by Kieran Yap
Above: Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Ellie Carpenter and Charli Grant celebrate after Australia’s win over England. Photo: Football Australia/Rachel Bach/By The White Line
All eyes will be on Australia when the World Cup kicks off. As one of the host nations, and with one of the most famous players in the sport, the pressure will be even higher than it was four years ago in France. Every game will feel like a main event, but they have been well prepared and will be ready to embrace the occasion, while hopefully remaining focused on each game.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lydia Williams (Brighton & Hove Albion), Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United), Teagan Micah (Liverpool).
Defenders: Courtney Nevin (Leicester City), Aivi Luik (BK Häcken), Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjö GIK), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City), Clare Hunt (Western Sydney Wanderers), Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais), Charlotte Grant (Vittsjö GIK).
Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross (Hammarby IF), Katrina Gorry (Vittsjö GIK), Tameka Yallop (SK Brann), Emily Van Egmond (San Diego Wave), Alex Chidiac (Racing Louisville), Clare Wheeler (Everton), Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC), Hayley Raso (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal), Kyah Simon (Unattached), Mary Fowler (Manchester City).
Head Coach
In 2020 Swedish manager Tony Gustavsson took on one of the most difficult, but promising jobs in world football. The former USA assistant to Jill Ellis was given two responsibilities, to contend for trophies, while building depth in the national team setup. Essentially, he had to develop inexperienced players while winning games.
This would be difficult in normal circumstances, with COVID affecting his first two years in charge it meant that youth teams were mostly unable to play or assemble. In the years preceding the Euros and the World Cup, it also meant that many potential opponents were hard to pin down for friendlies in the middle of congested competitive fixtures.
From the start of his tenure, Gustavsson has sought out the most difficult and varied sparring partners for The Matildas. This has resulted in some heavy losses, but some glorious wins, and most importantly some examples of accelerated development in the likes of Courtney Nevin, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Charli Grant, and Mary Fowler.
Gustavsson has added a level of tactical flexibility to the side that was not as evident under previous managers. There are at least three formations that The Matildas can switch to between or within games, and there are goal-scoring options outside of Sam Kerr.
Recent results have been impressive, but it is the performances that have given the fans reasons to feel encouraged. They have come a long way in a short time. The former teacher deserves an A+ for one aspect of his job, now we wait to see how he fares for the other.
World Cup History
Australia has qualified for every edition of the Women’s World Cup except for the first in 1991. Over that time, they have produced some great highlights and performances but have not gone past the quarter-final stage.
The Matildas became the first and remain the only Australian side to win a World Cup knockout game after a Kyah Simon goal beat Brazil in 2015.
Australian World Cup campaigns are usually packed with incident and drama. There was the late Cheryl Salisbury goal to draw against Canada in 2007, the dramatic win against Norway in 2011, a bizarre handball not given against Equatorial Guinea in the same group stage, and the Miracle of Montpellier in 2019.
Despite these memories, there is a feeling that the current generation are yet to reach their potential at the tournament. The last World Cup ended at the first knockout game against Norway after a chaotic match ended in penalties and 2007 was the last time that they won their opening match.
That is due to change.
How they qualified
As co-hosts, Australia qualified automatically.
Strengths
This is a cohesive team that has developed a strong on-field bond over the past two years in particular. The combination of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry in midfield has helped unlock the potential of this side. The pair have confidence on the ball, the ability to shoot from almost any range, and can carry it forward or move the ball rapidly.
In other positions, Australia have quality that many other sides would be envious of. Sam Kerr has a claim to being the best player in the world, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley are crucial for Arsenal and Clare Wheeler has been dominant for Everton.
Ellie Carpenter is one of Europe’s premier right backs and Courtney Nevin was one of Leicester City’s heroes as the club survived an unlikely relegation battle in the FAWSL.
The Matildas have a good mix of X-Factor players like Alex Chidiac and dependable, experienced heads like Clare Polkinghorne. They have pace to spare in Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine, and players that can slow a game down if need be like Wheeler or Van Egmond.
This is a team that has variety and can shift gears in games.
Development Areas
The team has significant depth in most positions, but has limited options for defensive midfield. Should Australia need to close out a game, or the partnership of Gorry and Cooney-Cross is not working, then Clare Wheeler is the most likely answer.
Although Gustavsson clearly values the Everton midfielder, she has received limited game time with the national team in the past year. In Australia’s Asian Cup loss to South Korea, the tide began to turn against The Matildas when Ji So Yun was able to get the upper hand. This coincided with Wheeler’s substitution.
The other issue is what happens in the absence of both Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr. Australia was able to create numerous opportunities against Scotland, but without either striker on the pitch, they struggled to convert. Vine has been tried in this role, and Mary Fowler is most suited to it, but Gustavsson has also turned to Larissa Crummer. The former Brisbane Roar attacker has all the attributes, but struggled to score in the last A-League Women’s season, and found her best form when moved onto the wing.
Alex Chidiac also remains an option, and with Kyah Simon’s fitness state not totally certain, there remains a concern over the backup plan in attack. The fitness of Foord and Kerr is still of paramount importance to this team. They remain irreplaceable.
Key Players
Australia’s recent revival has been largely built around the return of Katrina Gorry. The playmaker has been peripheral under previous national team managers but has been central to the way Gustavsson wants his team to play. Gorry can receive the ball under pressure, make quick decisions, create openings for others and score goals.
Steph Catley is also a highly important player for this team. The Arsenal star can play at left back, or in central defence. Only Charli Grant and Ellie Carpenter can match her for speed, but few players have her experience and ability on the ball. Catley can be the first outlet for an Australian attack in any position, is one of the best crossers of the ball in the side, and is a dangerous set-piece specialist.
For the first time in years, Australia has good backups for Catley, and Charli Grant was one of The Matildas best against England, but Catley is simply one of the world’s best left backs. She makes a difference.
Lydia Williams, Mackenzie Arnold, and Teagan Micah are all in contention to star in goal. Williams has spent much of the last three years as a second-choice keeper at club level but has the experience at this level. Arnold is the most in-form goalkeeper Australia can call on, and Micah is the hero of the Tokyo Olympics.
All have merits, and Arnold in particular has been fantastic since Micah has been recovering from a severe concussion.
A confident, in-form goalkeeper will be essential in the World Cup, whoever that may be.
One to Watch
She is one of Australia’s most popular players, but the world has not yet seen what Alex Chidiac is capable of. After making her debut for the national side as a teenager, Chidiac looked set to be the next big thing in Australian football. A move to Athletico Madrid seemed to confirm this, but injuries stalled her progress if not her undeniable talent.
Chidiac is a hard-working and skillful midfielder, just as comfortable getting stuck into a tackle as she is nutmegging a defender. She can score goals, create chances and press the opposition. The reigning Julie Dolan medallist makes an impact in every game she plays in.
The World Cup could be her first chance on as truly global stage. For a player who relishes the big occasion and enjoys the support of thousands, this could be a pivotal moment in her career, and she could turn the tide for Australia.
Success Would Be
As the hosts, the expectation is to win it, although that has not happened since the USA won in 1999. Australia has the players to go deep into the competition, and they will be aiming to lift the trophy. Broader expectations within the country are for a Matildas victory, but closer followers of women’s football know that this would be an incredible achievement. A lot has to go right for Australia, and something has to go wrong for the other contenders.
They will need to improve on the record of only one knockout win at a World Cup and go two games further to have the opportunity.
That said, it is not impossible, and they do not need miracles to win the World Cup, they just need the luck that has deserted them in the last few tournaments.
Prediction
As hosts, and with their form and talent, semi-finals should be possible. Anything less will be disappointing, although not a disaster. Once they survive the group stage, there will be no easy matches. Even in heavy losses, Gustavsson’s Matildas have created scoring chances against top-level opposition, and have become far more clinical in the last six games they have played.
They can beat anybody, but they will be in uncharted territory once they reach the quarter-finals. A semi-final will be a historic finish.
Group B Fixtures
20th July – Republic of Ireland, Stadium Australia, Sydney.
27th July – Nigeria, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
31st July – Canada, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
To read the other World Cup nation previews published so far, click on this link: https://impetusfootball.org/international-football/
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!
impetusfootball.org 