by Ben Gilby (12/10/24)
Above: Tom Sermanni discusses his first squad and immediate aims for the Matildas squad. Image: Football Australia.
Tom Sermanni admits that anyone who suggested he would be returning to international coaching was “mad” – but for the interim period that he is back in charge of the Matildas, he wants to “bring back” the team’s core DNA and strengths.
“I wasn’t expecting to be here,” the three-time Australia national coach laughed. “If someone had told me that I would probably have thought they were mad, but anyway, I’m here! I’m really excited by it. It’s great to be back in the environment…catching up with players, being in that environment where there’s a game coming up, everyone’s together, enthusiasm around working with the team again.”
The 70-year-old has two initial desires for his squad to achieve in the forthcoming friendlies in Germany and Switzerland over the coming weeks.
“The first thing I’m looking for is a really positive performance from the team. Obviously winning the game is the priority and that’s what we want to do. But I want us to get back to what makes the Matildas the Matildas. That is, particularly with this team, is their ability to play dynamic, attacking football. It’s the attitude of going out to beat any team that we are playing up against and also to bring with it that the grit and determination and that Matildas spirit that has made the Matildas who they are.”
Sermanni’s first Australia selection for 12 years was one which saw a mixture of familiar names and the arrival on the senior international scene of two of the brightest young stars in Daniela Galic and Chloe Lincoln.
Explaining the criteria behind his selection, Sermanni said: “In some ways, it was quite straightforward with the circumstances that face us in this window. Domestic players haven’t really played for quite a long time, so the vast majority of the squad is coming from players who are playing in Europe or the US.
“There were a few things involved. One is you want to pick the best squad that’s available to you. Secondly, it’s picking a squad where players are up to speed in match fitness…and also it’s a squad that gives me a chance to look at players who have been in the squad for a long time also look at some players that I don’t know and haven’t seen before.”
Reflecting in more detail about the first senior call-ups for Lincoln and Galic, Sermanni said: “Chloe is a goalkeeper that we think has enormous potential.
“She’s had experience of playing at Youth World Cups, she’s had experience of playing in the A-League Womens…but it’s important for young players, particularly if you get a chance, in a critical area like goalkeeping to bring in a young player. It’s very important to give them an idea of what the environment is like and see how they adapt to that environment, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how she goes in amongst goalkeepers at that level she is coming in against.
“Daniela has always been on the radar for some time as a national team player. She has always been the most talented young player coming through the system in Australia. She’s taken her career overseas, and really started that process…and I’m hoping she comes into this camp and really excels.”
Sermanni as interim head coach in addition to whoever follows as Tony Gustavsson’s permanent replacement has the benefit of an extended period to try out new faces with no international tournament until 2026. Yet the experienced Scot also believes everything tried between now and then needs to be done with a laser like precision to ensure a powerful set of performances as Asian Cup hosts when it comes round.
“In some ways, the Asian Cup preparation starts now. People think ‘It’s a year and a bit away,’ but it comes in the blink of an eye. We’ve got an opportunity over these two camps in October and November/December because of the nature of them, and because of the location of them, to look at a bigger group of players, and certainly, the November camp (with four games in Australia) gives us that opportunity.”
This appointment marks Sermanni’s first head coach role for three years, he had been working with Western Sydney Wanderers’ women’s department over the past few seasons, and the Glasgow-born boss doesn’t really see his time away from the ultimate leadership role as a problem.
“As a coach, you just get on the horse again and pretty much just do the preparation you would do under normal circumstances. Obviously, they are two very competitive games, you are playing in their backyard as well. There’s a bit of a further challenge when you come into the job straight away. I have some knowledge of quite a few of the players, but it’s coming into a situation where in some ways where you are starting fresh again.”
As well as selecting his first squad, Sermanni has made additions to the Matildas coaching team, with Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney coming into the fold along with Western Sydney Wanderers men’s assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny.
“Leah is part of the system, she has been a Young Matildas coach,” Sermanni underlined. “One of the important things in the Matildas system is to promote from within and look at the coaches that are already in the system. Leah knows the players, she is still very young but has actually been around and in coaching for a long time.
“The second thing, with J-P, is I had some feedback from players and what I felt this team needs right now is what I call a senior coach. A senior coach that has had a little bit of experience in the women’s game some time ago, and he is coming into this camp without any preconceived ideas.
“Doesn’t really know the players, doesn’t really know the system, doesn’t really know how it works, and really comes in and excels on the field and is an outstanding coach and someone I feel I can really trust his footballing judgment.”
The desire to focus on what makes The Matildas the Matildas, clever additions to the assistant coaching roles, and deep experience in the Australian women’s game make Sermanni’s interim appointment one that fans of the Matildas should welcome. Whilst getting wins in Germany and Switzerland will be a major challenge, you can’t help but feel confident that this group will be going all out to achieve them.
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