and PE teacher by trade, enjoyed a playing career across several Swedish clubs before transitioning into the dugout.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for Gustavsson, he took on the role in the midst of the Covid pandemic, robbing him of vital time on the park with his new team and players.<\/p>\n
In fact, the Swede\u2019s first games as Matildas boss took place almost five months after he was appointed and the early results were brutal.<\/p>\n
The Matildas shipped 13 goals in three games against Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark in a horror start to their Tokyo Olympics preparations.<\/p>\n
Gustavsson\u2019s side navigated a tricky group to progress to the quarterfinals, where they beat Great Britain 4-3 in an extra-time thriller but ultimately fell short to Sweden in the semi finals and to the US in the bronze medal match.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Gustavsson guided the Matildas to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Elsa\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThere were glimpses at the high-tempo, attacking brand of football Gustavsson wanted to implement, but the team\u2019s high line was constantly exposed at the Olympics and were perhaps fortunate not to have conceded more.<\/p>\n
Further tournament anguish would come at the 2022 Asian Cup as the Matildas crashed out in the quarterfinals to South Korea having missed several golden chances to take the lead.<\/p>\n
Results wouldn\u2019t get much better from there, as Gustavsson oversaw the Matildas\u2019 heaviest defeat in 25 years when they lost 7-0 to Spain in June that year.<\/p>\n
However, it must be said the team was without several of their heavyweight stars including Kerr, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, and Hayley Raso to name just four.<\/p>\n
It was all part of Gustavsson\u2019s brief to blood several youngsters and boost the Matildas\u2019 depth across the field, something the team was sorely lacking prior to his arrival in 2020.<\/p>\n
The tournament failures and Spain thrashing left many loudly calling for Gustavsson to be axed from his post, but FA CEO James Johnson opted to stick with his man rather than twist.<\/p>\n
As proved by the Matildas\u2019 stunning run from last October to their final friendly prior to the World Cup in which they won nine games from 10, it has paid dividends.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>The Matildas suffered their heaviest defeat in 25 years under Gustavsson. (Photo by Fran Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHOW GUSTAVSSON AVOIDED CATASTROPHE AS \u2018LOYAL\u2019 FA BOSS VINDICATED<\/b><\/p>\n
Gustavsson would have had shivers sent down his spine when he lined up on the touchline for the national anthems ahead of the Matildas\u2019 World Cup opener against Ireland.<\/p>\n
Played in front of just over 75,000 fans at Stadium Australia, the Swede oversaw a gritty 1-0 victory over the Irish, yet the headlines were dominated by Kerr\u2019s shock injury diagnosis.<\/p>\n
The superstar striker was ruled out of Australia\u2019s first two games with a calf injury and would be reassessed ahead of the final group game against Canada.<\/p>\n
However, the focus quickly zeroed in on Gustavsson amid Australia\u2019s horror 3-2 defeat to Nigeria.<\/p>\n
It was a result very few saw coming, even without Kerr.<\/p>\n
Gustavsson was smashed from pillar to post for his tactics, including Slater.<\/p>\n
However, he could only praise the Swede for how he looked inward and tweaked his system for the do-or-die Canada game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI questioned and everyone questioned him tactically against Nigeria,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be fair to him, I think he did get it wrong tactically against Nigeria and he practically admitted that in the post-match press conference. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut what he did against Canada was tactically perfect and he hasn\u2019t taken a false step in the games that have followed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>The Matildas salvaged their World Cup campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Canada. (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAn impressive 2-0 win over Denmark in the Round of 16 followed, before the Matildas emerged victorious over France via the longest penalty shootout in World Cup history.<\/p>\n
Yet Slater believes Johnson must earn plenty of plaudits for believing in the man he appointed to see it through.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince James Johnson\u2019s been in charge, he\u2019s stayed very loyal to his coaches both men\u2019s and women\u2019s,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same kind of thing happened to Graham Arnold at the end of our qualifying campaign where we finished third and went into the play-offs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were calls from very prominent people for Arnie to be sacked, and James Johnson stood by him. He\u2019s done exactly the same with Gustavsson.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the results for both managers, he\u2019s made the right call. Even if we lose the semi final, which everyone would feel a little let down by given the euphoria, but it still would be a successful tournament given we\u2019ve never been to a semi final before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Football Australia CEO James Johnson opted to keep Gustavsson in the role despite vocal calls for him to be sacked. (Photo by Daniel Pockett\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt\u2019s hard to distil the secret recipe to Gustavsson\u2019s success at this World Cup.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s made it to the final four largely without Kerr and has had to deal with the intense scrutiny and pressure that comes with playing in front of a home crowd for each game.<\/p>\n
But facts are facts: Gustavsson is the most successful Matildas coach at a World Cup and he\u2019s helped a nation fall in love with the team.<\/p>\n
Slater feels the success shouldn\u2019t be a massive surprise given Gustavsson\u2019s credentials during the latter stages of World Cups.<\/p>\n
However, it is the unbreakable bond and team spirit he has developed with the players that Slater believes has propelled the team this far.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see what he\u2019s done in this tournament and the way he talks, this group of players love him,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not feigned, it\u2019s not acted. He\u2019s created a culture where these girls are like one, whether they\u2019re starting or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow they\u2019ve embraced the support of the nation and the crowd\u2019s behind them. It\u2019s like the crowd\u2019s an extension of this team, yet Gustavsson\u2019s remained calm.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Fans have turned out in droves to various live sites to cheer on the Matildas. (Photo by Diego Fedele\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
A lot has changed in the four years since, whether it be from administrative level in the game\u2019s governing body to the coaches or the large swath of newly-capped Matildas.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s all arrived to this moment as Gustavsson prepares to lead his side into battle against England at Stadium Australia.<\/p>\n
Who knows where the journey goes from here?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here the Matildas stand, 90 minutes away from progressing to the final of the Women\u2019s World Cup on home soil as a clash against eternal rivals England awaits. To get to this moment in time, it has been a long, windy, bumpy, pot-hole filled road. FIBA Basketball World Cup | Starts Aug 25. Watch every […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[1416,1800,1641,2231,1736,7632,5952,28718,3281,7833,333,26461,11472,2064,28734,6185,28729,27496,1567,1429,28714,23982,6653,20102,9528,726,4232,1425,7062,28716,28728,28722,1679,5143,1440,12886,779,5138,5035,6032,13592,28719,28725,6270,4657,4853,27074,28723,28713,6012,167,1533,1809,1427,70,1728,12008,28727,27068,28726,9795,28730,28712,6483,2486,28720,4465,28724,2891,1711,23444,28711,5429,472,6058,2457,2902,4847,7372,19938,900,14417,7301,27078,28721,4217,28733,28717,28715,1792,1847,3150,28731,28732],"class_list":{"0":"post-57541","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-alex-conrad","9":"tag-america","10":"tag-asia","11":"tag-assistant-coach","12":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","13":"tag-australian-football","14":"tag-australian-football-community","15":"tag-australian-organisation","16":"tag-basketball-world","17":"tag-board-members","18":"tag-brazil","19":"tag-bronze-medal-match","20":"tag-calf-injury","21":"tag-canada","22":"tag-coach-lingering","23":"tag-daniel-pockett","24":"tag-diego-fedele","25":"tag-dream-run","26":"tag-eastern-asia","27":"tag-europe","28":"tag-extra-time-thriller","29":"tag-final-group-game","30":"tag-finals-game","31":"tag-fourth-place-finish","32":"tag-fran-santiago","33":"tag-france","34":"tag-germany","35":"tag-getty-images-inc","36":"tag-graham-arnold","37":"tag-group-stage-game","38":"tag-heaviest-defeat","40":"tag-home-crowd","41":"tag-home-soil","42":"tag-horror-start","43":"tag-interim-basis","44":"tag-ireland","45":"tag-james-johnson","46":"tag-japan","47":"tag-kayo-freebies","49":"tag-life-span","50":"tag-linh-pham","51":"tag-marc-atkins","52":"tag-mark-metcalfe","53":"tag-mary-fowler","54":"tag-moment-dream","55":"tag-nation-fall","56":"tag-national-team-setup","57":"tag-netherlands","58":"tag-new-zealand","59":"tag-north-america","60":"tag-northern-america","61":"tag-northern-europe","62":"tag-norway","63":"tag-oceania","64":"tag-penalty-shootout","65":"tag-permanent-gig","66":"tag-player-mutiny","67":"tag-ploy-burns","68":"tag-post-match-press-conference","69":"tag-professional-footballers-association","70":"tag-roar-rally","71":"tag-robbie-slater","72":"tag-robert-cianflone","73":"tag-rocked-aussie-football","74":"tag-saudi-arabia","75":"tag-secret-recipe","76":"tag-semi-final","77":"tag-semi-finals","78":"tag-shock-injury-diagnosis","79":"tag-shock-sacking","80":"tag-south-america","81":"tag-south-korea","82":"tag-south-eastern-asia","83":"tag-southern-europe","84":"tag-spain","85":"tag-steph-catley","86":"tag-stoppage-time-strike","87":"tag-superstar-striker","88":"tag-sweden","89":"tag-team-spirit","90":"tag-thailand","91":"tag-ticket-warfare","92":"tag-tony-g","93":"tag-tony-gustavsson","94":"tag-tournament-anguish","95":"tag-tournament-failures","96":"tag-tournament-pedigree","97":"tag-united-states-of-america","98":"tag-western-asia","99":"tag-western-europe","100":"tag-workplace-issue","101":"tag-world-map"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}