Matildas The Matildas And The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup

[Satan]

Herald sun headline “Kerr -Plunk”

 

[Ocha905]

Good win Tillies!

 

[Fabab]

Gorry had some game as did torpey.

 

[beside the seaside]

Two brilliant goals again. That Kerr one was special.

China were very lucky not to get a red.

Great performance.

 

[jhong]

Relief to have made the final. 2 good finishes from Kerr and Foord . Good to see Cooney-Cross get an almost full shift . Mary can disappear and then produce some brilliance, Torpey the surprise for me , had a very good tournament.

 

[giggler99]

Two cracking goals to take us into the final!

 

[Sneh]

Two cracking goals to take us into the final!

 

[stax on the mull]

Great goal by Sam. Think the China defender that was running to the corner post was caught on the wrong foot to slide. First goal was one of our best moves of the tournament with Carpenter sliding it in to Fowler and cutting it back to Foord.

Good to hear the coach say we need to get better for the final. First half was a struggle. Actually thought Torpey on the left was losing quite a few balls not being a natural left footer but she had a huge surge in the 2nd half. Cooney-Cross a better option than Van Egmond. Subbing on Heatley for Hunt was a good move.

 

[Ram-Man]

It was a great win. Really enjoyed the games of Torpey, Kerr and Foord.

 

[swingdog]

Turns out Montemurro was right. North Korea were a better team than China, or at least caused more problems for the Matildas. I thought China would also play that quick pass and move game. Actually, they were more measured when they were on the ground but I was surprised how many times they went aerial, which is bread and butter for Australian defenders.

In the end, the difference between the Matildas and the teams they have beaten has been that our best players are better than their best players and our team structure has just been able to hold out their superior ground ball play.

And we have enough of those world class players that their defences haven't been able to stop every opportunity. Double team Fowler and Foord, you still have to deal with Carpenter (who played her more typical attacking club role last night) and Kerr. It's a reminder that having 9 of your starters playing in the most competitive domestic league in the world counts for something.

Whereas other teams have needed and been able to create multiple scoring opportunities, the Matildas have only needed a few but made them count. Kerr has arguably been the best striker in the world for the past decade and while that goal was brilliant, it's easy to forget how many times she's done something similar in the past.

Defence looked better once Heatley came on - Hunt was having a mare. Torpey was strong as a defender in the first half and then got forward more in the second, and the whole place looks more settled with Catley playing where she has been playing for the past 12 months.

The midfield: Kennedy was quiet, Gorry was exactly the sort of terrier we needed for such a physical game and KCC worked into it though she still struggles to find the right space to be to receive a ball she can turn into something attacking.

Attack: Fowler did her one thing well, setting up Foord, but seemed to struggle with touch and the close attention. Needed to follow Ellie's lead, belt the ball into your opponent, it goes out and you work your way up the sideline. Foord worked her arse off and totally deserved a well taken goal.

Bring on Japan - this will be a banger.

 

[Pres]

Great goal by Sam. Think the China defender that was running to the corner post was caught on the wrong foot to slide. First goal was one of our best moves of the tournament with Carpenter sliding it in to Fowler and cutting it back to Foord.

Good to hear the coach say we need to get better for the final. First half was a struggle. Actually thought Torpey on the left was losing quite a few balls not being a natural left footer but she had a huge surge in the 2nd half. Cooney-Cross a better option than Van Egmond. Subbing on Heatley for Hunt was a good move.

Who do you prefer out of Cooney-Cross and Wheeler to start in the final stax?

To my eye KCC looks a bit out of sorts and short of a run but would be interested in your thoughts.

You would think both Gorry and Kennedy would start in the form they're in.

 

[stax on the mull]

Who do you prefer out of Cooney-Cross and Wheeler to start in the final stax?

To my eye KCC looks a bit out of sorts and short of a run but would be interested in your thoughts.

You would think both Gorry and Kennedy would start in the form they're in.

Not sure of the strengths of the opposition (which I'm only assuming is going to be Japan rather than a rematch with Sth Korea).

Generally think EVE, despite her past credentials as having great technical skills, has a too slow reaction time and can't catch up a mistake.

If we're looking to build towards our best game being the final, perhaps Cooney-Cross is one midfielder that you could gamble on having her best game in a final and getting something of a higher quality than Kennedy, Gorry or Wheeler.

 

[swingdog]

Not sure of the strengths of the opposition (which I'm only assuming is going to be Japan rather than a rematch with Sth Korea).

Generally think EVE, despite her past credentials as having great technical skills, has a too slow reaction time and can't catch up a mistake.

If we're looking to build towards our best game being the final, perhaps Cooney-Cross is one midfielder that you could gamble on having her best game in a final and getting something of a higher quality than Kennedy, Gorry or Wheeler.

For me, Wheeler is a long term replacement for Gorry, busy, good at linking up and gets in dangerous positions for shooting.

KCC's strengths are driving forward with the ball at her feet and long range passes. As I mentioned, my frustration is watching her sitting in positions where she either can't be reached by the player with the ball because another player is blocking her or she is in a position where all she can do is tap it back to where it came from.

She needs to be scanning about more to get into the positions that suit her strength. This was going round our club the other day; I know it's Bonmati but that's the level she should be aiming for:

Aitana Bonmatí: The art of scanning

Aitana Bonmatí excels at scanning her surroundings before receiving and then progressing the ball.

www.fifatrainingcentre.com

 

[giggler99]

Japan V Australia Final!

 

[Jack Lord]

Watched a bit of the Japan game. All I can say is God help the Matildas.

 

[AJ_2000]

Finishing 2nd in the group meant travelling but a much easier path to the Final.

 

[swingdog]

Finishing 2nd in the group meant travelling but a much easier path to the Final.

Yep. Listening to some of the Eastern States journalists after the group stage, it sounded like they were being sent to Alma-Ata, not Perth.

 

[ep2018]

Japan are the best Asian team by a long way, was always a race for second and I hope we limit the likely loss to a goal or two.

But... you never know...

 

[stax on the mull]

Heatley starting for Hunt is the only change to the starting line up for the final vs Japan

Arnold
Carpenter Heatley Catley Torpey
Kennedy Gorry Cooney-Cross
Fowler Kerr Foord

 

[swingdog]

Heatley starting for Hunt is the only change to the starting line up for the final vs Japan

Arnold
Carpenter Heatley Catley Torpey
Kennedy Gorry Cooney-Cross
Fowler Kerr Foord

Good choice. Probably the best team we can field.

 

[jhong]

Really need to put away these chances.

 

[jhong]

Well that sucks . Class finish.

 

[Daniel B]

Well that sucks . Class finish.

Arnold a bit slow to react?

 

[jhong]

Didn’t close her down either

 

[jhong]

Japan seems more fluent moving forward, we are playing a lot of long balls. This is a very good Japanese team.