Latest news with #TomSermanni
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Huge surprise as Matildas score by accident against Argentina
Kahli Johnson made her international debut one to remember, scoring the opening goal as the Matildas beat Argentina in Melbourne on Friday night. Australia's 21-year-old Sydneysider was their leading light during a slow-burn first half and duly broke the deadlock with a guided header after 38 minutes at Marvel Stadium. The Calgary attacker, who had been tracking for the A-League golden boot before her January switch to Canada's Northern Super League from Western United, had earmarked the maiden call-up as a learning opportunity. Instead, it was her delivering a lesson in flawless forward play. Interim head coach Tom Sermanni has described Johnson's play style as old-fashioned, and her textbook, guided header to net Charli Grant's pinpoint cross, having peeled off the opposition's defensive line, was a tried and tested route to goal. Less conventional, but worth just as much, was Australia's second 21 minutes from time. Everyone, including Argentina's second-choice goalkeeper Abigaíl Chaves, had lost interest in Kaitlyn Torpey's miscued cross, only for its unexpected trajectory to spiral into the far corner. It was obvious from Torpey's stunned expression that she did not intend for her fortuitous strike to float so perfectly into the net. 'Shock and surprise and delight for Kaitlin Torpey,' Network 10 commentator Teo Pellizzeri said. 'Almost apologetic, but the Matildas lead 2-0.' It's all right on the left Positive beginnings from two-time international Jamilla Rankin and new Matilda Johnson suggest a bright future. The latter delivered dangerously in the sixth minute for Holly McNamara, who swept over, before dispossessing Catalina Roggerone in an advanced area to cross 60 seconds later, only for there to be no teammate arriving. Johnson then displayed some tactical flexibility when picking up dangerous positions centrally, being perfectly placed to strike. Rankin, meanwhile, looked assured at left-back and was part of a solid, albeit rarely tested, rearguard action that earned goalkeeper Teagan Micah a third successive clean sheet. The shotstopper is in the shop window after two years light on consistent game time for Liverpool. UEFA Women's Champions League winners held back Although forecast, Arsenal's Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross being unused substitutes will have pained the younger portions of the 43,002-strong crowd, desperate to see their heroes. Especially as those in attendance had chosen the round ball over Collingwood-Hawthorn's AFL bout across town at the MCG. Tom Sermanni milestone His 150th game in charge of the Matildas could be his penultimate, with Melburnian Joe Montemurro hotly tipped to bid French giants Lyon farewell and take on his first national team gig. Coming next A rematch against Argentina - ranked 33rd in the world and participants at the last two Women's World Cups - takes place in Canberra on Monday night, and the group's less-established names, including Johnson, will be eager to clock more time in Tillies colours as the jostling for selection at next March's home AFC Asian Women's Cup begins to heat up. This opportunity, followed up by two more doubleheaders against Slovenia (38th) and Panama (57th) in Western Australia this winter, holds greater significance given the absence of multiple international heavyweights. Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso, and Mackenzie Arnold, all unavailable for this window, boast 545 caps. Friday's starting XI totalled 438, with Emily Van Egmond and Alanna Kennedy accounting for 293 of these.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Matildas coach takes aim at the professionalism of the A-League Women competition despite big win over Argentina
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
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."
