“It wasn’t enough from any of us”: why Team GB fell short against Australia in Olympics 2020 quarter-final – tactical analysis

The women’s football tournament at the Olympics 2020 has reached the knockout stages, with the quarter-finals giving us some interesting results. Team GB faced an Australia side that hadn’t really got going in the group stages, winning one, losing one and drawing one, and so had something to prove, whilst GB were unbeaten in their three group games, so this clash looked hard to call on paper. This tactical analysis will look at how both sides tried to expose each other’s weaknesses, as well as Australia’s strong defensive setup, which was a key factor in their eventual win.

Lineups

Team GB made five changes to the team that drew with Canada in their final group stage game, restoring many of their first-choice players to the starting XI. Chelsea Women’s Millie Bright and Sophie Ingle, Manchester City Women’s Jill Scott and Georgia Stanway, and new Arsenal Women striker Nikita Parris all moved to the bench. England captain Steph Houghton came in to lead the side, alongside Manchester City teammates Keira Walsh, Lauren Hemp and Ellen White, whilst Arsenal captain Kim Little operated in the attacking midfield role, supporting White.

Australia, meanwhile, made three changes from the team that held the USA to a 0-0 draw in their final group game. Experienced defender Clare Polkinghorne, former Bristol City Women midfielder Chloe Logarzo and teenage forward Mary Fowler all moved to the bench, whilst new West Ham United Women midfielder Tameka Yallop changed from a wing-back role to a central midfield one. Sevilla Femenino centre-back Aivi Luik came in, whilst Everton Women winger Hayley Raso started as the right wing-back (Arsenal’s Steph Catley was in the same role on the left), and Caitlin Foord, also of Arsenal, played alongside captain and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr and PSV Vrouwen forward Kyah Simon, who has been linked with Manchester United Women this summer, in attack.