Latest news with #Sermanni
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."
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
The big 'challenge' the Matildas are a step closer to overcoming
Friday night made it clear why Tom Sermanni was brought in to lead the Matildas for a third time, with a fairytale debut giving hope that the team can overcome the biggest challenge of their next chapter. His special skill of bringing in new talent and ensuring they prosper when they make the jump was on full display at Marvel Stadium in Australia's 2-0 victory over Argentina. Since Sermanni took back over in September 2024, nine players have made their debut for the Tillies. The latest was Kahli Johnson, who earned her debut in Melbourne and a starting XI spot in her first national team camp. Her impact was immediate, giving hope of what to expect from the next generation in the green and gold. "It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly then get them on the field and start them," Sermanni said. "It makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played. She fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in, but also what she did in training, and she just really took that out onto the field." Below are the five things we learned about the team heading into game two in Canberra, including the return of a key trio. Johnson, who plys her trade in Canada's new league for Calgary, became Matilda no. 237 in front of more than 43,000 fans. The 21-year-old lined up at left wing, and it only took the newest member 38 minutes to etch her name into history as an Australian goalscorer. Charlotte Grant swung the ball into the area and found Johnson's head at the backpost. The Argentinians threw their hands up, but their offside calls fell on deaf ears. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" Johnson asked tongue-in-cheek post-match. "It was surreal. I just wanted to go out there and kind of show what I could do. Playing in a team like this, with these type of players, it gives you that confidence." Sermanni was adamant the Matildas' Champions League-winning trio would feature in game two. The Tillies' head coach confirmed Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross "should be fit and ready to go" in the Bush Capital on Monday. "I anticipate them starting on Monday. They've had the holiday, they've had a week," Sermanni said with a smile. "We were fortunate ... the game went how we hoped it would go, and that allowed us to utilise other players and give game time to players that haven't had as much. "But Monday, we've got three key Arsenal players, and they'll be - barring any accident or injury - in the starting lineup." The trio was rested in game one after their entry into camp was delayed by their European victory over Barcelona. There was a glaring void in the next chapter of the Matildas' story after the historic Women's World Cup in 2023. The future-proofing of the squad's success was at risk of falling by the wayside due to the aging stars and the dependence on key personnel. Alarm bells began ringing, and a solution was not found under former coach Tony Gustavsson by Paris 2024. Cue Sermanni. More than a decade ago, he was identifying players like Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, and Sam Kerr. On Friday, his eagle-eyed skill of spotting the stars of tomorrow was on display again. "It shows what your players can do when they get an opportunity," Sermanni said. "It's one of the challenges in the national team, and I've said this probably numerous times, is to play for the present, but plan for the future, and it's getting that balance right. "It's becoming more and more difficult to do that, because you're limited with the amount of time you get your team together, as opposed to what it was in the past. So it's always a challenge to do that. "But if there's anything that I've noticed over the last nine or 10 months, is that some of those fringe players have started to become more comfortable in the environment, and that's given them more confidence. "And I think that their ability to mix in and not be overawed by bigger players is now more evident, and that helps them perform like we saw tonight with Kahli." Football Australia has not confirmed if Sermanni will remain on beyond this international window, but it is understood a permanent coaching solution is edging closer. It seems likely the two-game series against Argentina will be his last, with Friday's win marking his 150th game in charge across his three stints in the role. "It's been a real privilege for me to be able to come back and do what I have this spell with the Matildas," the interim Tillies coach said. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team and if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had. "When the program started, basically from scratch, then the second time when we went into Asia from Oceania, and then this third time, when the team has just gone to a different level of support and recognition. So for me to come in now is just, it's kind of a wee bit extraordinary." Sermanni was given the task of future-proofing the squad ahead of next year's Asian Cup and beyond, and the 2-0 result made evident he has achieved that. The big question is, who will replace him? FA have remained tight-lipped about their options for the heading coaching role, but the leading candidate remains Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro. Johnson's inclusion in the starting XI helped to unlock the Tillies' front third through her connection with fellow forwards Kaitlyn Torpey and Holly McNamara. The side's movement off the ball and creativity in attack breathed new life into a squad that had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities without their big-name stars. Tottenham fullback Charlotte Grant's partnership with Johnson, Torpey and McNamara proved fruitful in the first half and showed what fans could come to expect from the next generation. Torpey eventually added the Matildas' second in the 69th minute, with a cross-turned-shot effort from out wide catching the Argentinian shotstopper Abigail Chaves by surprise. "If you look particularly at our second-half performance, I think we dominated the game and there were a lot of good passages of play," Sermanni said. "We maybe could have created a couple more better chances, which we didn't do. But generally, I thought, overall, our tempo in the second half was very good. "And when you consider the changes we've made, and when you consider the players that we started and put into the game, that was a very pleasing aspect of the performance." Friday night made it clear why Tom Sermanni was brought in to lead the Matildas for a third time, with a fairytale debut giving hope that the team can overcome the biggest challenge of their next chapter. His special skill of bringing in new talent and ensuring they prosper when they make the jump was on full display at Marvel Stadium in Australia's 2-0 victory over Argentina. Since Sermanni took back over in September 2024, nine players have made their debut for the Tillies. The latest was Kahli Johnson, who earned her debut in Melbourne and a starting XI spot in her first national team camp. Her impact was immediate, giving hope of what to expect from the next generation in the green and gold. "It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly then get them on the field and start them," Sermanni said. "It makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played. She fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in, but also what she did in training, and she just really took that out onto the field." Below are the five things we learned about the team heading into game two in Canberra, including the return of a key trio. Johnson, who plys her trade in Canada's new league for Calgary, became Matilda no. 237 in front of more than 43,000 fans. The 21-year-old lined up at left wing, and it only took the newest member 38 minutes to etch her name into history as an Australian goalscorer. Charlotte Grant swung the ball into the area and found Johnson's head at the backpost. The Argentinians threw their hands up, but their offside calls fell on deaf ears. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" Johnson asked tongue-in-cheek post-match. "It was surreal. I just wanted to go out there and kind of show what I could do. Playing in a team like this, with these type of players, it gives you that confidence." Sermanni was adamant the Matildas' Champions League-winning trio would feature in game two. The Tillies' head coach confirmed Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross "should be fit and ready to go" in the Bush Capital on Monday. "I anticipate them starting on Monday. They've had the holiday, they've had a week," Sermanni said with a smile. "We were fortunate ... the game went how we hoped it would go, and that allowed us to utilise other players and give game time to players that haven't had as much. "But Monday, we've got three key Arsenal players, and they'll be - barring any accident or injury - in the starting lineup." The trio was rested in game one after their entry into camp was delayed by their European victory over Barcelona. There was a glaring void in the next chapter of the Matildas' story after the historic Women's World Cup in 2023. The future-proofing of the squad's success was at risk of falling by the wayside due to the aging stars and the dependence on key personnel. Alarm bells began ringing, and a solution was not found under former coach Tony Gustavsson by Paris 2024. Cue Sermanni. More than a decade ago, he was identifying players like Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, and Sam Kerr. On Friday, his eagle-eyed skill of spotting the stars of tomorrow was on display again. "It shows what your players can do when they get an opportunity," Sermanni said. "It's one of the challenges in the national team, and I've said this probably numerous times, is to play for the present, but plan for the future, and it's getting that balance right. "It's becoming more and more difficult to do that, because you're limited with the amount of time you get your team together, as opposed to what it was in the past. So it's always a challenge to do that. "But if there's anything that I've noticed over the last nine or 10 months, is that some of those fringe players have started to become more comfortable in the environment, and that's given them more confidence. "And I think that their ability to mix in and not be overawed by bigger players is now more evident, and that helps them perform like we saw tonight with Kahli." Football Australia has not confirmed if Sermanni will remain on beyond this international window, but it is understood a permanent coaching solution is edging closer. It seems likely the two-game series against Argentina will be his last, with Friday's win marking his 150th game in charge across his three stints in the role. "It's been a real privilege for me to be able to come back and do what I have this spell with the Matildas," the interim Tillies coach said. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team and if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had. "When the program started, basically from scratch, then the second time when we went into Asia from Oceania, and then this third time, when the team has just gone to a different level of support and recognition. So for me to come in now is just, it's kind of a wee bit extraordinary." Sermanni was given the task of future-proofing the squad ahead of next year's Asian Cup and beyond, and the 2-0 result made evident he has achieved that. The big question is, who will replace him? FA have remained tight-lipped about their options for the heading coaching role, but the leading candidate remains Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro. Johnson's inclusion in the starting XI helped to unlock the Tillies' front third through her connection with fellow forwards Kaitlyn Torpey and Holly McNamara. The side's movement off the ball and creativity in attack breathed new life into a squad that had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities without their big-name stars. Tottenham fullback Charlotte Grant's partnership with Johnson, Torpey and McNamara proved fruitful in the first half and showed what fans could come to expect from the next generation. Torpey eventually added the Matildas' second in the 69th minute, with a cross-turned-shot effort from out wide catching the Argentinian shotstopper Abigail Chaves by surprise. "If you look particularly at our second-half performance, I think we dominated the game and there were a lot of good passages of play," Sermanni said. "We maybe could have created a couple more better chances, which we didn't do. But generally, I thought, overall, our tempo in the second half was very good. "And when you consider the changes we've made, and when you consider the players that we started and put into the game, that was a very pleasing aspect of the performance." Friday night made it clear why Tom Sermanni was brought in to lead the Matildas for a third time, with a fairytale debut giving hope that the team can overcome the biggest challenge of their next chapter. His special skill of bringing in new talent and ensuring they prosper when they make the jump was on full display at Marvel Stadium in Australia's 2-0 victory over Argentina. Since Sermanni took back over in September 2024, nine players have made their debut for the Tillies. The latest was Kahli Johnson, who earned her debut in Melbourne and a starting XI spot in her first national team camp. Her impact was immediate, giving hope of what to expect from the next generation in the green and gold. "It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field, and particularly then get them on the field and start them," Sermanni said. "It makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played. She fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in, but also what she did in training, and she just really took that out onto the field." Below are the five things we learned about the team heading into game two in Canberra, including the return of a key trio. Johnson, who plys her trade in Canada's new league for Calgary, became Matilda no. 237 in front of more than 43,000 fans. The 21-year-old lined up at left wing, and it only took the newest member 38 minutes to etch her name into history as an Australian goalscorer. Charlotte Grant swung the ball into the area and found Johnson's head at the backpost. The Argentinians threw their hands up, but their offside calls fell on deaf ears. "I mean, if it doesn't get called, is it offside?" Johnson asked tongue-in-cheek post-match. "It was surreal. I just wanted to go out there and kind of show what I could do. Playing in a team like this, with these type of players, it gives you that confidence." Sermanni was adamant the Matildas' Champions League-winning trio would feature in game two. The Tillies' head coach confirmed Arsenal stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross "should be fit and ready to go" in the Bush Capital on Monday. "I anticipate them starting on Monday. They've had the holiday, they've had a week," Sermanni said with a smile. "We were fortunate ... the game went how we hoped it would go, and that allowed us to utilise other players and give game time to players that haven't had as much. "But Monday, we've got three key Arsenal players, and they'll be - barring any accident or injury - in the starting lineup." The trio was rested in game one after their entry into camp was delayed by their European victory over Barcelona. There was a glaring void in the next chapter of the Matildas' story after the historic Women's World Cup in 2023. The future-proofing of the squad's success was at risk of falling by the wayside due to the aging stars and the dependence on key personnel. Alarm bells began ringing, and a solution was not found under former coach Tony Gustavsson by Paris 2024. Cue Sermanni. More than a decade ago, he was identifying players like Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, and Sam Kerr. On Friday, his eagle-eyed skill of spotting the stars of tomorrow was on display again. "It shows what your players can do when they get an opportunity," Sermanni said. "It's one of the challenges in the national team, and I've said this probably numerous times, is to play for the present, but plan for the future, and it's getting that balance right. "It's becoming more and more difficult to do that, because you're limited with the amount of time you get your team together, as opposed to what it was in the past. So it's always a challenge to do that. "But if there's anything that I've noticed over the last nine or 10 months, is that some of those fringe players have started to become more comfortable in the environment, and that's given them more confidence. "And I think that their ability to mix in and not be overawed by bigger players is now more evident, and that helps them perform like we saw tonight with Kahli." Football Australia has not confirmed if Sermanni will remain on beyond this international window, but it is understood a permanent coaching solution is edging closer. It seems likely the two-game series against Argentina will be his last, with Friday's win marking his 150th game in charge across his three stints in the role. "It's been a real privilege for me to be able to come back and do what I have this spell with the Matildas," the interim Tillies coach said. "I've been extraordinarily lucky. I've had three spells with the team and if you could pick three spells to have, I would have picked the three that I had. "When the program started, basically from scratch, then the second time when we went into Asia from Oceania, and then this third time, when the team has just gone to a different level of support and recognition. So for me to come in now is just, it's kind of a wee bit extraordinary." Sermanni was given the task of future-proofing the squad ahead of next year's Asian Cup and beyond, and the 2-0 result made evident he has achieved that. The big question is, who will replace him? FA have remained tight-lipped about their options for the heading coaching role, but the leading candidate remains Lyon coach, Joe Montemurro. Johnson's inclusion in the starting XI helped to unlock the Tillies' front third through her connection with fellow forwards Kaitlyn Torpey and Holly McNamara. The side's movement off the ball and creativity in attack breathed new life into a squad that had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities without their big-name stars. Tottenham fullback Charlotte Grant's partnership with Johnson, Torpey and McNamara proved fruitful in the first half and showed what fans could come to expect from the next generation. Torpey eventually added the Matildas' second in the 69th minute, with a cross-turned-shot effort from out wide catching the Argentinian shotstopper Abigail Chaves by surprise. "If you look particularly at our second-half performance, I think we dominated the game and there were a lot of good passages of play," Sermanni said. "We maybe could have created a couple more better chances, which we didn't do. But generally, I thought, overall, our tempo in the second half was very good. "And when you consider the changes we've made, and when you consider the players that we started and put into the game, that was a very pleasing aspect of the performance."
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.
