Matildas The Matildas Thread

[Dixie Flatline]

Going to both games on Wednesday so it will be interesting to see how Australia goes against the lowliest opponent of the three.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Junior Matildas beat Iran 3-0 in Vientiane yesterday (the game was played at the same time as the senior Matildas played Korea) in their first round of the round robin qualification tournament. Australia has to finish top two in its group (comprising Vietnam, Laos and Iran) in order to progress to the AFC U-16 Women's Championship, to be played in September. The Junior Matildas play Vietnam, who beat Laos 1-0, on Tuesday, then finish their group with a match against Laos on Thursday.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Sam Kerr is paid $400,000 per annum... and is worth every cent.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...-000-a-year-as-a-marquee-20190215-p50y5l.html

 

[drd23]

By contrast, her Portland teammate Carpenter was a weak point in defence and South Korea were right to attack her. From memory, Carpenter plays further up the field for Canberra United, so it wasn't surprising to see her a little vulnerable in a right back position.

Hmm, pretty sure every Matildas game I ever seen her in she's played at RB but a quick google of her does say that she has played some right wing for Portland, and she certainly does seem to like getting quite high up the pitch

 

[stax on the mull]

Grace Taranto who represented the Junior Matildas and looks an outstanding player. Is she any relation to Tim Taranto?

 

[stax on the mull]

Hmm, pretty sure every Matildas game I ever seen her in she's played at RB but a quick google of her does say that she has played some right wing for Portland, and she certainly does seem to like getting quite high up the pitch

Think Carpenter does get switched to the midfield on occasions for Canberra but generally a very attacking player at right back. I do think sometimes she defends with less intent that she attacks, but still a young player.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

You're both right. Carpenter is only 18, but has been a full international for Australia since she was 15.

I watched her play live for Canberra United against Melbourne City and she was so far up the field I thought she was playing right wing for Canberra United. She was regularly trying to get to the by-line and cross the ball, but at least during that match (played as the curtain-raiser to the Melbourne derby in December 2018) Canberra was very feeble in attack and often there was nobody there to try to get on the end of her crosses.

 

[stax on the mull]

You're both right. Carpenter is only 18, but has been a full international for Australia since she was 15.

I watched her play live for Canberra United against Melbourne City and she was so far up the field I thought she was playing right wing for Canberra United. She was regularly trying to get to the by-line and cross the ball, but at least during that match (played as the curtain-raiser to the Melbourne derby in December 2018) Canberra was very feeble in attack and often there was nobody there to try to get on the end of her crosses.

Probably why Ashleigh Sykes came out of retirement and moved from Canberra assistant coach to fill in as forward for the last few games.

Just saying at 18yo, Carpenter hasn't got the complete game yet and at the higher level of international football forwards can slip away from her when she doesn't track them back.

Depends how she's coached too. I did read that she was voted player of the match in the first Cup of nations match vs New Zealand. I thought Catley on the other side was a better player in that game.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Koreans are serial divers and the ref falls for it 9 times out of 10.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

By contrast, the ref has completely stitched New Zealand. Refuses to give them free kicks for clear fouls.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Watched both matches yesterday. Personal thoughts only.

Korea were the better team against New Zealand who were forced to rely on their greater physical stature to stay in the play. It also appeared that a few of the New Zealand forwards weren't on the same wavelength as their teammates, as balls were often played to the wrong areas, which caused promising attacks to stall out too quickly. New Zealand's #10 persisted in trying to chip the ball over the Korean defence for the forwards to run onto, but that never worked once. Occasionally, she would play ground through-balls, which seemed to serve her cause better.

As mentioned yesterday, the Koreans were very keen to fall to the ground at the slightest touch from the New Zealand players and the ref kept rewarding them with free kicks.

Although the Koreans were the better team, the Kiwis did well to keep it 0-0 until the 76th minute, when the Koreans finally found the key to unlock the NZ defence. Nice bit of play on the edge of the NZ box allowed the Koreans to open up the space and the shot completely wrong-footed the NZ keeper. The Koreans added a second goal late in the match and it was probably due reward for their dominance, but to my eye, neither the Koreans nor the Kiwis are on the same level as the Matildas.

The Australians started their match against the Argentine side on fire. Kerr's goal was very good, but I question the Argentine keeper - I reckon she could have been a bit more decisive in coming out to meet the corner kick. Kudos for Kerr for putting her shot on target.

I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread when the FFA announced Kerr would be the captain that she would need to reign in her temper. No evidence of that just yet. The Argentine defenders were keen to give her zero space or time on the ball and she was often marked by two or more defenders who were fairly physical (but legally so) with the way they dealt with her. Kerr kept complaining to the ref who simply ignored her.

I was very impressed with Foord. I think she was player of the game in the first half. Her ability to hold up the ball and to find her way through defenders will be essential for the Matildas to go far in the World Cup. She didn't score until the penalty late in the game, but she was involved in all of Australia's good work. Probably faded a bit after half-time (especially when Raso replaced Kerr) but she will be a vital element to success.

Kennedy scored the goal just before half-time but apart from that, I don't think she played a great game. The Argentine side played a lone striker up front, who has pace and some height about her, and Kennedy was troubled by the striker quite considerably. Kennedy was bailed out by a great tackle from Catley after Kennedy gave the ball away in a dangerous position and it wasn't surprising to see Kennedy subbed out by Milicic in the second half for Polkinghorne.

Catley is a great vice-captain and I think is probably a little unlucky not to captain her country. Well-organised in defence, capable of playing attacking football down the left and filled in pretty well at centre half when Alleway was forced off injured. Impressive game from Catley, IMO.

To be honest, the game against the US next month will probably tell us a lot more about how the Matildas are tracking in preparing for the World Cup. Good start for Milicic to win all three games, see your side score nine goals for the tournament and concede one, but all three teams Australia faced are inferior to Australia, so it would have been expected (especially given that Milicic named a pretty experienced squad).

 

[swingdog]

The Australians started their match against the Argentine side on fire. Kerr's goal was very good, but I question the Argentine keeper - I reckon she could have been a bit more decisive in coming out to meet the corner kick. Kudos for Kerr for putting her shot on target.

I think it was mentioned earlier in the thread when the FFA announced Kerr would be the captain that she would need to reign in her temper. No evidence of that just yet. The Argentine defenders were keen to give her zero space or time on the ball and she was often marked by two or more defenders who were fairly physical (but legally so) with the way they dealt with her. Kerr kept complaining to the ref who simply ignored her.

I was very impressed with Foord. I think she was player of the game in the first half. Her ability to hold up the ball and to find her way through defenders will be essential for the Matildas to go far in the World Cup. She didn't score until the penalty late in the game, but she was involved in all of Australia's good work. Probably faded a bit after half-time (especially when Raso replaced Kerr) but she will be a vital element to success.

Kennedy scored the goal just before half-time but apart from that, I don't think she played a great game. The Argentine side played a lone striker up front, who has pace and some height about her, and Kennedy was troubled by the striker quite considerably. Kennedy was bailed out by a great tackle from Catley after Kennedy gave the ball away in a dangerous position and it wasn't surprising to see Kennedy subbed out by Milicic in the second half for Polkinghorne.

Catley is a great vice-captain and I think is probably a little unlucky not to captain her country. Well-organised in defence, capable of playing attacking football down the left and filled in pretty well at centre half when Alleway was forced off injured. Impressive game from Catley, IMO.

To be honest, the game against the US next month will probably tell us a lot more about how the Matildas are tracking in preparing for the World Cup. Good start for Milicic to win all three games, see your side score nine goals for the tournament and concede one, but all three teams Australia faced are inferior to Australia, so it would have been expected (especially given that Milicic named a pretty experienced squad).

Went last night and agree with most of that though I thought Foord was a little flat but it may have been the attacking arrangements. It was notable that when De Vanna and Raso came on, the speed up front picked up generating more and a greater variety of shots on the goals. A front line of Raso - Kerr - De Vanna would be good if they were all firing.

Down back looked a mess, though Catley worked well into the game. The team is still lacking a decisive playmaker in midfield to link defence and attack. Kellond-Knight did this well against Korea but lacked imagination going forward against Argentina. Ultimately, Chidiac looks to be the right player for that role but she's not there yet.

Thought Argentina were unlucky with the 3-0 margin. They had some good opportunities and really worried the defence through the Kerr goal was terrible defending from them. Who leaves the world's best striker unmarked in the box at a corner?

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Yeah, Argentina had the ball in back of the net twice, but neither counted due to offside.

I suspect that the early need to sub out Alleway unbalanced the Matildas' defence a bit.

I thought Raso was good for the time she was on the pitch, as well as De Vanna. Great effort for Raso to not only make it back from a broken back but also make it back to international football and be a contributor. Just unfortunate personally that as a substitute she had to complete drills post-match which meant that I and my daughter had to leave to get to our car before she was ready to sign autographs, etc. My daughter has a Portland Thorns jersey with Raso's name and number (although my daughter prefers left back she loves Raso).

Foord seemed to be under instructions to drift to the left wing most of the time, because that was where she ended up more often than not, especially in the first half.

Based on the Cup of Nations, I suspect that he will prefer Logarzo (who didn't play in the tournament due to the injury she picked up in the W-League), Van Egmond, Butt and Gielnik in midfield, with Foord and Kerr up front. De Vanna and Raso will be options off the bench.

I also hope Ibini makes the cut for the World Cup squad as I think she offers something different on the wing.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Looks like we'll get another Cup of Nations as an annual event. Although the tournament lost money (even with the subsidies from the NSW, Queensland and Victorian Governments), the FFA believes that the sacking of Stajcic contributed to ticket sales stalling in January-February.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ffa-want-another-cup-of-nations

It would be awesome if it went ahead - heaps of children attended last night. Tickets were reasonably priced (I paid $65 in total for the tickets back in December when they went on sale) and the game finished at a reasonable hour for a weeknight.

Hopefully (with all due respect to Korea, New Zealand and Argentina), if it does go ahead, the FFA can get the US and Brazil out to Australia.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Just on the first goal, Kerr was initially marked in the box but Foord got in between Kerr and Kerr's marker to give Kerr a free run at the ball (nicely done by Foord). Argentina's keeper just wasn't convincing enough in her attempt to grab the ball out of the air.

 

[stax on the mull]

Teigan Allen got a full game at right back against Argentina. Used to be a regular 4-5 years ago and has been to big tournaments before, but surely just a back up at best.

I prefer Ralston from Sydney - maybe even McCormick from Brisbane if they take a back-up right back, which I guess the have to. Maybe just going for experience with Allen.

Also a wait and see on the extent of Alleway's injury. I feel she gets picked (and will be a cert to barring injury), just because she has the height and size to combat big forwards. Always think of her as being a bit clumsy.

Carpenter, Polkinghorne, Kennedy and Catley are the defensive locks but in a tournament you have to rotate players with the games being played so close together.

Don't mind Gemma Simon and Luik as back ups for Catley and Kellond-Knight. Also like Harrison and Chidiac as back up mids - the played together against Argentina - though neither seems very quick, they can both hit killer passes and would compliment the first choice mids rather than each other.

Wasn't impressed with the performance against Argentina but it seemed like the coach was looking at all of the squad players (only the 3rd goalkeeper Campbell didn't get some game time in any of the 3 matches). As above, I thought early in the game, just force some more corners, because Argentina defensive set up was hopeless.

Foord's such a great player running at and passing multiple defenders when she attacks them front on - I sometimes feel like she's wasted so close to goal because she runs out of room to do her thing.


Not sure of the size of the squad for a World Cup.

Locks:
Williams, Arnold,
Catley, Polkinghorne, Carpenter, Kennedy
Foord, Kerr, Logarzo, Van Egmond, Butt, Kellond-Knight

Gielnik, Raso,

Likely:
Chidiac, G. Simon, Luik, De Vanna

Think Alleway is a cert if she's fit for reasons previously mentioned.

Wanna see Ibini given a chance.

That's 20 so far

Plus:
3rd goalie - probably Campbell.

If they take 23, I'd like Polias and/ or Harrison there too, or there's a couple of currently injured players like Kyah Simon, Sayer or Gorry - one of those might get back.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

New jerseys released for the World Cup.



Alen Stajcic confirmed as caretaker coach for the Mariners.

 

[drd23]

Not a fan of those kits at all

 

[raven echo]

Not a fan of those kits at all

The home one is awful


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[stax on the mull]

16yo Mary Fowler back in Australia playing for Bankstown City FC in WNPL league. Could be a sign that she's a chance to be called up for the Matildas.

Clip from last season.



Young Matildas 2018

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Fowler is included in the 23-player squad to play the USA in Commerce City, Colorado on 4 April 2019 (12.30pm, 5 April 2019 in Australia) as the last scheduled warm-up game before the World Cup (Milicic is attempting to organise some more games before the World Cup).

Named squad:

Name	Club, country	International caps (goals)
Teigen Allen	Melbourne Victory FC, Australia	40 (0)
Laura Alleway	Melbourne Victory FC, Australia	60 (2)
Mackenzie Arnold (GK)	Brisbane Roar FC, Australia	23 (0)
Tameka Butt	Klepp IL, Norway	77 (10)
Ellie Carpenter	Portland Thorns, USA	30 (1)
Steph Catley	Seattle Reign, USA	71 (2)
Lisa De Vanna	Sydney FC, Australia	146 (46)
Caitlin Foord	Portland Thorns, USA	70 (15)
Mary Fowler	Bankstown City Lions FC, Australia	3 (0)
Emily Gielnik	Melbourne Victory FC, Australia	27 (7)
Katrina Gorry	Brisbane Roar FC, Australia	72 (14)
Elise Kellond-Knight	Seattle Reign, USA	105 (1)
Alanna Kennedy	Orlando Pride, USA	76 (7)
Samantha Kerr	Chicago Red Stars, USA	75 (30)
Chloe Logarzo	Washington Spirit, USA	37 (6)
Aivi Luik	Levante UD, Spain	21 (0)
Teagan Micah (GK)	UCLA, USA	0 (0)
Clare Polkinghorne	Houston Dash, USA	115 (9)
Elizabeth Ralston	Sydney FC, Australia	0 (0)
Hayley Raso	Portland Thorns, USA	33 (3)
Gema Simon	Newcastle Jets FC, Australia	10 (0)
Emily Van Egmond	Orlando Pride, USA	84 (18)
Lydia Williams (GK)	Seattle Reign, USA	76 (0)

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Ins and outs from the Cup of Nations squad:

Ins: Fowler, Gorry, Logarzo, Micah, Ralston
Outs: Campbell, Chidiac, Harrison, Ibini, Polias

Harrison was a call-up to the Cup of Nations squad to replace Logarzo who was initially named but then withdrew because she wasn't at full fitness after receiving the ankle injury during the W-League final.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The USA has named a 24 player squad for their games against the Matildas and Belgium:

Name	Club, country	Appearances (goals)
Adrianna Franch (GK)	Portland Thorns, USA	1 (0)
Ashlyn Harris (GK)	Orlando Pride, USA	20 (0)
Alyssa Naeher (GK)	Chicago Red Stars, USA	41 (0)
Abby Dahlkemper	NC Courage, USA	35 (0)
Tierna Davidson	Chicago Red Stars, USA	17 (1)
Crystal Dunn	NC Courage, USA	80 (24)
Ali Krieger	Orlando Pride, USA	98 (1)
Becky Sauerbrunn	Utah Royals FC, USA	153 (0)
Casey Short	Chicago Red Stars, USA	27 (0)
Emily Sonnett	Portland Thorns, USA	30 (0)
Julie Ertz	Chicago Red Stars, USA	77 (18)
Lindsey Horan	Portland Thorns, USA	64 (7)
Rose Lavelle	Washington Spirit, USA	23 (6)
Allie Long	Reign FC, USA	40 (6)
Samantha Mewis	NC Courage, USA	45 (8)
Andi Sullivan	Washington Spirit, USA	11 (0)
McCall Zerboni	NC Courage, USA	8 (0)
Tobin Heath	Portland Thorns, USA	146 (27)
Carli Lloyd	Sky Blue FC, USA	269 (105)
Jessica McDonald	NC Courage, USA	6 (1)
Alex Morgan	Orlando Pride, USA	158 (99)
Christen Press	Utah Royals FC, USA	111 (47)
Mallory Pugh	Washington Spirit, USA	48 (13)
Megan Rapinoe	Reign FC, USA	149 (43)

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Sam Kerr currently playing for the Chicago Red Stars in a pre-season friendly against Portland Thorns. Ellie Carpenter played the first half for the Thorns but was subbed off at half-time. Foord and Raso not playing for Portland. Thorns win 2-1.

 

[SunGirl89]

Updated rankings are out, I am very disappointed to see that the Matildas did not move up to 5th.

https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/women/

France down (3 to 4) and England up (4 to 3)
Netherlands down (7 to 8) and Japan up (8 to 7)
Spain down (12 to 13) and Norway up (13 to 12)

1-USA down 22 points
2-DEU up 25 points
3-ENG up 28 points
4- FRA down 3 points
5-CAN no change
6-AUS up 4 points
7-JPN up 7 points
8-NED down 20 points
9-SWE down 14 points
10-BRA down 20 points
11-PRK up 2 points
12-NOR up 13 points
13-ESP down 7 points
14-KOR up 3 points
15-ITA up 9 points
16-CHN down 5 points