‘He’s taking us to the Olympics’: Van Egmond backs Gustavsson to stay on until Paris
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Against the backdrop of the ongoing seat-swapping among the top managers in women’s football, Matildas veteran Emily van Egmond is gearing up for an Olympic qualifying campaign with coach Tony Gustavsson still in charge of the team.
Gustavsson’s contract with the Matildas runs through to the end of the Paris Olympics, and the team is preparing for a two-game series against defending Olympic champions Canada this week.
Gustavsson had been linked to the US Women’s National Team job until Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was handed the clipboard. But as one door closes another remains ajar, with the Matildas coach now linked with the men’s Swedish national team.
Speaking from camp on Wednesday, midfielder van Egmond backed Gustavsson to see the team through their next Olympic qualifiers in February and onto Paris next year.
“For us, we just focus on ourselves and the team, and what we have ahead, which is the main focus is qualifying for the Olympics,” van Egmond said of the rumours.
“Obviously, these two friendlies against Canada, you know, we get on with it, we have a job to do, and as far as we’re concerned, he’s [Gustavsson] taking us to the Olympic Games.”
Matildas head coach and midfielder Emily van Egmond during Australia’s World Cup match against Denmark.Credit: AP
The push for a spot in Paris plays a key role in how Australia views these friendly games against Canada.
After a World Cup victory over Canada four months ago, van Egmond said the team were looking to build on their success and refine areas of their game to better their fourth-place finishes at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and this year’s home World Cup.
“We had a review of the World Cup and our performance, and we’ve identified and highlighted a few areas that we would look to obviously to keep building on and to keep getting better at,” van Egmond said.
“I think our first step of doing that was the last [month] in Perth when we had the three-game series for the start of our Olympic qualification, and no better way now to test ourselves against, you know, Canada, who’s the reigning gold medallist.”
Emily van Egmond during the Matildas Olympic qualifier against IR Iran in October.Credit: Getty
With the retirement of Christine Sinclair, Erin McLeod and Sophie Schmidt, Canada will also want to send their veteran players off with a victory.
“The Olympics is just around the corner, so I have no doubt in my mind that it’s going to be a competitive game,” van Egmond said.
“Of course, the retirement of the three players … play a special part, and I’m sure Canada is going to want to go out on top for those girls. But ultimately, we’re here as well, and we have a job to do, and for us, it’s all about that prep now for the Olympics.”
In a twist of fate similar to their World Cup meeting, skipper Sam Kerr will miss the series due to injury.
Gustavsson started van Egmond up front alongside Mary Fowler in that match, and it’s a role she’s happy to take on again if needed.
“Last time we faced Canada was in the World Cup, it was a good performance by us and I played a little bit further up the field which, at the end of the day, wherever I’m put, or whatever is asked of me, I’ll do the best I can, and for these upcoming games we’ll look to see what we do.”
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