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Matildas The Matildas Thread

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Ten minutes in and we look more defensively frail than I’ve ever seen. Hopefully the youngsters will feel more comfortable as the game goes on.
 
America exploiting the inexperience in defence and the fact that none of Australia's midfielders can be bothered to track back. Could be a cricket score unless Gustavsson pulls his finger out.
 

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Working their way back into the match well the Matildas but still look frail at the back.
 

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Milicic was a bad coach but I dare say he would have the Matildas playing tighter at the back than Gustavsson does. Cannot be conceding soft goals like this at international level.
 
Hope Horan enjoyed scoring a penalty from a belly flop in the box. Sucked in the defender to put the leg out and then sucked in the ref to give the spot kick despite there being no contact.
 
Great article about Gustavsson's issues.



Fair analysis. I haven't seen the game yet, but when I watched the clip of that 1st goal, it disappointed me how a senior player like Van Egmond was so casual about giving away possession and then not showing any urgency to get in a position to prevent things from getting out of hand with a couple of rookies at the back.
 

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Gustavsson put it politely when he said we won between the boxes but it wasn't where tournament games are decided. Basically we're a team that gives up soft goals in defence and screws up goal scoring opportunities. USA goalie pulled out a couple of good saves but most of the shots were directly at her.

After that horror first header that went straight back up in the air, I thought Nash played quite well - at least more confidently on the ball than Nevin.

Carpenter also made some errors when she shifted to central defence. She was the one that tried to ambitiously cross a ball from defence to the wing that was intercepted and led to the 2nd goal where Nevin couldn't hold off Purse - as well as conceding a penalty which probably was a ref error.

Everyone has been saying for the last 2 tournaments to get rid of Polkinghorne and Kennedy but at this stage they're both in the frame for 2023.

Midfield needs someone who can make the play more often. Van Egmond probably more suited as an attacking midfielder. Cooney-Cross and Wheeler worth persisting with, but still need to find someone with a bit more class.

There's not that much time to fastrack some new players before the next world cup. One player that I saw was added to the Adelaide FC squad recently was Grace Taranto who has moved across from Victoria. She was a stand out in the junior Matildas matches in 2019 but apparently has been injured for a while. Sort of played as a defender but a very attacking one. As far as midfielders go - Hana Lowry from Perth Glory could make it as she's already had a year or so in the domestic competition.
 
Whether it’s Gustavsson or someone else, we really need to think about building for the following World Cup, not 2023.
I reckon this side can still beat anyone on their best day. Roll the dice and try and get the squad at its best to go deep in 2023.

Can still play youth and depth at smart times like friendlies.
 
I reckon this side can still beat anyone on their best day. Roll the dice and try and get the squad at its best to go deep in 2023.

The Matildas record historically is awful against the top teams in the world. 1 win out of 32 against the USA and 1 in 14 against Sweden. There has just been no depth in womens football, which makes us look better than we are. As the game grows now we will plummet down the rankings.
 
Went to the game on Saturday. Getting to events in Sydney sucks. Missed the first US goal because everything around Homebush was a cluster****.

Worse than that... god we stunk. The US were faster, fitter, and made us look second rate, especially in the 2nd half.
 

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