Gustavsson on what CommBank Matildas need to work on ahead of Round 2 against Olympic Champions

After a 1-0 loss to Olympic Champions, Canada, CommBank Matildas' head coach, Tony Gustavsson spoke to media about how the team plans on making the most of chances and opportunities ahead of Round 2 against Canada on Tuesday.

With plenty of missed opportunities for both teams, Gustavsson said the statistics make it hard to believe the scoreline.

"Sitting here looking at the stats there was 25 to 21 box entries, 16 shots to 13 to us and seven on target for us and five on target for them, this game should have ended 3-3 and Canada had the chances as well, let's be real," he said.

"In the second half,  Canada went one-on-one with the goalkeeper three times and we also had two of those and three with Vine coming on in the second half, it's a bit unbelievable that it ended one nil to Canada, to be honest.

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"We talked about it in the circle and yesterday at training as well. A game like this is most likely going to be decided on conversion rate and goal zones. We've had a lot of focus on final pass and finishing, but it's just one of those days sometimes. In another game, we'd score three. We've seen it before, over and over again in the game of football, but it's something we need to work on for sure."

Gustavsson also commended 20-year-old Charli Grant for holding her own against much more experienced oppponents.

"Like I said before [in the pre-match press conference], it was going to be a little bit of a different game, where there's a great opportunity for Charli and she doesn't shy away from a challenge," he said.

"If you look at her first half, there was only one single time that Prince got a shot on goal and that was outside of the box. Otherwise, she neutralised her completely in that first half. In the second half where we started to open up and go for goal, there was more space, so we got a little bit more vulnerable and they got in behind us," he continued.

"We know that Canada is one of the best transition teams in the world and obviously with Alana going down as well and that changes what we did. But in that first half, they actually didn't get into our goals one single time, they had two shots outside of the box and one worldie and what else can you say to that but congratulations."

A follow-up question was asked regarding Alanna Kennedy's injury sustained during the game and whether she would be fit to play in Australia's second match against Canada on Tuesday.

"The only thing I've heard so far is that there's something with the hamstring and obviously, they're going to look at her, but from experience, I know when it's a hamstring you normally wouldn't come back as fast as to play Tuesday's game. I don't want to speculate, but my experience says she most likely won't play," he said.

"When it comes to depth, like I've said before, we have invested in these 18 months, in options. Courtney Nevin has played with left-footed centerback for us, Aivi Luik has played and she's by the way, been phenomenal for BK Häcken in the Swedish league. So we have some clear options in the back. But obviously, when you're missing three key starters with Ellie [Carpenter], Steph [Catley] and Alana, it's going to be influenced somehow."

With patches of dominance seen throughout the match despite so many lineup changes, Gustavsson said he believes the CommBank Matildas can beat the best in the world.

"When you do as many changes as you did today, similar for Canada, there were two very different teams out there today. So the game itself wasn't really solid for either of the teams, it was a bit, forth and back in spaces, it was a different game. I think is also because some of the players haven't played that much together," he explained.

"I do think that when we play the way we want to play, we can beat Canada. I know we can. We might not be the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world and I think we saw that tonight as well. We can beat Canada if we play at the level that we know we can play at."

The CommBank Matildas will face Canada in the second and final match of this friendly series on Tuesday, 6 September at Allianz Stadium.

CommBank Matildas v Canada 
Date: Tuesday, 6 September 2022 
Venue: Allianz Stadium 
Kick-Off: 7.40 pm AEST 
Broadcast: Live and free on Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play and Paramount+.  
Tickets available now