Tony Gustavsson: Whoever is blamed for the Matildas disaster at the Olympics offers a groveling apology

Disappointed Matildas manager Tony Gustavsson has issued a heartfelt apology to the team’s fans after their Olympic gold-medal campaign was all but destroyed by a 3-0 defeat to Germany on Friday morning.

The Aussies were completely outclassed by the football team on a sultry, dispiriting evening in the south of France.

The World Cup semi-finalists, chasing their first ever Olympic medal, were unable to get going against the successful former champions in Marseille on Thursday, on the eve of the opening ceremony in Paris, 750 kilometres away.

“I just want to say that I’m very sorry for disappointing the fans at home. I know we disappointed a lot of people,” Gustavsson said after the heavy defeat.

“We’ve lost so many one-on-ones. This side is normally so physical, we win all the one-on-ones, there’s aggression, we run and our speed beats teams. But it wasn’t really there tonight.”

Australian fans expressed their dismay at the result on social media, with many giving Gustavsson special treatment.

“Tony Gustavsson has rarely made mistakes in matches at major tournaments during his tenure, but this one is comparable to Nigeria’s nightmare,” wrote one fan on X. “Wrong tactics with the high pressure and therefore fielding the wrong players.”

“Tony Gustavsson is the Brad Fittler of women’s football. He’s just holding our team back,” said another fan, referring to the NRL great who stepped down as NSW State of Origin coach after the team lost two straight series.

A dejected Tony Gustavsson is pictured after the Matildas’ heavy defeat to Germany in Marseille on Friday morning

Australian fans turned against the coach after the horrific defeat, with some even calling for his sacking

Pictured: A sample of some of the online reactions criticizing the Swede on Friday

Others were more direct, writing: ‘Can we fire Tony Gustavsson now?’ and ‘How does Tony Gustavsson stay employed?’

Germany, inspired by their brilliant winger Jule Brand, could have won by an even bigger margin. However, the heavy defeat in Group B puts Tony Gustavsson’s team at an immediate disadvantage in a tough group that also features a strong American team.

That means they need to win their next match against Zambia in Nice on Sunday, and then they will have to improve considerably.

The Matildas barely created a chance, as their attacking techniques were thwarted by poor build-up play. The Germans won convincingly with two headers from Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller from corners, before Brand suitably secured the most convincing victory.

The Australians, who had suffered an injury that had ruled out Tameka Yallop, were soon alerted to the danger posed by the excellent Brand, who fired a shot in the fourth minute after Kyra Cooney-Cross had been robbed in midfield.

Shortly afterwards, Brand received another great, quick pass from German keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who cut inside Katrina Gorry and should have scored. However, the ball flew high and not exactly pretty.

The Matildas provided a lively first quarter, but their high line left them vulnerable to the counter, with Cortnee Vine having to make a crucial interception to prevent Giulia Gwinn from giving the Germans the lead.

Mary Fowler (center) and her teammates were devastated after the siren sounded

The Aussies’ hopes of winning gold have been all but dashed by the loss

Yet it looked inevitable when Gwinn took a corner to the far post in the 24th minute, but Hegering headed the ball down at just the right moment after passing Ellie Carpenter.

Mary Fowler, who had an ineffective night up front, responded almost immediately but lost the ball when she went to shoot in the box. The Tillies also had a couple of speculative tries through Caitlin Foord.

The Germans could have advanced even further before half-time, but Sjoeke Nusken was stopped by a fine intervention from captain Steph Catley, who had won her battle for fitness.

Fortunately, Australia’s defence was broken again early in the second half when Clare Hunt was caught in possession by Brand. She freed Alex Popp, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Alanna Kennedy.

The Australians fell again in the 64th minute from a Gwinn corner, when Schueller was left unmarked to head from six yards out.

Brand was then rewarded for her brilliance when she tapped the ball in four minutes later after a fine team move, initially from keeper Berger, tore the green and gold defence to shreds.

The Germans saw their fourth goal quickly disallowed for offside and threatened to do further damage to the Tillies, who went in vain to find a consolation goal by bringing on Michelle Heyman. Unfortunately, they survived an even worse fate.