By Isabelle Campbell 26/06/25
Above : Joe Montemurro and defender Ellie Carpenter were joined by Slovenia head coach Saša Kolman and midfielder Dominika Conc. Photo: Neil Bennett
The Matildas are set to face Slovenia for the first time tonight at HBF Park, in the opening match of a two-game friendly series that also marks the debut of Joe Montemurro as head coach of the national team.
Montemurro and Vice Captain Ellie Carpenter spoke to the media ahead of the match.
“All the preparations have been good. It’s probably more about integrating and getting to know the mechanisms and the systems and how a national team works for me. But we’ve been great in sort of the first couple of days here, in terms of formulating processes and more importantly meeting all the players, which has been fantastic. The first couple of days have been really positive.”
Carpenter returns to the squad in Perth after missing the last camp due to personal leave, rejoining the team as it adjusts to Montemurro’s leadership.
“It’s really nice to come back into the squad here in Perth, obviously first camp with Joe as well. I think it’s important now, that we have a full-time coach and you can see already by day three, we’ve implemented a new style of play, a new rhythm. I think it’s really important to really nail those down the first couple of days, to really set up the next couple of years with Joe and the team.”
“These next two weeks, it’s going to be really important for the team to try to apply that in these four games and I’m really excited for the future.”
Bringing to Perth an extended squad of 33 players, see’s Montemurro with a mix of veteran players, new players and potential debutants.
“With a new coach coming in it creates a very challenging environment and creates an environment that people are pushing for those Asian Cup spots. This camp is a great test for those, an opportunity for them to showcase why they want to be a Matilda and if they can be to the level that Joe is looking for. I think it’s a great opportunity for those younger ones to show themselves in these four games.”
“I think the depth that we’ve created over three, four years, we have a number of players playing at the highest level and also young talent coming through. So I think this is really important because we need depth at those major tournaments and this is the perfect time to show that.”
Players in the squad are also at mixed points in their club calendars, some are in the thick of their seasons, while others are coming in from the off-season without recent game time.
“It could be that we use it as a training sort of scenario to get them ready at certain points, but we’ll look at a few different ways of approach. And obviously the more we can get on the pitch and the more we can get the messages out there on the pitch, I think will be really important.”
Ahead of his first match at the helm, Montemurro reflected on the emotions surrounding the occasion and the importance of setting the tone for what lies ahead.
“I suppose, anticipation, just seeing where we’re at. It’s a good benchmark, it’s a good gauge for us, but it is the official start of our build-up for the Asian Cup. So yes, I am looking at a lot of players. Yes, I am trying to instill some language. Yes, I am trying to instill some new ideas, but the approach to the game is still the same.
“We’re playing at home. We’re in our country, so the attitude has to be, it’s a big game, it’s a game that we want to win, it’s a game that we want to make sure that we do the right things to get that mentality leading into a big tournament.”
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