New Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson is facing a difficult road to Tokyo 2021,but that suits him just fine.Credit:Getty
Desperate to stage a training camp and friendly matches as soon as possible,the Swede's plans have been hamstrung by COVID-19,which has made it supremely difficult for players and officials primarily based across Europe and Australia to assemble in the one location.
The next opportunity is the March international window,while there is another FIFA break in June when the Australian team is expected to return home in the lead-up to Tokyo.
Gustavsson has no intention of easing into his new job,saying he wants to line up as many matches against the best possible teams as is feasible in the current conditions.
Football Australia had inked agreements with the USA and Canada last year for a series of friendlies that never got off the ground because of the pandemic.
The Matildas haven't played on home soil since their Olympic qualifying tournament was shifted from Wuhan to Sydney early last year.Credit:Getty
Part of the deal included games against both of those nations in Australia this year,and sources remain hopeful that they could still happen pre-Olympics.
"As of where we are today,with this team,my opinion is we need to play as many games as possible against the best opposition possible,"said Gustavsson,who was an assistant to former USA coach Jill Ellis during their 2015 and 2019 Women's World Cup wins.