The Matildas need tough opposition to be ready for the WC – coach
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SYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) – Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said taking on weaker teams ahead of hosting next year’s Women’s World Cup would only give the country a false sense of security.
The Matildas lost a second game in four days against Canada at the Sydney Football Stadium on Tuesday, putting more pressure on Gustavsson a little more than 10 months after the tournament.
The losses to the seventh-ranked Canadians followed a 7-0 loss to eighth-ranked Spain in June and left the Matildas without a win in their last four games.
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Their next confirmed game in November is against Gustavsson’s native Sweden, who are ranked third in the world, and the coach stood by his decision not to stack the schedule with more winning games.
“I personally think it could be false confidence and I’m not wired that way,” he told reporters.
“I think it would be good for the momentum and (self)belief of the team, for that it could be good. But in terms of preparation, I’m not sure it would have been the best.”
Gustavsson said two other friendlies would be arranged before the Sweden match which would expose the Matildas to different styles of play they may face at next year’s tournament.
Once again, the Swede asked the Australian public to trust his process.
“We all want to be winners,” he said. “If we can have that hope and belief in this team coming to the World Cup, we will be winners.
“What I’ve learned is that this team will do whatever it takes to be prepared and they’re working extremely hard to get there.”
Tuesday’s 2-1 loss was all the more disappointing because Australia dominated the first half and led at the break before what Sam Kerr described as an “unacceptable” second-half performance.
Gustavsson explained Kerr’s forlorn demeanor after the final whistle as a result of her fierce competitiveness but said it was important the forward did not carry the “burden” for the team as its best player and captain.
“Let her have that responsibility but don’t take the blame herself, because it’s the team that’s losing out there, not just Sam,” he said.
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Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford
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