Gustavsson Out as Matildas Coach After Australia Olympic Exit 

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)
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Gustavsson Out as Matildas Coach After Australia Olympic Exit 

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)

Football Australia on Thursday parted ways with Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson, following a disastrous Olympic campaign that saw them fail to reach the quarter-finals.

Gustavsson, 50, leaves after four years in charge.

"We thank him for his strong contribution, passion and commitment during that time and wish him every success for the future," Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said in a statement.

The process to find Gustavsson's replacement would "commence immediately", Johnson added.

A 2-1 Olympic defeat to the United States sealed the Matildas' earliest exit from an Olympic Games since their debut in 2000.

It is a sharp fall from grace for the Australian team which finished fourth in Tokyo three years ago.

Under Gustavsson's stewardship, Australia had also reached the semi-finals of last year's Women's World Cup, which they co-hosted with New Zealand.

Australia lost their opening game in Paris 3-0 to Germany and despite bouncing back with a 6-5 win over Zambia, defeat to the United States sealed their exit.

Their faint hopes of scraping into the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams ended when Canada beat Colombia 1-0.

Defending champions Canada went through instead despite being docked six points for a spying scandal.

Canadian head coach Bev Priestman was sent home and hit with a one-year ban from football after a member of her coaching staff used a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session before their opening match.

"It has been a great honor and privilege to have been able to be the head coach of the Matildas over the past four years," Gustavsson said in a statement.

"Australian football will be forever in my heart, and I will be watching on and cheering on your success in the future."



Messi Set to Return After Two-month Lay Off

Alexis Mac Allister (C) of Argentina celebrates a goal that was later disallowed during a CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier soccer match between Argentina and Chile at Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 05 September 2024. (EPA)
Alexis Mac Allister (C) of Argentina celebrates a goal that was later disallowed during a CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier soccer match between Argentina and Chile at Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 05 September 2024. (EPA)
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Messi Set to Return After Two-month Lay Off

Alexis Mac Allister (C) of Argentina celebrates a goal that was later disallowed during a CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier soccer match between Argentina and Chile at Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 05 September 2024. (EPA)
Alexis Mac Allister (C) of Argentina celebrates a goal that was later disallowed during a CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier soccer match between Argentina and Chile at Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 05 September 2024. (EPA)

Lionel Messi is set to return to action with his club Inter Miami this weekend after spending over two months out with an ankle injury, Miami coach Gerardo Martino said on Friday.

"Yes, he is fine," Martino said before training Friday. "He trained (Thursday), he is in the plans for the game. After training we will figure out the strategy for him, but he is available," added the Argentine, AFP reported.

Inter Miami, who lead the Eastern Conference and are top of the overall standings, host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

Messi injured his right ankle during the final of the Copa America on July 14 when he helped Argentina to victory over Colombia.

Since then he has missed eight MLS games for his club and this month's World Cup qualifiers for his country.

"To get back the best player in the world to our team, which was already on a good run, we are all very happy with this situation," said Martino.

Inter have already booked their place in the MLS Cup playoffs although their seeding will depend on how they finish the regular season which concludes on October 19.

Miami's Finnish winger Robert Taylor concurred said Messi's return to training had given the team a boost.

"We're already confident, but he gives us even more confidence now that he's back training and hopefully he's ready to play soon," Taylor told the Miami Herald.

"He brings a lot of leadership. The way he’s competitive in training is really, really amazing to watch. He wants to win every little thing we do in training, whether it’s football tennis, rondos, small-sided games, he just wants to win everything. So that boosts everyone to try to match that level," he said.

Taylor doesn't expect to see any lasting impact of the injury on the record eight-times Ballon d'Or winner.

"Of course, two months is a long time, for anyone, but he's the best player there is. So, I don't think we'll see much of a different Messi than we've seen before," he added.