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."



Norris Says he'll Drive with 'Elbows Out' to Compete with Verstappen this F1 Season

FILE - McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain stands on the podium after winning the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
FILE - McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain stands on the podium after winning the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
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Norris Says he'll Drive with 'Elbows Out' to Compete with Verstappen this F1 Season

FILE - McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain stands on the podium after winning the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
FILE - McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain stands on the podium after winning the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)

Lando Norris has pledged to get tough and drive with his “elbows out” against Max Verstappen as the two prepare to resume their title rivalry in the new Formula 1 season.
Norris was Verstappen's closest challenger as the Dutch driver sealed his fourth consecutive F1 title last year, following hard-edged and controversial battles between the two on track.
“I need to get my elbows out (against Verstappen) and show I am not willing to give him any positions. I also have to be a smart driver. You have to be smart to go up against Max," Norris said Thursday as McLaren launched its 2025 car, The Associated Press reported.
Norris signaled he was looking to learn from costly mistakes in 2024 and said his reaction when he rewatched some of his own driving from last year was “what an idiot.”
“But at the same time, I don’t need to go out and prove something to (Verstappen)," Norris added. "I don’t need to take any unnecessary risks. I don’t think you have to do anything special to try and beat Max. He is quick, aggressive and one of the best ever but the easiest way of beating him is just by being quicker than him and staying ahead.”
McLaren was off the pace in the first part of last season before upgrading its car for the Miami Grand Prix in May. Norris said Verstappen's mentality and big lead had made it “very difficult” for him to compete but predicted the championship could look different this year if he and McLaren can get off to a better start.
Preseason testing is Feb. 26-28 in Bahrain and the first race of the season is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.