Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson sung the praises of the player development in the Liberty A-League, after a number of Australian-based players had key roles in their Cup of Nations success.
The Matildas secured their second Cup of Nations crown on Wednesday night, defeating Jamaica 3-0 to make it three wins from three games to round out the tournament.
A number of Liberty A-League based players including Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar), Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC), Clare Hunt (Western Sydney Wanderers), Larissa Crummer (Brisbane Roar), Elise Kellond-Knight (Melbourne Victory) and Alex Chidiac – whose loan spell at Victory came to an end last week – saw minutes in all three games.
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“I want to credit the players and the A-League for what they do with the players in terms of development,” he said.
“We see now that the player goes straight in from the A-League to play international football. That step is tough because if you look at the physical numbers, we know it’s not the same to play club football as international football.
“If you look at the league in England, look at the league in Sweden, the high speed meters and intensity of the games is not the same as the international football.
“So that’s natural, that’s not a criticism, it’s just natural. So to be able to jump up to the national level and handle that, it takes a lot of extra work for players and clubs to do.
“So I think credit to the A-League clubs and to the players to be ready for international football, that’s massive.
“It sends messages as well to players that play domestically, like if you work hard and the door opens, be ready.”
Gorry and Vine started all three games and hit the scoreboard once each, while Hunt was given her first national team start in the final two contests off the back of an eye-catching debut against Czechia.
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Crummer was also given a start against Jamaica after two substitute appearances and Chidiac impressed enormously off the bench in each of her three cameos, scoring one of the three goals on Wednesday evening.
Kellond-Knight also made a substitute appearance against Spain.
Gustavsson was pleased with how each of the players made the leap from playing locally, to the international football – crediting the player development down under.
The Matildas are next in action in April, when they take on European champions England in another tune up ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
