Matildas star Mary Fowler says the nationwide crew’s flop on the Paris Olympics will function motivation for the 2026 residence Asian Cup.
Australia entered the 2024 Olympics aiming for a podium place after ending fourth on the 2021 Tokyo Video games and fourth on the 2023 World Cup.
But it surely was clear from the outset in Paris that the Matildas have been off their recreation, shedding their opener 3-0 to Germany, scraping to a fortunate 6-5 win over lowly Zambia, earlier than ending their marketing campaign with a 2-1 loss to the US.
The poor on-field shows led to rumours about crew disunity and potential pampering.
Tony Gustavsson stepped down as coach after the Olympics, with the Matildas nonetheless looking out for his alternative.
Fowler hopes the laborious classes realized on the Olympics will maintain the Matildas in good stead for the Asian Cup.
“Clearly it’s laborious wanting again on the Olympics to not really feel disillusioned with the outcomes from that,” Fowler mentioned.
“I believe we undoubtedly labored as laborious as we may to organize for the event. Typically soccer simply doesn’t go your approach.’
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“Being at residence and having that residence benefit, it’s very completely different taking part in a house World Cup versus being abroad.
“Typically issues simply don’t go your approach. we mirror on that as a crew and I’m certain the women have completed that individually as nicely.
“All of us actually wish to win one thing with the nationwide crew.
“So having one other alternative to try this (on the Asian Cup in 2026) is absolutely good for us, and lots of us will work for the subsequent yr and a bit to get there.”
When requested whether or not it was a technical or psychological concern that affected the Matildas on the Olympics, Fowler replied: “I believe in all probability a little bit of each.
“There’s different issues that went into there that might in all probability be improved.
“From a private stage, I undoubtedly mirrored on how I used to be mentally.
“It was a special form of stress than what I’ve handled earlier than.
“It’s form of good to have these experiences and know that subsequent time you get into that very same scenario, you’ll be capable to cope with it higher.
Mary Fowler. (Picture by Tolib Kosimov/Getty Pictures)
“I’ve taken lots of good positives from that and am attempting to make use of that to develop as a participant and as an individual.”
Fowler is presently in Perth to organize for the Perth Worldwide Soccer Cup, which can pit Manchester Metropolis, West Ham United, Leicester Metropolis and Paris Saint Germain towards one another.
Manchester Metropolis, that includes Fowler and Matildas teammate Alanna Kennedy, will face off towards Courtney Nevin’s Leicester Metropolis at HBF Park on Wednesday evening, with West Ham taking over Paris Saint Germain on Thursday evening.
Sunday will characteristic a doubleheader pitting winners towards winners and losers towards losers.
© AAP
