Matildas fixtures, results: Joe Montemurro changes as coach
New Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has wasted no time implementing a major shake-up, flipping the side's playing style in just his first few days in charge … and it's a move that has been needed for years.
Australian football star Ellie Carpenter said the focus of the national team camp so far had been possession-based football — which puts the focus on attacking and controlling the game.
It's not a style of play the Matildas have gone with before – previous coach Tony Gustavsson had a real focus on counter-attacking.
That method was part of the Matildas' undoing at the Paris Olympics and in other tournaments since.
Taking the game against Japan at the SheBelieves Cup – the Matildas lost 4-0 and in the 90 minutes made one shot to Japan's 18. Japan had 59 per cent of the ball.
Against the USA the Matildas had just 33 per cent of the ball and made one shot to USA's 7.
A defence-first approach will not get the Matildas far in the Asian Cup next year.
Carpenter is no stranger to Montemurro's focus on attack – she spent the past season working with him at French side Lyon.
The defender is known for her willingness and ability to drive down the wing with the ball at her feet.
'Joe's really experienced, obviously, internationally, he's played around the world, coached in the biggest clubs,' Carpenter said.
'I think the most important thing that he's implemented so far is possession-based football and I think we're very capable of doing that.
'And even the last two sessions I think the girls are learning a new language that maybe they haven't heard before.
'I really think we've implemented that very well in the short space of time that we have.
'You'll be seeing us more with the ball, controlling the game, a lot of possession based and exciting football which I think this team needs to get back to playing.
'I think we're really going to thrive under Joe, this is the first step into this new cycle.
'Nothing happens overnight or over 48 hours for our first two sessions but at least we've implemented the base and we can keep building.'
While Montemurro has made a start implementing the new style in this camp, having a huge number of players unavailable means it will take him time to get everyone on board.
Key players including Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler are missing due to ACL injuries. Clare Wheeler, Cortnee Vine, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry are all absent on personal leave.
And on top of that, all the players in the camp are at different stages for the year – some are in season, some out and others in pre-season.
Montemurro said this camp would allow him to gauge where available players were at.
'We'll look at a few different ideas, we'll look at a different ways of approach and obviously the more we can get on the pitch and the more we can get the messages out there on the pitch,' he said.
The new coach said he was full of 'anticipation' ahead of his first game in charge.
'It is the official start of our build up for the Asian Cup,' Montemurro said.
'I'm looking at a lot of players, I'm trying to instil some language and instil some new ideas but the approach to the game is still the same.
'We're playing at home, we're in our country, so the attitude has to be that it's a big game, it's a game that we want to win.
'It's the game that we want to make sure we do the right things to get that mentality leading into a big tournament.'
The side's first opponent with Montemurro at the helm will be Slovenia. On paper the Matildas should have no problems against this team – they are ranked 38th in the world – the Matildas sit 15th.
But Slovenia are an aggressive and physical team and will no doubt be keen for an upset.
The match will kick off at HBF Park, Perth at 9pm (AEST) on Thursday. Kerr makes surprise return to Matildas camp Erin Smith Sports reporter
Erin Smith is a sports reporter for the National Sports Network and CODE Sports. She is die-hard sports fan with a passion for football, women's sports and Olympics. Football
Auckland FC's inaugural men's team won the A-League premiership this season but the APL have squashed its chances of creating the same magic with a women's team. Football
Sam Kerr has made a surprise return to the Matildas camp as the Joe Montemurro era gets underway in the Chelsea superstar's home city of Perth.
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