Matildas’ depth dramas

MATILDAS coach Tony Gustavsson has conceded depth is a major issue as Australia prepare for another likely onesided match with Portugal with more players from the already understaffed squad set to miss Wednesday’s friendly.

The young and mostly inexperienced women’s team have had little time to lick their wounds between Sunday’s 7-0 loss to Spain and Wednesday morning’s clash with Portugal.

Going into battle without rested players Sam Kerr, Hayley

Raso, Caitlin Foord, Kyah Simon, Steph Catley and injured star Ellie Carpenter forced Gustavsson to call on a squad featuring six debutants, four of which play in the NPL competition.

Gustavsson said he was left shocked by how many people had been surprised by Sunday’s result.

“If you follow the women’s game for a long time now and see where Spain are at and what they have done the last two year’s with this international team and the success they have had,” Gustavsson said.

“You look at their scorelines and what they have done and then look at the team we are bringing. I’m actually surprised that people are surprised (by the result).

“Because that is where we are and we need to be okay with that and to see that and identify that and keep investing and believing and wanting to improve.”

Gustavsson fully accepted it was a big ask to expect players competing in the NPL – the tier below the A-League’s women’s competition – to be able to match it with international superstars.

The Swede was not afraid to blame Football Australia and a lack of focus on player development for the small pool of players capable of playing against top-class international competition.

“A senior national team should not work on developing players at the same time as trying to win games,” Gustavsson said. “The senior Matildas should be the tip of the iceberg and everything that happens underneath in clubland and other development pathways should make them ready for international football, and that is where we need to invest.”

While sitting much further down the rankings list than world No.7 team Spain Gustavsson said the mostly unblooded Matildas squad would still find the clash with Portugal a challenge.

Goalkeeper Teagan Micah, who stopped a barrage of shots in the first half against Spain, before a near-unstoppable shot flew into the top corner in the 44th minute, has recovered from her ankle injury sustained in the game but Gustavsson remained tight-lipped on who would be named in the starting 11.

“I don’t want to go into details on who is available or not … but we have a couple of question marks,” Gustavsson said.