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4 months ago
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Former Wallabies star Greg Martin has accused the Matildas of 'having their heads up their bums' and 'believing their own hype' in a stunning spray after they were thrashed 3-0 by Germany in their Olympics opener.
Martin - who played nine Tests for Australia - unloaded on coach Tony Gustavsson's squad, who now face a huge battle to advance past the group stage in Paris.
'Our defenders were so lazy it was like they had lead in their feet,' Martin said on Brisbane's Triple M Breakfast show with Marto, Margaux and Dan.
'Quite simply, the Matildas have become the Brisbane Broncos. Their heads are so far up their bums they have believed in their own hype.
'Every single photo I've got (on Instagram) is of them drinking a cocktail on either a beach or a nightclub in the last six months ... they haven't been doing the hard work.
'They think you've just got to turn up ... and [after] what happened at the World Cup, those performances will just replicate themselves.
'The harder you work, the luckier you get and right at the moment it appears that the Tillies don't appear to be working very hard.'
Ex-Matilda Amy Chapman also didn't mince her words in commentary, labelling the meek performance 'one dimensional'.
Former Wallabies star Greg Martin (pictured) has hit the Matildas with a savage spray, accusing them of resting on the laurels of their World Cup run
Defender Ellie Carpenter (pictured) was caught out for Germany's first goal from a corner and had a game to forget in Marseille
Tony Gustavsson's squad now face a huge battle to advance past the group stage in Paris
She then called out Gustavsson for not utilising his bench.
'It opened up more, particularly for Mary (Fowler) when they made those subs - some good players who were willing to hold the ball up and link in,' Chapman said on Nine's broadcast.
'I thought (debutant) Sharn Freier made a difference, she came on and ran at players, she's a natural left footer.
'I think those changes needed to happen earlier on because by then it was 3-0, that is a very steep hill to climb.'
Australia next play Zambia at 3am on Monday morning AEDT, before their final pool game against the USWNT on Thursday.
Emma Hayes' team were impressive in their first outing, cruising to a 3-0 win over the African minnows.
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