The aftermath of the match has seen the honeymoon period end for the Matildas, as fans expressed their frustration following a narrow victory against lowly Zambia at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Having suffered a 3-0 defeat to Germany, the match against Zambia was crucial for the Tillies as they found themselves in a daunting 5-2 deficit against the 63rd-ranked side, putting their Olympic aspirations on the brink.
Yet, thanks to some strategic adjustments, an uptick in intensity, and a host of blunders from the Zambian goalkeeper, the Matildas managed to escape with a thrilling 6-5 win.
‘I’ve never witnessed such a chaotic, emotional, or frenetic football match. I’m still baffled as to how the Matildas pulled through,’ broadcaster Lucy Zelić commented.
Although the win keeps them in the tournament, fans are left wondering what’s amiss with a team that has appeared sluggish compared to their historic fourth-place finish at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
And the criticism has been pointed.
‘The Matildas are a disgrace. Why arrive at the Olympics out of form?’ one fan remarked.
‘Celebrating a comeback win over Zambia is disheartening … is there an issue with the team?’ another asked.
‘They narrowly won 6-5 against a team they should have easily beaten 6-0, considering their status. [goalkeeper Mackenzie] Arnold underperformed, and we’re just fortunate their keeper fared worse,’ another supporter noted.
Another fan added, ‘I adore the Tillies, but their performance today was appalling and rightly drew criticism.’
A win is a win, but the Matildas surrendered five goals before clicking into gear and stealing a vital victory against Zambia
Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji (front) and Barbra Banda (not pictured) punched holes in the Matildas defence at will in the first half
The look on Matildas star Ellie Carpenter’s face says it all in a match the Aussies should’ve won easily instead of being put under intense pressure by the Zambians
Even Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson was candid in his assessment of the match.
‘That was one of the wildest games we’ve ever played,’ Gustavsson stated.
‘How often have these players found themselves in this situation? Now isn’t the time to dwell on how we let in five goals because clearly, that was unacceptable.’
Socceroos legend Robbie Slater agreed with the criticism, emphasizing that the Matildas must improve their performance against the United States if they hope to progress.
‘Let’s be realistic about this,’ he remarked in his News Corp column.
‘If it weren’t for the unfortunate Zambian goalkeeper, the Matildas would have suffered a loss.
‘Now they must take advantage of this stroke of luck to ensure their Olympic campaign doesn’t end in disgrace.’
Slater highlighted the Matildas’ slow start at the Tokyo Games, where they barely made it to the knockout stage before defeating Great Britain in the quarter-finals, only to lose 1-0 to Sweden in the semi-finals, as evidence they can rebound.
‘The Australians need to address numerous issues to replicate that success,’ he noted.
‘The space they allowed not just to Zambia, but also to Germany in their 3-0 defeat last week, was concerning.’
Aussie football fans did not miss the Matildas, slamming them for their performances so far at the Paris Olympics
Conversely, Australian football luminaries Craig Foster and Mark Bosnich offered a more positive perspective on the Matildas’ comeback efforts in a high-scoring match.
Foster shared on social media: ‘Unbelievably crazy match. Such a gutsy performance. Their resilience is remarkable.’
Bosnich pointed out the advancements the Matildas made following their 3-0 loss to Germany.
‘This was the most astonishing game in women’s football history and possibly of any sport I’ve ever watched,’ he stated.
‘To their credit, the Tillies performed significantly better than against Germany. While they still weren’t at their peak, their setup was much improved.
‘In the first half, Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord offered essential width that helped their play immensely.’
Even Matildas coach Tony Gustavvson said that conceding five goals was ‘s**t’
‘It’s exhilarating to secure a win in such a thrilling match,’ Bosnich continued.
‘There comes a moment in your sporting career where you face the harsh reality of a nightmare while the world is watching. You have two choices.
‘You can retreat and give up, or you can rise to the challenge.
‘And the Matildas certainly chose to rise.’
