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ABC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Matildas to face Wales in historic friendly ahead of Asian Cup campaign
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro says October's friendly against Wales will be a crucial step in his squad's preparations for next year's Asian Cup. The match against Wales — the first between the two nations in women's football — has been scheduled for October 25 in Cardiff. The Matildas will also face a yet-to-be-determined opponent later in FIFA's international window. But it remains to be seen whether Sam Kerr, who has not played since tearing her ACL in January last year, will be made available for the two matches. "We are looking to make the most of the next few FIFA women's international windows and Wales is the perfect test for the team as we have never played them before and they are a competitive side that will test our style of play," Montemurro said. "It is important that we make the most of every opportunity together, to continually build on the relationships we are forming and setting high standards to enhance our high-performance environment." Wales is ranked 32nd in the world. The Welsh are yet to appear in a women's World Cup, but they did qualify for Euro 2025. The Matildas only have two more international windows before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. Montemurro was missing a host of the squad's biggest stars during his first set of matches in charge of the Matildas earlier this year. The Matildas were fortunate to escape with an error-riddled 3–0 win over world number 38 Slovenia in Montemurro's first match at the helm. The result was followed up by a 1–1 draw against the same opponents. Alarm bells were ringing when the Matildas slumped to a shock 1–0 loss to world number 56 Panama. But a Michelle Heyman brace and Charli Grant's 91st-minute goal rescued a 3–2 win in the second match of the friendly series in West Australia. AAP
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Matildas opponent revealed as preparations ramp up
The Matildas will ramp up their preparations for next year's Women's Asian Cup with a friendly against Wales during October's FIFA international window. The match against Wales has been scheduled for October 25 in Cardiff, with the Matildas to also face a yet-to-be-determined opponent later in the window. It remains to be seen whether superstar striker Sam Kerr, who hasn't played since tearing her ACL in January last year, will be made available for the games. Wales are currently ranked 32nd in the world, and although they've never qualified for the women's World Cup before, they did make it through to this year's women's Euro competition. The Matildas only have two more international windows before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. New coach Joe Montemurro was missing a host of the side's biggest stars during his first set of games in charge of the Matildas earlier this year. Australia were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia in Montemurro's first game at the helm, and it was followed up by a 1-1 draw against the same opponents. Alarm bells were ringing when the Matildas slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama, and Australia were 1-0 down in the re-match before a Michelle Heyman brace and Charli Grant's 91st-minute goal rescued a 3-2 win. Montemurro says the game against Wales is a crucial step for the team in laying down the foundations for the next phase of the Matildas' journey. "We are looking to make the most of the next few FIFA Women's International windows and Wales is the perfect test for the team as we have never played them before and they are a competitive side that will test our style of play," Montemurro said. "It is important that we make the most of every opportunity together, to continually build on the relationships we are forming and setting high standards to enhance our high-performance environment." The Matildas will ramp up their preparations for next year's Women's Asian Cup with a friendly against Wales during October's FIFA international window. The match against Wales has been scheduled for October 25 in Cardiff, with the Matildas to also face a yet-to-be-determined opponent later in the window. It remains to be seen whether superstar striker Sam Kerr, who hasn't played since tearing her ACL in January last year, will be made available for the games. Wales are currently ranked 32nd in the world, and although they've never qualified for the women's World Cup before, they did make it through to this year's women's Euro competition. The Matildas only have two more international windows before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. New coach Joe Montemurro was missing a host of the side's biggest stars during his first set of games in charge of the Matildas earlier this year. Australia were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia in Montemurro's first game at the helm, and it was followed up by a 1-1 draw against the same opponents. Alarm bells were ringing when the Matildas slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama, and Australia were 1-0 down in the re-match before a Michelle Heyman brace and Charli Grant's 91st-minute goal rescued a 3-2 win. Montemurro says the game against Wales is a crucial step for the team in laying down the foundations for the next phase of the Matildas' journey. "We are looking to make the most of the next few FIFA Women's International windows and Wales is the perfect test for the team as we have never played them before and they are a competitive side that will test our style of play," Montemurro said. "It is important that we make the most of every opportunity together, to continually build on the relationships we are forming and setting high standards to enhance our high-performance environment." The Matildas will ramp up their preparations for next year's Women's Asian Cup with a friendly against Wales during October's FIFA international window. The match against Wales has been scheduled for October 25 in Cardiff, with the Matildas to also face a yet-to-be-determined opponent later in the window. It remains to be seen whether superstar striker Sam Kerr, who hasn't played since tearing her ACL in January last year, will be made available for the games. Wales are currently ranked 32nd in the world, and although they've never qualified for the women's World Cup before, they did make it through to this year's women's Euro competition. The Matildas only have two more international windows before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. New coach Joe Montemurro was missing a host of the side's biggest stars during his first set of games in charge of the Matildas earlier this year. Australia were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia in Montemurro's first game at the helm, and it was followed up by a 1-1 draw against the same opponents. Alarm bells were ringing when the Matildas slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama, and Australia were 1-0 down in the re-match before a Michelle Heyman brace and Charli Grant's 91st-minute goal rescued a 3-2 win. Montemurro says the game against Wales is a crucial step for the team in laying down the foundations for the next phase of the Matildas' journey. "We are looking to make the most of the next few FIFA Women's International windows and Wales is the perfect test for the team as we have never played them before and they are a competitive side that will test our style of play," Montemurro said. "It is important that we make the most of every opportunity together, to continually build on the relationships we are forming and setting high standards to enhance our high-performance environment."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Matildas opponent revealed as preparations ramp up
The Matildas will ramp up their preparations for next year's Women's Asian Cup with a friendly against Wales during October's FIFA international window. The match against Wales has been scheduled for October 25 in Cardiff, with the Matildas to also face a yet-to-be-determined opponent later in the window. It remains to be seen whether superstar striker Sam Kerr, who hasn't played since tearing her ACL in January last year, will be made available for the games. Wales are currently ranked 32nd in the world, and although they've never qualified for the women's World Cup before, they did make it through to this year's women's Euro competition. The Matildas only have two more international windows before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. New coach Joe Montemurro was missing a host of the side's biggest stars during his first set of games in charge of the Matildas earlier this year. Australia were lucky to escape with an error-riddled 3-0 win over world No.38 Slovenia in Montemurro's first game at the helm, and it was followed up by a 1-1 draw against the same opponents. Alarm bells were ringing when the Matildas slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to world No.56 Panama, and Australia were 1-0 down in the re-match before a Michelle Heyman brace and Charli Grant's 91st-minute goal rescued a 3-2 win. Montemurro says the game against Wales is a crucial step for the team in laying down the foundations for the next phase of the Matildas' journey. "We are looking to make the most of the next few FIFA Women's International windows and Wales is the perfect test for the team as we have never played them before and they are a competitive side that will test our style of play," Montemurro said. "It is important that we make the most of every opportunity together, to continually build on the relationships we are forming and setting high standards to enhance our high-performance environment."
The Guardian
29-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Asian Cup: tough draw for Matildas, but chance to banish ghosts of India
As Tameka Yallop unfurled the purple scroll revealing the Matildas' final group-stage opponent for next year's Asian Cup, whispers rustled across the Sydney Town Hall crowd. South Korea. The same team that had knocked them out of the quarter-final of this tournament almost four years ago. The game that plunged Australian football fans and media into despair. Memories of India came rushing back. Furious calls for head coach sackings underlined widespread astonishment and growing concern over the direction of the team with a World Cup on the horizon. The Matildas were, after all, close to full-strength then. Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord were reaching their attacking peaks, Mary Fowler was emerging as Australia's newest star, Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley were at their flying wing-back best, Lydia Williams was still Australia's number one goalkeeper. They were expected to win the Asian Cup in 2022. Do we feel the same way now? Australia is a very different team to what they were the last time they competed for this trophy. Their fundamental core has shifted. Injuries and retirements have forced the side to figure out the next version of themselves, and nobody is quite sure what it looks like yet. Partly because the past 12 months under interim coach Tom Sermanni, the last coach to win this tournament for Australia back in 2010, was a year of stasis. With Football Australia taking far too long to appoint a predecessor to Tony Gustavsson, the team wasted several windows trotting out their tired senior players for friendlies when they should have been blooding the next generation instead. So who are the Matildas now? They've lost some older players, gained some newer ones. The form of some key figureheads – Kerr, Fowler, Katrina Gorry – remains uncertain. The team's recent performances haven't been convincing. Are they any better or any worse than they were four years ago? Just how quickly has Asia improved around them? Joe Montemurro, who took charge of his first camp earlier this month, now has just three windows left to figure it out. And they will have the hot spotlight of the nation upon them as they try to solve their past problems against the hardest group of the tournament. Their opening match against the Philippines in Perth on March 1 may seem like an easy one on paper. Australia have won all their previous matches, including an 8-0 drubbing in October 2023. But this is a nation with a plan: led by Australian Mark Torcaso, the Filipinas are full of international diaspora, particularly from the USA college system. Their gallant World Cup performances, an ever-improving youth pipeline, and a large fan community could prove trickier than anticipated. Iran, too – the lowest-ranked side in the group – are no push-overs. While the Matildas have met them just once, Iran defended brilliantly and kept them to just a 2-0 win. Their defeat of rising Asian nation, Jordan, in the final round of qualifiers shows a side steadily improving, and knowing Australia's age-old struggle to break down deep-lying defensive teams, could pose a problem. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion But it's South Korea that will cause the most concern. Never mind that the Matildas defeated them in two friendlies back in April; tournament football is a different fight, and South Korea, who reached the final in 2022 before losing to China, know how to grind through them. The shadow of India will stretch across this must-win group game. South Korea is also a nation that is moving on. Just three of their most recent call-ups have had over 100 caps, while half their current squad is aged below 25. That includes 21-year-old striker Jeon Yu-Gyeong, who stood alongside the 34-year-old Yallop on stage at last night's draw. Two players representing two very different moments for their national teams. Australia aren't without their glimpses of the future, though. Amy Sayer, Winonah Heatley, Teagan Micah, Charlie Grant, Jamilla Rankin and Holly McNamara have all begun to show their qualities in the vacuum of senior stars. And squad depth – as we've seen in the recent Women's Euro – could be critical to topping the group, thus avoiding some of Asia's biggest nations until World Cup qualification (which this tournament doubles as for the final time) is secured in the semi-finals. But with time slipping away and the Matildas' older core needing to reintegrate following a period of directionless wandering, is there enough time to do what needs to be done? Next year's Asian Cup will be a lot of things. A television spectacle, a commercial achievement, a moment in sporting history. It will also be a crucial litmus test; a chance to see just how far the Matildas have come – or, if the ghosts of their past still haunt them, how much further they have to go.
Graziadaily
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Graziadaily
How Much Will The Lionesses Take Home For Winning The Euros 2025? We've Broken It Down
England's Lionesses put smiles on the faces of the nation with their incredible win last night. After reaching their third consecutive major final in a row, they successfully defended the trophy in a match against Spain. The world held its breath throughout the tense penalty shoot out. Chloe Kelly was the standout player of the moment, after scoring the winning goal in a gripping penalty shoot-out. But true to style, all the players put in incredible performances on the pitch. So much can be said about how the Lionesses have cemented their place as history-makers and inspired a whole generation of girls to participate in sport. But after much discussion about their pay following the 2022 final, will they get paid more for their win this year? In 2024, UEFA said they had approved a €41million prize money pot for the Women's Euros 2025. This means nations taking part in the tournament will receive a participation payment of €1.8million, marking a 156% increase on the figure from the 2022 Euros tournament. The Football Association pays players on both England senior teams equally for representing their country. Both male and female England players are paid £2,000 per game, with the majority of players donating this to charity - although it's not a requirement. 'The FA pays its women's players exactly the same as their male counterparts for representing England, both in terms of match fees and match bonuses,' the FA says. 'This parity has been in place since January 2020.' However, there are significant discrepancies when it comes to bonus prize money and sponsorship deals. For instance, following the women's Euros win in 2022, each player reportedly took home a £55,000 bonus. This was significantly lower than the men's team, who received a bonus of £300,000 each for reaching the final of the 2020 Euros, which they didn't win. At the time, Women In Sport spoke out about the gender pay gap in the bonuses each team were awarded. 'Why shouldn't we ask for equal prize money and pay? We are already seeing this across tennis and cricket,' they said. 'This expresses and demonstrates the value that these teams bring to sport. Increased investment is vital across every level of women's sport. For girls to realise their aspirations they need a place to do this on their doorsteps. This should be the legacy of the Euros.' According to analysis by the BBC, Women's Super League (WSL) players take home an average salary of £47,000 per year. Some of the top earning players take home more, such as Chelsea's Sam Kerr who reportedly earns over £400,000 per year. However, there's still huge differences between the amount the WSL players and Premier League players take home - despite them both being the highest leagues you can play in when it comes to the beautiful game. According to a 2019 report in The Guardian, an average Premier League player took home around £61,000 per week. This amounted to more than £3 million a year. Yes. Before the 2025 Euros, the FA agreed to pay the Lionesses from a £1.7 million bonus pot if they retained their winning title. And as last night proved, they did just that. This means player's will receive an average bonus of £73,000 each, depending on the minutes they all played. This is £18,000 more than they received three years ago.
