“Now we know what we’re facing,so it’s all about preparing for those three games – three very different teams tactically,physically,experience-wise as well. It’s also about sending the scouts out there,getting the data analysts to get all the data for us and also start looking at,OK,if[we] implement our playing style onto each of these three opponents,what would those look like,and start preparing as coaches as well.”

Gustavssonthis week named a 23-player squad for a camp in San Antonio,Texas next month,centred around a friendly against Mexico on April 10,and said training drills and focuses would now be refined in the knowledge of who they will face in Paris.

With Olympic regulations permitting only 18 players in each squad,he faces some tough decisions in narrowing down his choices.

“It’s always tough with selection as a head coach,especially when you work with players for such a long time ... I need to leave players out that actually deserve to be there,” he said.

“But in terms of opposition,we’re going to base the selection more on who we are and what tools we need more so than the opposition – we’re not going to get caught in just what suits Germany or the US or one of those African teams. This is about us when we select.”

The Matildas kick off their campaign against Germany in the early hours of July 26 (AEST),before facing an African opponent three days later. Their final group match is against the USA on August 1.

Since women’s soccer made its Olympic debut at Atlanta in 1996,Germany and the USA have won five of the seven gold medals on offer. The pair have won at least one of the medals at every tournament to date.

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