Coach’s tactics ‘will give success’

Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop says the tactics which earned Tony Gustavsson plenty of criticism will be what gets the national team over the line against Uzbekistan without goal scoring hero Sam Kerr.

As Kerr posted the first photo of herself post-surgery on Instagram, showing the thumbs up to her 1.8 million followers with her right leg in a compression bandage, the Matildas continue to plot ways to ensure they not only qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics but reach their goal of bringing home a medal.

Yallop, talking after the Brisbane Roar lost to Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday night, said their depth would be key at the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers.

Depth was something Gustavsson has worked hard to build since taking over the squad in September 2020.

His efforts to do so, which included playing very inexperienced players against top class teams like Spain and Canada, didn’t always get a great reaction from fans or pundits.

Especially when the scoreline blew out to a 7-0 loss.

But it was those matches that allowed Gustavsson to find rising stars Charli Grant, who just signed a contract with WSL club Tottenham, Kyra Cooney-Cross who now plays for Arsenal and see that Australia’s under-23s captain Amy Sayer is certainly up to the task of playing senior football.

Yallop said with Kerr ruled out of the qualifiers with an ACL injury and incredibly unlikely to play at the Olympics should the Matildas qualify – having the depth in the squad had the team confident they could deliver good results.

“It’s tough for Sam and all the girls are rallying around her, it’s such a major injury and for it to happen to anyone is devastating,” Yallop said.

“We’re all here for Sam and she knows that.”

The Matildas will take on Uzbekistan for the final leg of the Olympic Qualifiers on February 24 and then in front of a home crowd on February 28.

“We’ve worked hard, especially since TG came in to grow depth within our squad and we can get results without Sam,” Yallop said.