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The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Australia must step up for world glory: Matildas coach
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni says Australia has to be at the "cutting edge" of women's football to remain in contention to win a Women's World Cup. In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Sermanni slammed the professionalism of the A-League Women competition, especially in the wake of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday night, Sermanni's 150th game at the helm, the women's football stalwart said he hoped his comments would prompt a "positive reaction". "I always want more for the women's game," he said. "That's my job, and it's always been my job, and it's been my job since I first walked into women's football in 1994 and it will continue to be my job. "And while I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that." Professional Footballers Australia have previously warned of a potential player drain from the ALW if the league is not fully professionalised within the next two years. When asked what a lack of progress could mean for the Matildas' player pathways, Sermanni said: "It's like any industry, probably, you've got to keep at the cutting edge. "You can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards. It's as simple as that. The world has opened up for women's football. "Europe has come alive in the last three or four years. The game in the last two to three to four years has expanded more than it did in the 10 years previous to that. "So we need to keep up with that. And to keep up with that, we need to put certain things in place domestically, and we need to put certain things in place internationally. "It's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FA (Football Australia) people and club people." Australia reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. When asked whether Australia was getting closer to or further away from winning football's grandest prize, Sermanni said: "It's getting harder. "It's not necessarily whether closer or further away. It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football." Sermanni pointed to England and Spain kicking on over the past decade. "So what's happened is that, there's far more investment in the game worldwide and if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher. "When all of our players are fit and healthy, I think we have got a high-quality squad that can compete with anyone in the world. "And in reality, two years ago, we came close to winning the World Cup "So we're in the mix, but we need to keep progressing, just to stay in there and to be competitive." Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni says Australia has to be at the "cutting edge" of women's football to remain in contention to win a Women's World Cup. In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Sermanni slammed the professionalism of the A-League Women competition, especially in the wake of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday night, Sermanni's 150th game at the helm, the women's football stalwart said he hoped his comments would prompt a "positive reaction". "I always want more for the women's game," he said. "That's my job, and it's always been my job, and it's been my job since I first walked into women's football in 1994 and it will continue to be my job. "And while I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that." Professional Footballers Australia have previously warned of a potential player drain from the ALW if the league is not fully professionalised within the next two years. When asked what a lack of progress could mean for the Matildas' player pathways, Sermanni said: "It's like any industry, probably, you've got to keep at the cutting edge. "You can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards. It's as simple as that. The world has opened up for women's football. "Europe has come alive in the last three or four years. The game in the last two to three to four years has expanded more than it did in the 10 years previous to that. "So we need to keep up with that. And to keep up with that, we need to put certain things in place domestically, and we need to put certain things in place internationally. "It's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FA (Football Australia) people and club people." Australia reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. When asked whether Australia was getting closer to or further away from winning football's grandest prize, Sermanni said: "It's getting harder. "It's not necessarily whether closer or further away. It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football." Sermanni pointed to England and Spain kicking on over the past decade. "So what's happened is that, there's far more investment in the game worldwide and if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher. "When all of our players are fit and healthy, I think we have got a high-quality squad that can compete with anyone in the world. "And in reality, two years ago, we came close to winning the World Cup "So we're in the mix, but we need to keep progressing, just to stay in there and to be competitive." Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni says Australia has to be at the "cutting edge" of women's football to remain in contention to win a Women's World Cup. In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Sermanni slammed the professionalism of the A-League Women competition, especially in the wake of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday night, Sermanni's 150th game at the helm, the women's football stalwart said he hoped his comments would prompt a "positive reaction". "I always want more for the women's game," he said. "That's my job, and it's always been my job, and it's been my job since I first walked into women's football in 1994 and it will continue to be my job. "And while I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that." Professional Footballers Australia have previously warned of a potential player drain from the ALW if the league is not fully professionalised within the next two years. When asked what a lack of progress could mean for the Matildas' player pathways, Sermanni said: "It's like any industry, probably, you've got to keep at the cutting edge. "You can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards. It's as simple as that. The world has opened up for women's football. "Europe has come alive in the last three or four years. The game in the last two to three to four years has expanded more than it did in the 10 years previous to that. "So we need to keep up with that. And to keep up with that, we need to put certain things in place domestically, and we need to put certain things in place internationally. "It's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FA (Football Australia) people and club people." Australia reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. When asked whether Australia was getting closer to or further away from winning football's grandest prize, Sermanni said: "It's getting harder. "It's not necessarily whether closer or further away. It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football." Sermanni pointed to England and Spain kicking on over the past decade. "So what's happened is that, there's far more investment in the game worldwide and if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher. "When all of our players are fit and healthy, I think we have got a high-quality squad that can compete with anyone in the world. "And in reality, two years ago, we came close to winning the World Cup "So we're in the mix, but we need to keep progressing, just to stay in there and to be competitive."
West Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Australia must step up for world glory: Matildas coach
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni says Australia has to be at the "cutting edge" of women's football to remain in contention to win a Women's World Cup. In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Sermanni slammed the professionalism of the A-League Women competition, especially in the wake of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday night, Sermanni's 150th game at the helm, the women's football stalwart said he hoped his comments would prompt a "positive reaction". "I always want more for the women's game," he said. "That's my job, and it's always been my job, and it's been my job since I first walked into women's football in 1994 and it will continue to be my job. "And while I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that." Professional Footballers Australia have previously warned of a potential player drain from the ALW if the league is not fully professionalised within the next two years. When asked what a lack of progress could mean for the Matildas' player pathways, Sermanni said: "It's like any industry, probably, you've got to keep at the cutting edge. "You can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards. It's as simple as that. The world has opened up for women's football. "Europe has come alive in the last three or four years. The game in the last two to three to four years has expanded more than it did in the 10 years previous to that. "So we need to keep up with that. And to keep up with that, we need to put certain things in place domestically, and we need to put certain things in place internationally. "It's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FA (Football Australia) people and club people." Australia reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. When asked whether Australia was getting closer to or further away from winning football's grandest prize, Sermanni said: "It's getting harder. "It's not necessarily whether closer or further away. It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football." Sermanni pointed to England and Spain kicking on over the past decade. "So what's happened is that, there's far more investment in the game worldwide and if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher. "When all of our players are fit and healthy, I think we have got a high-quality squad that can compete with anyone in the world. "And in reality, two years ago, we came close to winning the World Cup "So we're in the mix, but we need to keep progressing, just to stay in there and to be competitive."
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Australia must step up for world glory: Matildas coach
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni says Australia has to be at the "cutting edge" of women's football to remain in contention to win a Women's World Cup. In Thursday's pre-match press conference, Sermanni slammed the professionalism of the A-League Women competition, especially in the wake of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the Matildas' 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday night, Sermanni's 150th game at the helm, the women's football stalwart said he hoped his comments would prompt a "positive reaction". "I always want more for the women's game," he said. "That's my job, and it's always been my job, and it's been my job since I first walked into women's football in 1994 and it will continue to be my job. "And while I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that." Professional Footballers Australia have previously warned of a potential player drain from the ALW if the league is not fully professionalised within the next two years. When asked what a lack of progress could mean for the Matildas' player pathways, Sermanni said: "It's like any industry, probably, you've got to keep at the cutting edge. "You can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards. It's as simple as that. The world has opened up for women's football. "Europe has come alive in the last three or four years. The game in the last two to three to four years has expanded more than it did in the 10 years previous to that. "So we need to keep up with that. And to keep up with that, we need to put certain things in place domestically, and we need to put certain things in place internationally. "It's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FA (Football Australia) people and club people." Australia reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. When asked whether Australia was getting closer to or further away from winning football's grandest prize, Sermanni said: "It's getting harder. "It's not necessarily whether closer or further away. It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football." Sermanni pointed to England and Spain kicking on over the past decade. "So what's happened is that, there's far more investment in the game worldwide and if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher. "When all of our players are fit and healthy, I think we have got a high-quality squad that can compete with anyone in the world. "And in reality, two years ago, we came close to winning the World Cup "So we're in the mix, but we need to keep progressing, just to stay in there and to be competitive."
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Matildas' European conquerors inspires new generation in Argentina win
Argentina's women's football team doesn't have their own Leo Messi, yet. And so a group of mostly up-and-coming Matildas defeated the 33rd-ranked Argentinians with ease in their friendly on Friday in Melbourne. In the 2-0 victory a debut goal to forward Kahli Johnson was the centrepiece of a party celebrating the bright prospects for Australian women's football. Related: Kahli Johnson header is fitting marker for Tom Sermanni in Matildas win Advertisement But departing coach Tom Sermanni has warned the music may not play forever. On top of the concerns he expressed earlier this week on the lack of progress in the A-League Women, on Friday he warned there was now an arms race in women's football and Australia risks losing touch. That a chance of ever winning a World Cup may soon diminish. 'It's actually getting harder because the big countries are investing in women's football,' he said after Friday's game, the 70-year-old once again in a reflective move as he celebrated 150 games in charge of the national team. 'If you go back eight to 10 years, Spain weren't on the radar, England were okay, but they weren't as big as they are now. What's happened is that there's far more investment in the game worldwide. And if South America comes alive, that will make it even tougher.' Argentina have won the men's World Cup three times, and are the current holders. But their women's team has for a long time been ignored and dismissed. As recently as last year, four players abandoned a camp due to poor pay and conditions. Advertisement The team's coach Germán Portanova said women's football is still only nascent in his country. 'Now it's really just beginning,' he said. 'Up until recently, in Argentina, it was practically frowned upon for girls to play soccer. So we as a society are developing, and in women's football as well.' Sermanni revealed he has had both positive and negative responses to his comments on Thursday that Australia has 'grossly underinvested' in the women's game. He added 'hopefully there'll be a positive reaction out of that'. The veteran coach appears to be talking more freely in the knowledge he will no longer be in the job after the second friendly in Canberra on Tuesday. Joe Montemurro is tipped to succeed him, leaving around eight months before the home Asian Cup campaign. 'While I've got a position where I can influence things, then it's important that I do that,' Sermanni said. 'You've got to keep at the cutting edge, you can't afford to stay still, and you can't afford to go backwards, it's as simple as that,' he said. 'And it's important that we do that with everybody on board and everybody pushing in the right direction, and that's A-League people, FFA [Football Australia] people and club people.' Advertisement Fortunately, the Matildas' loyal support provides a strong foundation. Just across town on Friday, Melbourne's two best AFL teams Collingwood and Hawthorn were playing. Common sporting logic suggests holding two major events on the same night in the same city cannibalises each crowd. But the turnout on Friday at Marvel was still 43,020, and many of the empty seats were those of AFL-loving stadium club members who declined to attend. Speak to fans, and it is clear many are free of the strictures of the past. A father, Gerry Donovan, was there with his two teenage daughters Alyssa and Zara. Thanks to Ange Postecoglou, the family supports Tottenham – in men's football at least. But in women's the daughters proudly follow Arsenal, Spurs' traditional London rival. Aged 15, Zara wore a Gunners shirt with Kyra Cooney-Cross's name on the back, and before the game said she would only be 'a little' disappointed if the midfielder didn't play, because she did have a good excuse. 'They have been celebrating all week,' she said. Posts on social media of Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, and Cooney-Cross enjoying the Champions League triumph have been hard to avoid. Few appreciated the European achievement as much as the other Matildas players, who held a surprise welcome party when the trio arrived on Wednesday night. Advertisement Against Argentina, those players – thanks to Johnson's first-half header and a fortunate cross-cum-shot from winger Kaitlyn Torpey – didn't need their European conquerors on the field. Their presence in camp was felt however, so soon after lifting one of football's greatest prizes. 'Seeing them do that, and them coming back in and being a part of the group, it definitely fills you with a lot of confidence,' Johnson said, beaming after her debut goal. 'And to know that's the calibre of player that Australia can produce is pretty cool.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Debutant Kahli Johnson shines in comfortable win for Matildas over Argentina
It felt rather appropriate, all things considered, that Tom Sermanni marked his 150th in charge of the Matildas by making Kahli Johnson the 237th player to represent Australia. Because while the 2010 Asian Cup may have provided the 70-year-old with his crowning achievement, his is a more than three-decade legacy built upon the stories and achievements of those who he has given an opportunity. So many of the pathways that are found in the women's game in Australia wouldn't exist without his guidance, and of the current golden generation alone, the likes of Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Katrina Gorry were all given intentional debuts under his charge. Advertisement It became even more fitting when Johnson headed home the 38th-minute goal that kickstarted the Matildas to a 2-0 win over Argentina at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Friday evening, a game lacking in much of the way of fireworks but in which the hosts never looked in danger of falling. Kaitlyn Torpey put the result beyond doubt in the 69th minute, the winger's second international goal blessed by the footballing gods when her shanked attempt to send in a cross from the right floated right over the head of Abigaíl Chaves and inside the far post. But it's Johnson who people will be talking about after tonight. The 21-year-old took a leap into the unknown during the middle of the A-League Women season, moving from Western United to newly launched Canadian competition the Northern Super League and has kicked on with three goals in six games for the Calgary Wild. Now, having scored a goal every other game in Canada, she's become a senior international, with a goal under her belt, and the latest in a long line of players whose stories include Sermanni. The ball to find Johnson was delivered with pinpoint accuracy by Charli Grant, who galloped down the flank before sending in a perfectly weighted cross for her teammate – who replays showed may have strayed just into an offside position – to send across the face of Chaves. Though not all that much older than Johnson, the defender is something of a grizzled young veteran in the current setup given she is still only 23 years old but she is now in her fourth year in the national setup, with 34 appearances in green and gold under her belt. Advertisement Probably helped by not needing to do much defending – Argentina would fail to register a shot on target until the 80th minute – the Spurs flanker was one of the Matildas best on the evening. So, too, was Johnson, who flashed intent early on when she won the ball on the left and whipped in crosses in the sixth and seventh minutes and who put a shot just wide in the 49th in search of a brace. Given the chance to start as the nine once more, clearly being positioned by Sermanni as the heir-apparent for Kerr, Holly McNamara showed off her determined, angry worth as well: sending a volleyed attempt from a Grant cross wide in the first half and fizzing an effort outside the post in the 61st. Clare Wheeler got in on the act, too, firing off a 72nd minute attempt that Chaves did incredibly well to get down and keep out. Indeed, with the likes of Kerr, Gorry, Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso all absent from this squad and the Arsenal trio of Catley, Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross staying on the bench after their late arrival into camp after winning the Champions League, Friday was an evening for the unheralded and rising members of the squad. It almost had to be, given that Football Australia has indicated a new coach will be coming in next month, rendering these games as something of an audition. But it was also a celebration of an underappreciated legend in Sermanni, delivered in fitting fashion.
