By Genevieve Henry (18/2/25).
Above: Ellie Carpenter walks out of the tunnel for Australia. Her leadership has been vital over the past few years. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus.
Ahead of their first match against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup, Matildas Vice Captain Ellie Carpenter spoke to the press about the team’s ambitions for the tournament, the coaching situation, and the preparations for the looming Asian Cup.
The Matildas, participating in the SheBelieves Cup for the first time, will be looking to get a good result in the tournament. Carpenter emphasized the threat all three teams pose, saying “I think it’s very challenging for us against three top teams, but I think this will also prepare us well for the Asian Cup.”
“Every time we play for our country we give it our all. We want to win for our country and we’ll be planning to do that.”
Australia are looking strong going into the tournament, with a good mix of experience in the squad as well as players excelling at their clubs. “We have players hitting top form with clubs, a lot of players playing well overseas, and it’s always exciting for the first camp of the year.”
“We have young players coming through and we have experienced players. I think right now we’re in the perfect way with our depth. I think the young players that have come in have done really well proving themselves on the international stage, and this tournament will be another great opportunity for them as well.”
While the Matildas have high ambitions for the tournament, it is vital that newer players are given the opportunity to grow into the squad. Carpenter commented on this balance, saying that the coaching and medical staff will “manage players’ loads if needed, with a very quick turnaround between games and flying across the world to be here.”
“It’s very exciting when we have young blood come in. Obviously, they deserve the call-up, and it’s very exciting to see them and how they integrate with the national team and the international stage.”
As big as the step up may be from the A-League or domestic leagues to a competitive tournament against top teams, Carpenter has confidence in the less experienced players. “Every young girl has come in and performed, you can tell they are up to the task. We’re now seeing the new generation come through with Australian football. I think it’s great when we get more young ones in and they can have a taste of what it’s like because they are the future, they are the next generation.”
Since the departure of Tony Gustavvson, Tom Sermanni has been at the helm, though only as the interim head coach. There is much speculation about who will take this role permanently, with Carpenter commenting, “We’re leaving that up to the FA. We have full trust in them that they will provide us with a coach that’s the best fit.”
Although it may be a smaller-scale tournament, there is a strong sense among the team of the importance of these games in preparation for the future. “We’re still fighting for spots, people are still fighting for squad positions. With or without our main coach, there’s still a lot to play for and still a lot to prepare for.”
Joe Montemurro, a name strongly linked to the job, is the current head coach at Olympique Lyonnais where Carpenter plays. She assured the media that there have been no discussions of this at the club, saying, “Joe is with Lyon and he has a contract there. He is doing an amazing job with us so far, in the league and the Champions League. He’s fully focused on Lyon and hopefully bringing in trophies at the end of the season.”
Another name that had been floating around was Leah Blayney, who had been a part of Football Australia’s coaching set up for many years until she recently took the job as an assistant coach for Japan. “(It’s) a great opportunity for her. Seeing her on the sidelines will be a bit bizarre, but I wish her all the best there.”
Carpenter stressed that playing against these “top nations” will pose different challenges, but ultimately be a great opportunity for players both experienced and new. “We want to play great football. We want to get back to the Australian way. We want to score goals and play exciting football.”
“This is great for us as a squad, to experience a tournament again. It’s going to be very good to prepare for the Asian Cup.” Australia will be facing potentially their biggest competition for the continental tournament when they play Japan in matchday one of the SheBelieves Cup.
“All three games are very exciting. They’re all very different oppositions. Japan is a team we may face in the Asian Cup, they’re very technical. The USA are Olympic Champions, they have a whole other style of play. Colombia are very physical… We can approach them differently. It’s a great experience for us, especially this early in the year.”
“Our team is very adaptable. I think we’re quite good with change on the go and we’ve worked with so many systems over the past couple of years, so that’s a great thing to have in your back pocket.”
After the USA snuffed out any chance of the Matildas advancing in the Olympics last year, revenge may be on the mind for Australia when they face the hosts. “There’s always that rivalry. There’s always such high intensity, of course we want to beat them, we want to challenge them.”
With many big names left off the USA roster due to injury and other circumstances, the matildas will be looking to exploit the absences left by stars such as Naomi Girma, Sophia Wilson (née Smith), Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman. “It’s quite a mixed roster with experience and youth…They are preparing and we are in a phase preparing for the Asian Cup, so I think it’s going to be a great game.”
Carpenter will be facing club mate and close friend Lindsey Heaps (née Horan) and the prospect of playing her is one she is looking forward to. “It’s actually so much fun playing a very close friend. We were actually talking about it when we were flying over here together. We just can’t wait for the game. Even though she plays in the midfield and I’m a defender, we always try to find each other on the pitch and get in a little bump off the ball or something.”
“She’s a great captain for the US. She’s a great player, a world class player. She’s going to be hard to stop, she leads that team so well.”
The Matildas will be debuting a new kit in the opening match in collaboration with Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie. Although the team has great memories in the 2023 World Cup kit, Carpenter is ready to embrace the new and let go of the past, saying “I did love both of those kits, but it’s nice for a change. After being in that kit for a couple years, we’re excited for a new one… The meaning behind it with the artist is very cool. It stands out and gives us character.”
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