Matildas stars set to chase Asian and European Champions League glory
Arguably the biggest day in Australian women's football since the Women's World Cup isn't in Australia at all. Instead, it will take place overnight, over in Lisbon and Wuhan.
On Saturday night [10pm AEST], Holly McNamara headlines six current and former Matildas chasing Women's Asian Champions League glory with Melbourne City.
Four hours later, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross and their Arsenal teammates face Barcelona in the European Women's Champions League final.
That trio hope to emulate Matildas teammate Ellie Carpenter, a two-time champion, in reaching the pinnacle of European club football.
'Obviously there's been other Aussies that have made it this far and that have done amazing things at Champions League level,' Catley said.
'Now, we've put ourselves in such an incredible position. A one-off final. Anything can happen, two amazing teams going at it.
'It's the best thing about Champions League football. And there's no place I'd rather be.
'Obviously, for Australians that follow Arsenal and that follow us, it's a massive occasion.'
In China, current Matildas McNamara, Bryleeh Henry and Leah Davidson - plus Laura Hughes, Karly Roestbakken and former captain Melissa Barbieri - are seeking their own slice of history.
Melbourne City's game against Wuhan Jiangda is the final of the first full Women's Asian Champions League tournament, with a $2 million prize packet on offer.
'It's so exciting, for it to be the first structured Asian Women's Champions League,' McNamara told AAP.
'To get all the way to the final as an Australian team is a really good credit to us, and it's something that we've been working towards as soon as we found out about the competition.
'Obviously playing for your country is such a huge milestone, so those games were pretty big in my career. But in terms of club, this is the biggest game by far.'
The cut-throat games are crucial preparation for Matildas players seeking glory in next year's Asian Cup.
'It's invaluable, really, I think, especially for someone like Kyra,' Catley said.
'She's played obviously at the World Cup, in those big moments on home soil, but this is a different kind of pressure.
'It's good for her to have those experiences and learn as much as she can from the moment and the people around her, and take all those lessons back to the national team.'
Catley, 31, considers her final one of the proudest moments of her career.
'There is something special about Australians doing well on the world stage, and I think in particular in European football,' she said.
'Because anyone that knows world football knows how hard it is to be successful over here, especially in the Champions League, and in European competitions in general.
'Playing in a Champions League final is, along with probably a World Cup final, as high as you can get.'
She believes it can also inspire young Australian footballers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- Reuters
Part one complete as Popovic's Australia lock up World Cup berth
June 11 (Reuters) - Tony Popovic was already thinking about the improvements Australia needed to make for next year's World Cup finals soon after they sealed automatic qualification with a gritty 2-1 win in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Popovic took over as coach last September after the Socceroos made a poor start to the third round of Asian qualifying and has overseen five wins and three draws to book a ticket to North America. "Very, very satisfying right now, I'm sure it'll sink in as the days go by," he said shortly after the final whistle at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City. "It's been a very intense period since I've joined and I've loved it so far. We've done the first part, qualifying automatically, and now the next part is to be bigger and better for the World Cup." After beating Group C winners Japan 1-0 with a late goal in Perth last week, the Socceroos only needed to avoid a 5-0 loss to the Saudis to take their place in the finals for a sixth straight edition. They got the job done despite going a goal down in front of a hostile crowd, watching a Saudi player have a red card rescinded by VAR, and conceding a late penalty. Goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who was winning his 100th cap, saved the penalty to ensure that goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke either side of halftime would give Australia all three points. "To do it here in this atmosphere, you've got to deal with the weather as well, and it's not easy to show that character resilience and then quality, to come back and actually take the lead and win the game," said Popovic. "For Matty Ryan, his career speaks for itself and there's a lot more for him to achieve ... but it's a day he'll never forget." Former centre half Popovic was a member of the Australia squad that reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 2006, a feat matched by Graham Arnold's team in Qatar three years ago. The 2006 squad had flair as well as the famed Australian resilience, and the task for Popovic over the next year is to build a team that can play a bit as well as fight. "We've built a good foundation now, and we want to really get better, get better kick on and try and do something special the World Cup," he said. "We need to play games to keep improving, giving other players that deserve it an opportunity and then we want to be a squad that's much better than what we are now. I think that's the expectation we should have."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Fans slam the AFL for naming the first women to the league's Hall of Fame - but NOT because of their gender
Footy fans have lashed out at the AFL after Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce became the first women to be named to the league's Hall of Fame - but their complaints are all about the timing of the honour, not the stars' gender. Phillips - who won three AFLW premierships and three All-Australian nods in her time with the Crows and Power - provided the highlight of Tuesday night's ceremony with an emotional acceptance speech. Pearce - who now works for Channel Seven in addition to coaching West Coast's women's side - won an AFLW premiership and became a three-time All Australian with the Melbourne Demons. Fans voiced their shock at their induction as Pearce only retired from playing in 2022, with Phillips doing the same in 2023. The AFL's guidelines on the Hall of Fame state that 'players are only eligible after they have been retired from the game for at least five years'. However, an exception was made for AFLW players in June last year that makes them eligible after just one year in retirement. Footy supporters couldn't deny Daisy Pearce (pictured) is a giant of the women's game - but had issues with the fact she was inducted after only retiring as a player in 2022 Some fans went online to slam the AFL when Phillips and Pearce's inductions were made official. 'I would never deny her impact on the women's game, but hasn't she been retired for 5 minutes? It took Gary Ablet Sr 8 years to be inducted, Erin less than 2 years? Over 1000 goals vs 50. 250 games vs 50 odd?' one wrote. 'Congrats to her on her induction. But didn't she only retire last year & isn't the criteria 5 years retired?' another added, referring to Phillips. 'Well I expect Dusty to be in next year and made a legend the year after if this is how quick it's going to be inducted,' wrote a third, referring to Richmond great Dustin Martin, who retired last season. 'Someone correct me if I'm wrong but… aint the whole AFLW too early for hall of famers?' another commenter said. '66 games makes you a first ballot HOF'er? Have a look at the players from the 80s and 90s who have played 300+ games, multiple premierships and other accolades, and they will probably never get a guernsey,' one fan said, referring to Phillips. 'Let the league develop more... it started in 2017 and there's already people getting into a HOF? Relax and bit and pull the hand brake up,' another wrote. Some reactions to Pearce's honour questioned why she was being inducted given she is still employed in the game as Eagles coach, with comments like, 'Genuine question, is an active head coach allowed to be inducted?' Other fans questioned whether Pearce and Phillips met the criteria for making the Hall of Fame - which they both did courtesy of a change to the rules in June last year Phillips (pictured at Tuesday night's Hall of Fame ceremony) is the most honoured player in women's footy history However, Simon Goodwin was inducted as a player in 2017, when he was coaching the Melbourne Demons, and Sam Mitchell was inducted in 2023 when he had already started coaching Hawthorn. Phillips' father Greg is a Port Adelaide legend and her words to him during her speech were a high point of the ceremony. 'To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves anymore,' she said, her voice breaking. 'And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame.' In her speech, Phillips also thanked the 'incredible women' who made the AFLW possible and singled out trailblazer Debbie Lee. 'You kicked down this door so others could walk through,' she said. 'I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb.' Pearce's last AFLW game was the Melbourne 2022 grand final victory and she called it the best day of her life, even though her twin children Sylvie and Roy were in the room, hamming it up for the TV cameras. 'It's controversial to say this, as a mother ... don't get me wrong, they're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but on a technicality, the day itself is not that good,' she said. 'Give me grand final day every day of the week.' Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction. She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Pearce and Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Today's Karl Stefanovic and Sara Abo claim there's a BIG problem with the Socceroos' World Cup win
The Socceroos have officially qualified for a sixth consecutive World Cup after beating Saudi Arabia, yet Melbourne's Federation Square remained unusually quiet on Wednesday morning. After their upset 1-0 win over Japan, the Socceroos only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals in Jeddah to seal automatic World Cup finals qualification for the first time in 12 years. Australia eventually outclassed Saudi Arabia with a 2-1 victory to book their ticket to next year's World Cup. The Today Show highlighted the unusual absence of celebrations at the iconic Victorian landmark - a stark contrast to some of the scenes that have marked past triumphs. Nine reporter Isabel Quinlan was at Federation Square - typically a buzzing hub for Aussie soccer fans during big games. Today host Karl Stefanovic joked about the absence of people anywhere near the reporter. 'You've just got to celebrate on your own sometimes,' he remarked. Quinlan fired back: 'I know! These are all my friends. Look at us - woohoo!' As the live cross returned to the studio, Stefanovic noted how dire the turn-out was. 'It's Fed Square, Sez. C'mon,' he said. Co-host Sara Abo replied: 'Yeah, exactly. Most people forgot it was on, I reckon Karlos.' Just hours before Today's live cross, Mitch Duke sealed the win even though he wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Duke, who for a second consecutive window was left out of Tony Popovic's squad only to earn a late reprieve, is soaking it all in. The veteran striker came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Japan that effectively sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Then, Popovic called on Duke to start against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where Australia only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals. After conceding the opener, things looked dangerous for Australia. Then, in the 42nd minute, Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to score the equaliser. Three minutes after halftime, the much-maligned veteran striker glanced home a header to put Australia in front with his first goal since January 2024. 'I wasn't even supposed to be here, to be honest,' Duke said. 'Mat Leckie got injured, and I was a late call-up.'' He joked: 'Got the voodoo doll out and maybe injured Leckie. Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. 'But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good.' The veteran striker had previously been open about said keyboard warriors and critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. He also relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Tony Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games. 'It feels damn good,' Duke said. 'Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable. 'Personal triumph feels very good, but I'm more happy just for the boys. 'It's a game of big moments as well, and everyone stepped up when they needed to.' Duke knows he will have to keep kicking up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America. 'Mate, all I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well, and that's all you can do,' he said. 'And to be fair, there's a lot of young players up and coming. 'Mo Toure when he came on, he's an absolute beast.
