By Genevieve Henry in Houston for Impetus (19/2/25).
Above: Tom Sermanni addresses the press from Houston, Texas. Image: Genevieve Henry for Impetus.
After MD-1 Training ahead of the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup against Japan, Matildas interim head coach Tom Sermanni spoke to the media at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. He emphasised the importance of these games in preparation for the Asian Cup as well as his role in the preparation and discussions of captaincy.
All players will be available for selection tomorrow, with Mary Fowler who had a brief worry with her hamstring fit and ready to go. “Everybody is healthy and the team has been in good spirits.”
Sermanni spoke briefly about his plan to get every member of the squad on the pitch at some point throughout this tournament, saying, “it’s our intent to make sure that everybody that’s in our squad gets some game time during this tournament and also that we send the players back to their clubs in a healthy state.”
“Obviously, we want to put a very strong team out to start this tournament against Japan. But, particularly in this tournament, when there’s a short turnaround (between) the games and travel involved, it’s very important for us to utilize the whole squad.”
“First, it’s everybody’s aim to try and win the tournament. Secondly, for us, our performances are important. It’s really important that we put on good performances to keep the team going forward and keeping the confidence behind the team. The third thing to look at, is that we’ve got some younger, inexperienced players for this tournament, and it’s looking to give them an opportunity against a real quality opposition.”
With most players only arriving later in the day on Monday, there has not been much time to prepare for this opening match, but Sermanni and the team have made it work. “We’ve had two good, quite intense training sessions…Everything so far has run smoothly.”
With a few new names in the squad, some of the best talents in the A-League Women will be getting their first taste of international football this window. Sermanni said, “they’ve all fitted in very well, but again, with the way everybody flew in, we only had a session on Tuesday and a light session today, so it’s not like we have had an awful lot of time together.”
“They’ve come into the environment and haven’t looked out of place.”
Fowler especially is coming into camp in red-hot form. Sermanni is looking to get the best out of her, saying, “we want to be an attacking team, an aggressive team, a team that goes forward. Like Manchester City, we’ve got some really pacey, important strikers in our team. So, we’ve got a team that Mary will fit into very well and hopefully be able to show the same form that she’s showing from City.”
After taking a well-deserved rest during the last international window, Fowler’s inclusion in the squad could be reinvigorating for Australia. “It’s great to have her back in the squad and she’s had two really impactful days of training so far, so I’m looking forward to seeing her tomorrow night.”
Although Sermanni is only in the head coach role in the interim capacity, he is intent on preparing the team for the upcoming continental tournament.
“All the games between now and March 2026 are preparation for the Asian Cup. There are a couple of things involved. That could all change very quickly when I exit from the role, but from my experience in being an international manager and with having a tournament like the Asian Cup coming up: All your preparation is going towards that.”
“Part of it is looking at what you think might end up being the preferred formation, and part of it is looking ahead to what actually might be the starting team come March 2026.”
Facing their toughest competition in Asia in this friendly tournament is massively helpful in preparing the Matildas for the threats Japan will bring next year. Sermanni expects that Japan will stick to their usual style, saying, “I don’t see a lot of difference between how Japan has been playing and how they will play tomorrow. How they play is very successful, so I don’t think there’ll be too many changes.
“At some stage, I would suggest between now, and the middle of the year, there will be someone else in the hot seat.” Sermanni said of his uncertain future with the national team, telling the media that he said to the players, “I’m coming into this to try and do the job as if I was going to be the coach.”
With Sam Kerr hopefully nearing return, the question on everyone’s mind is about her captaincy and her role within the national team. Sermanni said, “the most important part is that we get Sam healthy as quickly and as safely as possible and get her back on the field.”
Sermanni has played a very important role in Kerr’s career, giving her debut in 2009 as a 15-year-old. Sermanni said regarding his contact with Kerr, “we’ve checked in…It’s been a pretty long couple of weeks with Sam, so the last thing she needs is people badgering her at this time…But, the lines of communication are very much open.”
“The captaincy issue is quite irrelevant because by the time she comes back into the team I might not be here…Who knows what’s going to happen. Steph Catley stepped in as captain and has done a fantastic job.”
See more photos of MD-1 training on Impetus’ socials.
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