by Jonathan Tay (21/7/23)
Above: Steph Catley runs away in joy after scoring her match winning penalty yesterday persued by (left to right) Caitlin Foord, Cortnee Vine, Alanna Kennedy, Ellie Carpenter, and Hayley Raso. Photo: CommBank Matildas.
“We need answers,” Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson emphasised 12 months ago. “I think we need these answers, not short term, and especially not for me; it’s about the long-term legacy, [World Cup] ’23 and beyond.”
It’s been a bumpy journey, but since that point, the Matildas have experienced an exhilarating, rip-roaring run of form and results, rediscovering their identity and cultivating a squad with genuine depth. That crescendo was matched on Thursday night by a 75,000-strong crowd’s wall of sound and expectation, as Australia opened their World Cup campaign against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney.
The Matildas didn’t disappoint their home fans, battling to a 1-0 win over the Girls in Green. They exhibited some of the answers Gustavsson had found along the way; Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross as staples of the midfield, Mackenzie Arnold claiming the number one goalkeeper jersey, and Clare Hunt, who only made her national team debut in April, starting in the heart of defence.
Following on from an emotional day one though, we explore three more questions for Australia to ponder, not least of which is how they navigate the mighty blow of missing their captain from the outset of the tournament.
How do the Matildas cope without Sam Kerr?
The Matildas find themselves facing a significant challenge as they navigate life without their star striker, Sam Kerr. Widely regarded as Australia’s biggest hope for World Cup success, Kerr’s goal-scoring prowess and leadership will be sorely missed. “It’s massive,” stand-in captain Steph Catley said post-game. “She’s our spiritual leader and one of the best players in the world. Not having her out there hurts us a lot.”
With Kerr sidelined due to a calf injury for at least the next game as well, the question arises: who steps up to fill the void left by the absence of the prolific No. 20? Mary Fowler started in place of her captain, but it was Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord who shared duties at the point of Australia’s attack against the Irish. Each had their moments, but the forward unit as a whole were disjointed, and they were fortunate to be gifted a penalty after Marissa Sheva’s needless push in the back on Raso early in the second half.
The task of replicating what Kerr brings to the team is undoubtedly daunting. Her contributions to the Matildas upfront are irreplaceable, and the team’s success in the group stages will heavily rely on their collective efforts to cope without their goal-scoring sensation. As fans anxiously await Kerr’s return, the duration of her calf injury remains an uncertain and pressing concern for Australia and their aspirations for World Cup glory.
Can Australia play without their transition game?
In their pre-tournament friendly win against France, the Matildas’ lone goal stood out for its uniqueness. It was of a type they don’t typically score; fluid progression from goalkeeper to striker, via slick wingplay combinations in the build-up. When one thinks of the Australian style, it hinges on their trademark transitional, counter-attacking play. Visions of electric wingers surging down the sidelines and captain Kerr hanging off the last line of defenders come to mind.
In a difficult and attritional match, the Republic of Ireland sought to nullify the threat of a track meet against the Matildas. An entrenched 5-4-1 Irish formation stifled Australia; denying space between the lines, squeezing passing lanes, and frustrating them into turnovers and very few clear-cut chances in open play.
It’s hard to imagine that upcoming opponents, Nigeria and Canada, will want to approach Australia any differently. Against such tactics, the Matildas will need to improve their build-up play and become more patient, waiting for openings to emerge. To succeed against disciplined defensive formations, Australia will need better calibration from their midfield of Gorry and Cooney-Cross, eschewing their usual reliance on rapid transitions for methodical and composed exchanges. Their goal against France showed that the Matildas have the capability; now, they must carry that confidence and precision into the rest of their World Cup campaign.
Can the Matildas withstand the pressure?
The Matildas faced a stern test of their composure and resilience in their encounter against the Republic of Ireland. For the most part, they appeared largely untroubled, and looked to be cruising to victory after Steph Catley’s coolly converted penalty. However, the last 20 minutes of the game saw an onslaught from the Irish. A barrage of set pieces and corners piled the pressure on the Matildas’ defence, not helped in part by a string of inexplicable midfield give-aways. Nevertheless, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold remained a pillar of calm under fire, displaying decisiveness in claiming high balls and effectively punching away threatening opportunities.
The tension lasted right to the end, when Alanna Kennedy aggressively pinched and overran a through ball in the 96th minute, providing an opportunity for Ireland’s Katie McCabe to fire her team’s first shot on target. Arnold though was up to the task, comfortably saving the shot and preserving the Matildas’ lead.
As the host nation, Australia are also grappling with the extra weight of expectation from their home crowd. This match served as the first of what is sure to be many tests of their mettle in the World Cup, and the Matildas will need to rely on their mental fortitude and togetherness as a team to navigate through challenging situations to come on the grandest of stages.
WORLD CUP COVERAGE ON IMPETUS
TODAY:
TikTok and Instagram Reels (both can be found @ImpetusFootball):
- Morganna King reports on Nigeria v Canada.
- Aimee Reynolds reports on Philippines v Switzerland.
- Rachel Cohen reports on Spain v Costa Rica.
TOMORROW:
- Analysis on England’s opener against Haiti from Kris Goman and Genevieve Henry from Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
- Jonathan Tay considers the influence of the Matildas WSL based players in their opening game with the Republic of Ireland.
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 