The World Cup debutants – how are they getting on?

by Genevieve Henry in Australia (28/7/23)

Above: Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe (right) has had a sensational World Cup on her country’s first appearance in the tournament. Photo: Katie McCabe Twitter.

In the past 20 years, 17 nations have made their debut on the world stage. Only three have ever made it out of the group on their first try. Although none of these teams managed to get a point out of this first round of games, can any of the eight debutants this year break new ground? 

Haiti
Above: Melchie Dumornay – Haiti’s superstar. Photo: CONCACAF.

From the moment the Haitian players stepped out onto the pitch to face England, they blew the world away. They held themselves with determination and pride, and from the second the whistle sounded, England had no idea what had hit them.

Haiti played physically, but not violently, withstanding pressure and fouls from the European champions whilst creating their own promising attacks. Haiti were in the game the whole time, causing England fans to fret and fear the worst. Only losing 1-0 on a penalty to one of the best teams in the world was a huge statement from the Haitians. If they continue on this trajectory, they could realistically make it out of the group.

Players who impressed included Kethna Louis, Karly Théus, Batcheba Louis, and, unsurprisingly, Melchie Dumornay.

Kethna Louis was a strong, quick decision-making presence in the back line who rarely fumbled or allowed for an England player to get the better of her. Théus put on a masterclass in goal, only allowing Georgia Stanway’s game-winning penalty past her (after saving the first but breaching her line, causing a retake to be necessary).

Batcheba Louis used her body to shelter and progress the ball in a way that utterly perplexed the English defence at times. Dumornay was a menace the whole game, causing the defenders, as well as Mary Earps, to have quite a few scares. This team’s strength captured the hearts of all the neutral fans in the ground and all over the world. 

Morocco
Above: Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco. Photo: Morocco World News.

While Morocco faced the worst smashing of any of the debutants, they also faced the biggest gap in rankings. Germany is ranked second, whereas Morocco are seventy-second.

Morocco looked completely out of their depth most of the game, only creating very miniscule chances that ultimately led to nothing. The team didn’t seem to be communicating well enough to snuff out any of Germany’s attacks, as well as causing problems of their own and even finding the back of their own net twice.

Defensively, they lacked cohesion and it seemed there was tension with the goalkeeper, who was very harsh on her defenders. If they had kept the score to 0-0 for longer, they could have retained some composure and continued to press forward to make use of their talented attackers. Morocco were frustrated and overwhelmed, but there were still bright spots in Ghizlane Chebbak and Zineb Redouani.

Although there was not much room for Chebbak to operate, the captain still managed to have a few chances, as well as set up her teammates in front of goal. Redouani showed her passion and skill the whole match, as she desperately tackled, cleared, and hustled to make sure the Germans weren’t getting goals too easily.

Although the scoreline showed the ocean of difference in resources and talent between these sides, there were Moroccan players who gave admirable and gutsy performances to give fans hope for the rest of the group stage.

Panama
Above: Panama’s Aldrith Quintero. Photo: La Prensa Panama.

Panama faced a tough test against Brazil, but ultimately showed character as they limited them to only four goals.

The Panamanians managed to cause chaos and make the path to the goal less straightforward. There seemed to be a resignation about the side at first, content to weather endless attacking moves from Brazil, but they looked stronger and more determined in the second half.

Although they didn’t have many opportunities to showcase their attacking options, when facing a lower calibre team, they will have to give fans a taste of their abilities going forwards. In a tough group, this team will need to dig deep to find a truly impressive performance. Yenith Bailey put on a very good performance in goal, showing leadership as well as shot-stopping skills. This team may have not looked up to par, but they still have time to prove themselves.

Philippines
Above: Sarina Bolden celebrates after scoring for the Philippines in their historic win over New Zealand. Photo: Sports Inquirer.

This young and ambitious side fell short when facing Switzerland, but the Philippines showed that they are not to be discounted, with a stoic defence, only allowing two goals to squeeze past them.

This squad is a diverse and untested array of players hailing from all over the world, with only one member being born in the Philippines. This gives them a disadvantage because it means very few would have chemistry from youth levels or other development paths.

Although not up to the level of many top teams, they could prove to be difficult for less experienced sides. Some players that made an impact were Olivia McDaniel, Angela Beard, and Katrina Guillou. McDaniel was a commanding presence at the back, inspiring her team with her saves and leading them to a strong defensive performance.

Beard was excellent, showing all of her experience and quality in her defensive work, speed, and smarts. Guillou offered a bright spark going forward, using speed and skills to get around the Swiss players to alleviate the pressure on the Philippines. What can this young team prove on their historical world cup debut?

Portugal
Above: Ana Borges (9) in action for Portugal against England prior to the World Cup. Photo: Lionesses.

It’s hard to believe that this is Portugal’s first World Cup considering the impressive showing they put on against The Netherlands. The Portuguese girls are experienced, yet have so much to prove.

They have many creative, attacking players that were ready to make an impact as well as solid and resolute defenders that only allowed one goal to end up in the back of their net. With players in top clubs around the world, nothing less could be expected of this side.

A side with resources, talent, and desire, they could mean trouble for some top teams. Amongst the Portuguese squad, a few stood out in Tatiana Pinto, Ana Borges, and Jessica Silva. Pinto was important in attack and defence, showing her strength and commitment to her team. Borges was a solid presence in defence, blocking and cutting out promising attacks from the Dutch all game. Silva showed all of her experience when going forward, using tricky footwork and speed to perplex the opposing defence. 

Republic of Ireland
Above: Ireland legend Denise O’Sullivan. Photo: Irish Mirror.

As one the more well-off debutants, the Girls in Green certainly did not underwhelm against the co-hosts Australia. They put up a real fight, throwing in crunching tackles and threatening attacks from the first minute.

Some could say that they were unlucky to escape without at least a point to their name. Defensively, they snuffed out Australia’s attacks pretty successfully and only conceded on a penalty. On the other end of the pitch, they had a few chances they failed to capitalise on as well as a plethora of corners that all came to nothing.

Players that impressed were Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan in the Irish midfield. McCabe played with tenacity and ferocity, making the Australian players think twice before taking her on. She made the game far more difficult for the opposition. O’Sullivan controlled the midfield, quieting the opposing midfield as well as providing a threat in attack. The Republic of Ireland showed promise, and they will surely do everything within their power to continue on this trajectory.

Vietnam
Above: Lê Thị Diễm My – impressive for Vietnam in their opening games. Photo: Tieusunguoinoitieng.

Vietnam fought against the reigning world champions, the USA, with tenacity and determination. They disjointed the American attack enough to frustrate and snuff their confidence. They showed a defensive resolve that proved to be a tough test for the USA and only conceded three goals.

Vietnam did not look strong in many areas of the pitch, showing little to no attacking and creative forces. Could they show more positives against a lesser team? Players that showed up for Vietnam were Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Le Thi Diem My, and Thai Thi Thao.

Tran Thi Kim was stunning in goal, blocking shots from the world’s best players as well as controlling her defensive line to avoid slip-ups. Thi Diem My was a rock in the centre of defence, marshalling the game and not letting any forwards past her without a fight. Thai was a spark in midfield, using her experience to help in defence as well as continuing to push forward. This Vietnamese side showed real promise.

Zambia
Above: Margaret Belemu of Zambia. Photo: Steffen Prößdorf.

Coming into this tournament, there were sky-high hopes for the Copper Queens after brilliant displays against top teams. However, Zambia was completely dismantled by Japan in such a way that would have crushed their hopes.

Japan managed to keep them out of the game by providing a never-ending onslaught of attacks. For a team that thrives on goalscoring, Zambia have had to defend far more than they would have liked. They have a relatively inexperienced backline, as well as a rough goalie situation with their number one sustaining a serious injury before the tournament and their backup receiving a red card in the opening match.

Though they were on the end of a beating, some standouts shone. Margaret Belemu and Martha Tembo were outstanding in defence, working hard all game to quell the waves of Japanese attacks. Belemu made it difficult to access her side of the field, showing off her experience and passion for her country. Tembo was similarly impressive on the other side, forcing her opponents to work extra hard to forge their paths to goal. This Zambian team has great promise and they will hope to show the attacking side of their game in the future.

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Matildas prepare for Nigeria showdown

by Ben Gilby (27/7/23)

Above: (Left to right): Courtney Nevin, Teagan Micah, Charli Grant, and Katrina Gorry are all smiles during today’s pre-game team walk in Brisbane. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

Australia head into their pivotal second Group B match against Nigeria in Brisbane tonight with a selection conundrum ahead of coach Tony Gustavsson.

After the news yesterday that Manchester City’s Mary Fowler has joined fellow striker Sam Kerr on the sidelines after suffering a concussion in training, The Matildas’ options up front have taken another hit.

With another offensive player Kyah Simon still not ready to return after her ACL injury, it will be a very different attacking line-up tonight at Suncorp Stadium.

Above: Tameka Yallop (left) who could return tonight, pictured with Clare Polkinghorne on today’s team walk through Brisbane. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

In more positive news, it appears that Tameka Yallop is ready to return after picking up an injury in the Matildas’ final warm-up game against France at Marvel Stadium.

In terms of options for Australia in attack, there is scope for Alex Chidiac to come into the squad and possibly play at 10 alongside Caitlin Foord. Kyra Cooney-Cross could potentially play in a more advanced role, which may in turn lead to a possible starting spot for Emily van Egmond.

Above: Cortnee Vine (left) and Clare Wheeler, pictured today in Brisbane. Both could play a key part in tonight’s match with Nigeria. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

The pace and energy of Cortnee Vine will need to be a significant element of Australia’s attack tonight in addition against a Nigeria side who gained a point against current group leaders Canada in their opening game.

A win for Australia will guarantee them a place in the last sixteen, anything less will likely see them need to take something from their final group game against Canada, a match which Fowler should be ready to return for. As for Kerr, head coach Gustavsson is keeping it tight-lipped, suggesting no decisions will be made until the day before the match. The Chelsea striker was pictured in today’s West Australian newspaper doing weight training.

Above: Mackenzie Arnold. The Matildas goalkeeper has been in superb form. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

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Who are the strongest nations so far?

With every nation at the World Cup having played at least one match now, Ben Carey considers who he believes are the most impressive teams to date (27/7/23)

Above: Ary Borges celebrates her hat-trick in Brazil’s opening win over Panama. Photo: Sydney Morning Herald.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup has kicked off in fashion with one of the most exciting and competitive first weeks ever. I was impressed by a number of teams, but the following three teams are the ones that I felt put in the strongest performances throughout their opening matches.

Brazil

Brazil looked like the most dangerous team in the world after their performance against Panama. Their performance was characterised by lightning fast, dynamic movement across the field, which proved lethal to Panama’s midfield and backline. They also showed great synergy.

Everyone seemed to be on the same page with passes almost always finding their mark and most of their clever strategic plays paying off. Borges’ back-heel pass to Zaneratto in the box to set up the third goal demonstrated this beautifully.

Brazil showed variety in their attacks with goals coming from the front line and the midfield, off the foot and the head, and assists from three separate players. The football they played was flashy but technical and their conversion rate was decent (44%).

Brazil also had good squad depth, being able to go up by three goals before they even brought on two of their star players Marta and Geyse.

Their first big test will come in their next match against world number five, France, who have a much stronger defence than Panama. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain this level.

Germany
Above: Two goal Alexandra Popp celebrates in Germany’s opener against Morocco. Photo: Guardian.

Germany was ruthless against Morocco, beating them 6-0, the highest goal difference in a single Women’s World Cup match since USA beat Thailand in the group stage of the 2019 edition. Granted, two of these goals were own goals, but Germany pressed hard and put the ball in awkward spots to force those errors.

The German team played fast, aggressive football with a lot of variety, attacking Morocco equally from the left and right side, and coming at them directly down the middle at times as well. They scored just as many from air as they did from the ground (discounting own goals).

One of the most impressive things was their excellent conversion rate (67% not counting own goals), which was something they struggled with in their 3-2 friendly loss to Zambia just before the World Cup.

Germany also displayed the incredible depth of their squad. Two of their best players, Oberdorf and Hegering, were not able to play the match due to injury, but German coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was easily able to find their replacements. Also, they were able to bring on the likes of Schüller after an hour and had Chelsea’s number one keeper, Berger, on the bench in case anything happened to Frohms.

Japan
Above: Hikaru Naomoto pictured after scoring in Japan’s win over Costa Rica. Photo: FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Japan also played fast, attacking football, but they were probably the most technically sound football of the lot. Their passing accuracy was high, the accuracy of crosses was very good, and the finishing touches were sublime. Japan’s conversion rate was decent (45%).

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Japan though was not even their attack, but their midfield and defensive structure. Zambia are known for their fast-paced, counter-attacking football. When they beat Germany 3-2 in the friendly they managed to break through the German defences numerous times and get off four shots on goal. Japan was able to shut down every single attacking play from Zambia, and that speaks volumes.

Honourable Mentions

It’s definitely worth giving a few honourable mentions to USA and Spain. USA did look strong against Vietnam, but it was a long way from the fearsome performance they put in against Thailand in the group stages four years ago.

The defending champions dominated possession but for most of the match they just weren’t able to use that possession effectively. Also, Morgan’s penalty kick was woeful. She’ll have to work on that for the knockout rounds.

Spain was fierce in the first half against Costa Rica, they dominated possession, passed quickly and accurately, and pressed high. But they lacked intention and synergy in the second half, and their conversion rate was abysmal (14% not counting the own goal). They will have to improve on those factors drastically before they face Japan.

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Bulleen jump to first, but South still in the hunt: NPLW Victoria Round 19

By Kieran Yap 24/7/23 (kieran84@live.com.au)

Above: South Melbourne celebrate one of thier goals against Preston Lions. Image: South Melbourne FC Instagram

Box Hill United 2-1 Bayside United.

While the finals teams in the Victorian NPLW seem settled, Box Hill and Bayside are both lurking just outside of the top four and have been in strong form. So when the two sides met on Friday night it was a game that had much at stake.

With three rounds to go of the regular season, a win here would keep pressure on the teams above them, while a loss would mean relying on multiple teams to do them favours.

The opening minutes were dominated by Box Hill, but that was undone by another spectacular effort from Baysides long range specialist Kayla Deaver. The forward received the ball wide on the right and cut in before firing extremely long range. Nothing about the move seemed dangerous until the ball crashed in off the post to give the visitors the lead.

It took until the second half for Box Hill to hit back. Sofia Sakalis was marginally missed from Asuka Doi’s cut back, but Melinda Marbieri won back possession on the wing for Box Hill.

Nikolina Bucalo was able to exchange passes with Emily Kos and after a clever turn, the ball was whipped in to be met by Kanna Moriya to give Box Hill a 52nd minute equaliser.

Box Hill’s winner would come eight minutes later through Doi. After scrambling to clear an attack, Bayside were under pressure again almost immediately. Bucado’s attemped shot was blocked and Doi slammed home what would turn out to be the game winner.

The win keeps Box Hill within a chance of finals. They are two points behind fourth placed Calder United but have played a game more.

Bayside will finish the season with two winnable games, and a meeting with Calder United. They are not out of it yet.

Alamein FC 2-4 Bulleen Lions

A masterclass in set pieces by Bulleen Lions has launched them into top spot, one point ahead of Boroondara-Carey Eagles after they defeated Alamein in a competitive encounter at Dorothy Laver Reserve.

Bulleen’s game style and personnel has changed drastically throughout the season, but one thing has remained consistent for Caitlin Friend’s team. They are deadly from corner and free kicks.

Alana Jancevski can deliver from one side, Paige Zois from the other, and both cause chaos, especially when the pair combine. Janvevski’s 11th minute corner was whipped in and Tiffany Eliadis directed it across the line from close range.

Alamein hit back through Patricia Charalambous. It was an end to end move by the home side a sublime piece of skill by Elaina Vatcky set Charalambous free to round the onrushing Gaby Garton and finish into the empty net.

Bulleen regained the lead for half time. Maja Markovski’s burst down the right in possession and crossed behind the retreating defenders for Beattie Goad to score. Markovski influence has been growing in recent weeks, and she looks in ominous form as finals approach.

Vatcky replied for Alamein, levelling the scores after a frantic scramble by both sides in the Bulleen defence. It made it 202 in the 50th minute and Bulleen momentarily looked under threat. Then Paige Zois stepped up.

First an undefendable corner kick from the Bulleen number six was headed in by Katie Beck. It was the second of the season from the American and an important one to put her side 3-2 ahead.

Zois then sealed the result herself. Jancevski played the short corner to her at the edge of the penalty box. She took a touch and rifled and effort that nestled inside the netting at the far post.

It was terrific technique from the Melbourne Victory fan favourite, and enough to seal three valuable points.

As things stand, Bulleen are one point ahead of Boroondara, but with an inferior goal difference. They will need to win all three remaining games to guarantee a premiership and top billing for finals, but they are the only team whose destiny remains in their own hands.

Calder United 3-0 FV Emerging.

Calder United are in form, and still building, they have slowly built after a slow start and are into a Nike FC Cup final. The win over FV Emerging on the weekend, has them in a strong position to play finals.

Kiwa Hieda was the architect of this win. She got the home side off to a perfect start with a long range missile in the 11th minute.

She helped set up Larissa Walsh for an easy finish after winning the ball back from a goalkick. The pressing was intense from Calder, they looked to hassle the FV Emerging players into errors at the back, although it took until the 64th minute, it paid off.

Hieda capped off the win with a goal of her own in the 80th minute. After winning possession again in the final third, the Japanese attacker skirted multiple challenges before accelerating into space and slotting home on her left foot from close range.

It was a dazzling display from the speedster, and Calder can secure fourth spot in the next two weeks. In the form they are in, other sides may hope they tumble out.

Southern United 1-1 Heidelberg United

Southern United won a point out of their meeting with Heidelberg United. The home side have struggled against most sides this season, but with The Bergers below their early-season best, they took their chance to avoid defeat for only the third time this season.

Erin Keyt got the home side off to a strong start. She took her chance after Yuka Sato released Rhiannon Kelleher into space behind the Heidelberg defence. The shot was initially blocked by the goalkeeper before Keyt bundled it in on the line.

Heidelberg introduced Nicole Blackett into the game in the first half and her influence rescued a point with a second half goal.

Keeley Lockhart received the ball from a brilliant Kathryn Vlahopoulos touch and played in Blackett who shot across goal to level the scores in the 76th minute.

The result helped Heidelberg avoid a disaster and denied Southern United their first win of the year, but it was not what most would have been expecting going into this match. Their top four hopes are over for this season.

Preston Lions 1-4 South Melbourne

A sensational goal from Kaitlyn Torpey was not enough for Preston Lions against South Melbourne who boasted an Olympico amongst their four efforts on Sunday.

South still have the title within their sights, but are also sharpening their game ahead of an inevitable finals campaign. Danielle Wise opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Tayla Christensen’s low cross was turned in by the co-captain.

Torpey’s effort levelled the scores just moments later. Miri Nishimura intercepted the ball to cut off South Melbourne’s patient buildup and Torpey raced onto the resulting pass to finish venomously past Miranda Templeman.

South retook the lead in the 39th minute when Christensen’s corner kick swung directly into goal, Akeisha Sandhu’s penalty kick gave them a two goal cushion before half time.

Wise scored her second of the afternoon after a miscommunication between  Lisa Fonua and Emma Checker presented the South Melbourne striker with the easiest of tap ins.

The win keeps South in third place, and just four points off top placed Bulleen. A premiership is still a strong possibility, but they will play Calder United next week and Boroondara in the final game of the season. They will need some things to go their way and do everything right themselves.

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Lionesses take the points but Haiti take the praise

England 1-0 Haiti

from Kris Goman at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (22/7/23)

Above: Georgia Stanway steps up to take England’s penalty. Photo: Lionesses.

England were not particularly convincing tonight. Overall, the most that could be said was they got the win against the hardworking and hugely talented young Haiti side.

It was very hard to get into any groove in a very disjointed first half plagued by stoppages, injuries, and VAR checks. Even the penalty from Georgia Stanway that won them the match came in two parts and extended due to the Haiti keeper Théus leaving her line early and requiring a retake.

It was difficult to understand, at the ground, what the penalties were for initially as play had to be brought back for the handball after another VAR check was denied. Stanway made no mistakes on her second attempt at the penalty and put it to the left of Théus.

Haiti, on the other hand, threw themselves at everything. A couple of breakaways created some excitement and keep Earps on her toes and she was called on more than once to make a save.

England went in at half-time ahead and, while the stats were all in their favour, Haiti were clearly not to be taken for granted. They were on everything and interrupted the Lionesses’ possession game and threw them into disarray.

Above: Chloe Kelly – who offered a threat on the right. Photo: Lionesses.

England looked more convincing in the second half but still couldn’t put anything away from the field despite many attempts.

Chloe Kelly came alive in the last 20 minutes, using the right-hand side to make inroads and the Manchester City star delivered some beautiful crosses under intense pressure. There was one near miss that Rachel Daly managed to connect with. On the other hand, there were also a couple of very underwhelming corners delivered to the near post and the Haitian defence were able to clear them easily.

England are one of the genuine contenders to win this tournament but that’s not going to happen with a performance like that. It seems some of the more fancied teams have difficulties with less disciplined teams and that was the case tonight. It was another physical contest and it probably won’t be the last.

For England, they take the points but Haiti showed they aren’t here to make up the numbers and could pull off a shock defeat in their first world cup. They’ve got nothing to lose after all.

Teams: ENGLAND (4-3-3): Earps, Bronze, Bright, Carter, Greenwood, Stanway, Walsh, Toone, Kelly, Russo, Hemp. Substitutes used: James (for Hemp 61′), Daly (for Russo 76′).

Scorer: Stanway (pen) 29′.

HAITI (4-2-3-1): Théus, Petit-Frère, Limage, Joseph, Louis, Jeudy, Pierre-Louis, Louis, Dumornay, Mondésir, Borgella. Substitutes used: Mathurin (for Limage 31′), Éloissaintat (for Borgella 78′), Joseph (for Louis 90+3′).

Referee: Emikar Caldera.

Attendance: 44,369.

WORLD CUP COVERAGE ON IMPETUS

TODAY:

TikTok and Instagram Reels (both can be found @ImpetusFootball):

  • Denise Duffy reports on USA v Vietnam from Eden Park.
  • Ruby Vince reports on England v Haiti.
  • Denise Duffy & Jonathon Hagger report on Japan v Zambia from Waikato Stadium.
  • Aimee Reynolds reports on Denmark v China.

TOMORROW:

  • Analysis on England’s opener against Haiti from Genevieve Henry who was at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

COMING NEXT WEEK…

  • Impetus makes the move to Australia for the rest of the World Cup as our number of contributors based at the tournament grows further.

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How Australia’s WSL players faired against Ireland

by Jonathan Tay (22/7/23)

Above: The Matildas come together. Photo: Football Australia/CommBank Matildas.

There are now an astounding 11 Australians who will be plying their trade in the Women’s Super League, the top competition in England. That number reflects not only the golden generation of this Matildas’ period but also the growing status of the next crop of young players coming through underneath.

Here, we will check in periodically on how each of them has fared throughout Australia’s home World Cup campaign. In this update, we look at how the players have gotten to this point, and their performances against the Republic of Ireland; the 1-0 victory more nervy than the home fans would have liked.

Arsenal

Steph Catley: Steph Catley exuded the confidence and calmness that Australia needed from their stand-in captain during their match against Republic of Ireland. She emphatically slotted her penalty just inside the left-hand upright, relaxing the nerves of her teammates and fans alike just after half-time.

Catley also proved to be a threat from set pieces, delivering several crosses into dangerous areas from corners and free kicks. You’d have liked to have seen the number seven combining more regularly with her winger down the touchline to provide an outlet in open play, however, the lack of connection may be explained by the frequent interchanging of positions between Caitlin Foord and Cortnee Vine ahead of her.

Caitlin Foord: Foord nominally started in Sam Kerr’s striker position at the point of Australia’s attack; the captain heartbreakingly missing out due to a calf injury. The Arsenal forward though drifted towards the left wing, her preferred position, throughout the game in search of more space and opportunity to get on the ball.

Foord created a few moments of danger; a shot from a tight angle into the side netting in the first half, and a flicked header just wide from a corner in the second. However, Matildas fans will want to see more from her, particularly with the continuing absence of the irreplaceable Sam Kerr.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Lydia Williams: Williams has gained a bit of a journeywoman status, completing stints at Arsenal, PSG and Brighton over the last year as she’s searched for more regular gametime. That last stop in Brighton afforded her more consistent appearances, though her overall form has not been particularly noteworthy (conceding 20 goals – five more than expected – in seven games started, per Opta).

She more than likely finds herself as the third-choice goalkeeper for this Matildas squad. However, Williams provides a veteran presence and experienced voice in the dressing room, with this being her fifth World Cup campaign and having been the starter in 2019.

Chelsea

Sam Kerr: The biggest storyline coming out of Thursday night’s opener was unfortunately the massive loss of Sam Kerr to a calf injury for at least the first two games. Kerr has not only been the face of her home tournament, she is Australia’s biggest hope for World Cup glory, having scored 63 goals in 120 matches for the Matildas.

“Losing a player like Sam, probably the best player in the world – and just for her as a person – we were completely heartbroken,” Catley said, after the Ireland match. “She’s so important for us – she’s our spiritual leader and whatever role she plays in the next however long, will be massive.” The Chelsea striker has a race against time to be fit and ready for the third group-stage game against Canada in nine days’ time.

Everton

Clare Wheeler: Wheeler made a mid-season move to the WSL from Danish side Fortuna Hjørring. Plying her trade as a number six or eight in midfield, she impressed in the second half of Everton’s season, starting the last 10 games as the Merseysiders finished sixth on the table.

With Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross the preferred central midfield pairing, Wheeler is probably towards the end of the Matildas’ substitutes bench. The one upside the 25-year-old has though, is that none of the other options in the middle of the park can claim to be defensively oriented. That opens up a potential avenue to game time in certain situations, and it was slightly surprising to not see Wheeler come on towards the end of the match against the Republic of Ireland.

Leicester City

Courtney Nevin: Nevin played at both centre-back and left-back for Leicester as they again survived relegation this past season. The Sydney native showcased the potential she has, chipping in with four assists in 12 matches for the Foxes. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement on the defensive side of the ball, as she was found out by a string of WSL forwards, including Pernille Harder, Chloe Kelly, Melissa Lawley, and Alisha Lehmann.

We’ll only see Nevin if Catley needs a rest or in the event of injury, and even then Charli Grant – who has impressed Gustavsson with solid displays for the national team over the past nine months – may be the first one out of the bullpen.

Liverpool

Teagan Micah: Has not played competitively since picking up a severe concussion injury whilst with FC Rosengård in December last year. Micah said she “spent about two months struggling to get through a ‘normal day’”, and battled nausea, headaches, and dizziness in her arduous journey to be ready for the World Cup. That hasn’t stopped Liverpool from announcing her signing on the eve of the tournament.

Over the last six months (and through no fault of Micah’s own), Mackenzie Arnold has jumped up the pecking order for the number one goalkeeper jersey with strong performances for both club and country. Unless there is a drastic downturn in form from Arnold, you’d expect Micah to be watching from the substitutes’ bench for much of the World Cup.

Manchester City

Mary Fowler: Fowler found minutes hard to come by at Manchester City last season, adjusting to a team with loftier expectations and behind prolific Jamaican striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw. However, the 20-year-old was afforded a prime opportunity in the Matildas’ opening match, drawing into the starting XI due to the unfortunate absence of Kerr.

Fowler played in more of a No. 10 position than as a second striker, seeking gaps to position herself in, between the opposing defensive and midfield lines. The conservative Irish 5-4-1 formation meant though that she was often crowded very quickly by two or three players and restricted her time on the ball.

There were a couple of lovely touches and tight turns to keep attacks moving along, but otherwise was one of the quieter players on the pitch. The challenge for Fowler will be to keep up her pressing intensity as Australia look to win the ball back high up the field, whilst also maintaining her creativity and offensive contributions.

Alanna Kennedy: Just Kennedy’s second match back from a string of injuries that had kept her out of action since September last year. She looked fully fit, and was tidy in possession, keeping the Matildas’ play ticking over from the centre of defence, and occasionally spraying long diagonals out to her wingers to change the angle of attack.

It was overall a positive display, almost ruined by one heart-in-your-mouth moment right at the end of the game. In the 96th minute, Kennedy aggressively attempted to pounce on a loose ball but misjudged and overran it. That mistake eventually afforded Irish winger Katie McCabe the space in the box to fire a shot on target, which keeper Mackenzie Arnold was able to parry away to save Kennedy’s blushes.

Tottenham Hotspur

Kyah Simon: For Simon to even have made the World Cup squad for the Matildas is an incredible feat on its own. After rupturing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus in September 2022, she has comparatively made an almost implausible recovery to be back to fitness nine months later. “I’ve probably worked the hardest that I ever have in my career,” Simon said. “The endless days that I’ve spent in the gym…have been pivotal in giving me the best opportunity to be back for the World Cup.”

The lack of match action though, will unfortunately count against her playing significant minutes for Australia. Gustavsson alluded to the fact that we will most likely only see her as an energy-injecting second-half substitute for this World Cup.

West Ham United

Mackenzie Arnold: Arnold is currently in the best form she’s ever had for the national team, and that carried through in the victory against the Republic of Ireland. Largely untroubled for the first 70 minutes of the game, she was called into constant action late on, with a barrage of crosses and corners unleashed by the Irish. Arnold though, expertly dealt with all high balls which came into the penalty area, was decisive in when to claim and when to punch away, and comfortably saved the only shot on target mustered by the Girls in Green.

Unlike the Asian Cup, where Gustavsson rotated his goalkeepers, look for Arnold to be relied upon to play almost all minutes in the Matildas’ World Cup campaign, barring a catastrophic downturn in performance over the next two games.

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Carpenter: You just have to win – it doesn’t have to be pretty

Ben Gilby reports on the Australia defender Ellie Carpenter‘s chat with the media today plus, a photo gallery of the Matildas departing Sydney (21/7/23).

Above: Ellie Carpenter speaking earlier today. Image: CommBank Matildas.

It was the morning after the night before, and Australia right back Ellie Carpenter outlined the mixture of emotions that resulted from playing in front of a record crowd for a women’s football match in the country – and how the team were focussing on getting the win for absent captain Sam Kerr.

“We’re feeling really good,” Carpenter smiled. “We were all very excited to get the three points, that was what we prepared for over the last five weeks. We knew it was going to be physical, but I’m really proud of the girls, and we also kept a clean sheet.

“We know it wasn’t the prettiest game of football. We knew Ireland are pretty physical and very end to end, and we knew it was all about one moment. Steph stepping up (to take the match winning penalty) was very brave, and I knew she’d do it. You just have to win, it doesn’t have to be pretty.”

That opening encounter in Sydney was the culmination of long-term preparation about its importance and symbolism. With the additional emotion that came with a record-breaking match now gone, the Olympique Lyonnais star believes the Matildas are ready to show themselves at their best.

“We’ve been talking for the past three years how the first game would really dictate our tournament, and now that we’ve checked that first game off and got rid of all the nerves, we’ll really get firing the next game.”

On top of having to deal with the nerves and emotion of the opening game, The Matildas also had to overcome a late injury to talismanic captain and all-time record scorer Sam Kerr. Carpenter believes that additional challenge just brought out the team’s famed Never Say Die spirit.

“It was heartbreaking for Sam, and also for us, but we know she was with us for the whole 90 minutes. We played for her and won for her, and we know she’ll be back for us soon. We’re all there for her, and she’s always there for us. We know she’ll get herself good to come help us for the final stages.”

“It was a game, but also an occasion. Walking out there and singing the national anthem in front of so many people, definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you think 10 years ago, no one really knew who the Matildas were, but yesterday we had 80,000 people screaming for us and millions watching on TV – it’s a pinch yourself moment.”

Photo gallery of The Matildas departing Sydney provided to Impetus by CommBank Matildas

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!

Three questions posed by Australia’s win over Ireland

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!