Well, friends, the Matildas’ amazing year didn’t end quite the way we wanted, but it reminds us of how much work there is still to do before the Olympics begin in July.
Australia’s strongest team was unable to catch up after Canada’s 40th-minute goal as the Matildas struggled to create serious chances in the second half as the team began to tire.
There will undoubtedly be a lot of discussion about where the Matildas go next, how they prepare for their next two games against Uzbekistan in February, Gustavsson’s player selection, his rotations between both games and the tactics they tried to employ.
But this game wasn’t just about winning or losing. It was also about celebrating a few things: the careers of Canada captain Christine Sinclair and her veteran teammate Sophie Schmidt, and the conclusion of a wonderful 2023 for women’s soccer.
Capture crowds, viewership, and engagement across multiple platforms and media. It was a great moment for the sport and personally I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.
That’s it from me. We’ll cover the game in more detail shortly, but for now this is my last live blog of the year.
It’s been an absolute joy bringing the Tillies to your screens over the last 12 months. Thank you for being with me and them every step of the journey.
See you next time.
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