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Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson knows he has a tough few months ahead leading into Paris 2024.
Despite his side taking a monster 10-0 win over Uzbekistan in the second leg of their Olympic Games qualifiers on Wednesday night in Melbourne, the coach now has an even tougher task ahead.
And that task is picking his team to represent Australia in Paris, as the side pushes to take home a maiden gold medal in five months’ time.
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Without superstar Sam Kerr, the Matildas still managed to put on a classy showing at Marvel Stadium, with a multitude of players stepping up to the plate.
One of those was veteran Michelle Heyman, who until three days earlier hadn’t pulled on the green and gold for the Matildas in 1912 days.
The 35-year-old was the star of the show on Wednesday, booting four goals in the first half, before being subbed off at half time.
Heyman loomed as an unlikely choice to head to Paris before her scintillating efforts across the last two matches.
Now, Gustavsson has an even harder choice to make, as he’ll be forced to cut down his squad in the coming months.
“I don’t want to think about that tonight, because I get so stressed about it,” Gustavsson said.
Gustavsson will need to reduce his side from 22 to just 18 players, an already difficult task when everyone performs when you call on them.
“I don’t want to cut any one of these amazing players and human beings. So, I’ll park that for tonight and pick it up later in April or May, when I start having to do selection,” he said.
“Today, I just enjoy this night with the staff and the players.”
The Matildas coach did heap praise on Heyman.
”Considering what she’s done on the training ground, what she’s done before she came in, coming off the bench last game,” Gustavsson said.
“So happy for her, but also, she shows how world class (a) finisher she is.
“I love her mentality, no nerves, no nothing. She spreads a lot of energy in the group.”
The Matildas played in front of yet another record crowd at Marvel Stadium, with 54,120 packing the stands on a hot Melbourne night.
It’s the 12th consecutive sold-out crowd for the Australians on home soil.
Gustavsson says they appreciate every single fan, urging supporters to keep up their love as Paris 2024 looms.
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“Keep believing in them. They feed of of that, they love it. I’m so proud that the connection is there again,” Gustavsson said.
“It might be a while before we play (another) game on home soil, so we said ‘let’s put it in the memory bank, what it feels like to compete on home soil’.”
The Matildas will now prepare for Paris 2024, with their matches to be streamed live and free on Nine.
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