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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Amy Sayer double ensures Matildas celebrate Tom Sermanni's farewell in style
The first time Tom Sermanni coached the Matildas in Canberra, three decades ago, the match took place not at GIO Stadium but at an unassuming training field next door. A warm-up encounter ahead of the 1995 Women's World Cup, the Matildas put four unanswered goals past New Zealand in front of a handful of spectators. It warranted three paragraphs deep in the sports section of the local newspaper; the report described the win as a 'great result' for Sermanni. Thirty years later, in his 151st and final game as Matildas boss, at the end of his third stint at the helm of the national team, it was another great result: a 4-1 friendly victory over Argentina on a chilly Monday night. A brace by Amy Sayer and second-half strikes from Emily van Egmond and local hero Michelle Heyman were enough to see off a valiant Argentine effort. Advertisement Related: Football Australia get right coach in Joe Montemurro, but why did it take so long? | Joey Lynch But it was also an encounter that underscored the remarkable rise of the women's game since Sermanni first led the Matildas in the nation's capital. A capacity crowd of 25,125 broke the record for the best attended women's sporting event in Canberra. Local newspaper Canberra Times heralded the game on its front page: 'Tillies Time!'. News of the appointment of Sermanni's successor, Joe Montemurro, had dominated national media all day. 70-year-old Sermanni has been a loyal servant for the Matildas, playing an important role in the team's progression across more than a decade in charge – including leading the Matildas to their most significant silverware yet, the 2010 Women's Asian Cup. It was a fitting send-off as the Matildas now prepare for a critical lead-up to a home Asian Cup next year, and then a period of generational transition ahead. After seeing off La Albiceleste with two unanswered goals in Melbourne on Friday, the Matildas started strongly – notching their first attempt within minutes. The one-way traffic soon proved decisive, as Matildas midfield maestro Sayer connected with a ball from Kahli Johnson to coolly open the scoring after 14 minutes. Sayer's gloves hinted at the arctic Canberra temperatures, but her opener gave the crowd a reason to keep warm. Advertisement Sermanni's send-off was not going to be a procession, though. Argentina hit back less than 10 minutes later; 19-year-old Kishi Núñez – a stand-out for the South Americans at last year's U20 World Cup – made a decisive break down the left flank before blazing the ball past a diving Teagan Micah. The Argentinian goal left the Matildas unsettled; a feeling compounded when Johnson was forced off with an injury, replaced by Melbourne City rising star Holly McNamara. A more evenly-matched period of play followed, as the Matildas rallied to regain the momentum. Then, suddenly, Caitlin Foord pounced. The Arsenal star, fresh off winning the Women's Champions League, collected the ball in the middle of the park and went on a marauding run forward. Foord sliced through the heart of the Argentine defence before offloading to Sayer, who only had to beat custodian Solana Pereyra to double her tally. Both teams had chances early in the second half, the Matildas with the better of the opportunities but Argentina continuing to threaten. The biggest roar of the night was reserved for the addition of Canberra United legend Heyman, brought on after 60 minutes for Sayer. Related: Matildas' European conquerors inspire new generation in Argentina win Advertisement The veteran striker was immediately in the thick of the action, and her darting run into the Argentine box created the Matildas' third goal – poked home by van Egmond after Heyman and Pereyra had collided. Heyman then sealed the dominant victory with a goal in the dying minutes, attacking a loose ball before outwitting Pereyra. The win caps an improved run of friendlies for the Matildas – successive wins over Argentina and South Korea – after three consecutive losses at the SheBelieves Cup in February. Montemurro will begin his national team tenure with two friendlies against Slovenia at the end of June. When Sermanni first directed the Matildas in Canberra, the team's very name had only just begun to find widespread use – it was chosen by a fan poll in the lead up to the 1995 Women's World Cup. Indeed the match report from that first Canberra outing used the team's prior name, the Female Socceroos. How things have changed.
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Matildas boss reveals plans for Sam Kerr captaincy call
Joe Montemurro is confident Mary Fowler will be fit and firing for next year's Women's Asian Cup as the new Matildas boss said he won't make a decision on Sam Kerr's future as captain until she returns to play. Montemurro, who was unveiled as Australia coach in Sydney on Monday on a three-year deal, declared that under his watch the Matildas would be a team that attacks and takes risks regardless of who they face. But Australia's fortunes in the final third will hinge on the fitness of Kerr and Fowler, both of whom have been sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the time since the 2023 World Cup. Kerr has not played for Australia in close to two years after suffering a knee injury in December 2024. The Chelsea striker, 31, has returned to training over recent months but has yet to play a game. "My intention is to sit down with all the players, even the extended squad, and map out a process of what's required to play the brand of football that we want to play from a physical and a mental perspective," Montemurro said. "You can get fit, you can get right tactically but then some players go through processes where (they ask) are they mentally prepared for a big tournament? "Sam fits into that scenario where we're just going to monitor and see where she's at. "Let's get her fit then we'll have those discussions (over the captaincy)." Fowler, meanwhile, suffered her rupture in April, leaving the 22-year-old Manchester City attacker facing a race against the clock to get fit for a home Asian Cup in March next year. "Mary's a special player and I can tell you from a club perspective, she's in the eye of a lot of the big clubs," Montemurro said. "It's unfortunate for her, it happens, but she's in probably the best environment with the City Group. "From a physical and from a training load (perspective) and from a return to play scenario, she'll be right and hopefully she'll be right for the Asian Cup." Joe Montemurro is confident Mary Fowler will be fit and firing for next year's Women's Asian Cup as the new Matildas boss said he won't make a decision on Sam Kerr's future as captain until she returns to play. Montemurro, who was unveiled as Australia coach in Sydney on Monday on a three-year deal, declared that under his watch the Matildas would be a team that attacks and takes risks regardless of who they face. But Australia's fortunes in the final third will hinge on the fitness of Kerr and Fowler, both of whom have been sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the time since the 2023 World Cup. Kerr has not played for Australia in close to two years after suffering a knee injury in December 2024. The Chelsea striker, 31, has returned to training over recent months but has yet to play a game. "My intention is to sit down with all the players, even the extended squad, and map out a process of what's required to play the brand of football that we want to play from a physical and a mental perspective," Montemurro said. "You can get fit, you can get right tactically but then some players go through processes where (they ask) are they mentally prepared for a big tournament? "Sam fits into that scenario where we're just going to monitor and see where she's at. "Let's get her fit then we'll have those discussions (over the captaincy)." Fowler, meanwhile, suffered her rupture in April, leaving the 22-year-old Manchester City attacker facing a race against the clock to get fit for a home Asian Cup in March next year. "Mary's a special player and I can tell you from a club perspective, she's in the eye of a lot of the big clubs," Montemurro said. "It's unfortunate for her, it happens, but she's in probably the best environment with the City Group. "From a physical and from a training load (perspective) and from a return to play scenario, she'll be right and hopefully she'll be right for the Asian Cup." Joe Montemurro is confident Mary Fowler will be fit and firing for next year's Women's Asian Cup as the new Matildas boss said he won't make a decision on Sam Kerr's future as captain until she returns to play. Montemurro, who was unveiled as Australia coach in Sydney on Monday on a three-year deal, declared that under his watch the Matildas would be a team that attacks and takes risks regardless of who they face. But Australia's fortunes in the final third will hinge on the fitness of Kerr and Fowler, both of whom have been sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the time since the 2023 World Cup. Kerr has not played for Australia in close to two years after suffering a knee injury in December 2024. The Chelsea striker, 31, has returned to training over recent months but has yet to play a game. "My intention is to sit down with all the players, even the extended squad, and map out a process of what's required to play the brand of football that we want to play from a physical and a mental perspective," Montemurro said. "You can get fit, you can get right tactically but then some players go through processes where (they ask) are they mentally prepared for a big tournament? "Sam fits into that scenario where we're just going to monitor and see where she's at. "Let's get her fit then we'll have those discussions (over the captaincy)." Fowler, meanwhile, suffered her rupture in April, leaving the 22-year-old Manchester City attacker facing a race against the clock to get fit for a home Asian Cup in March next year. "Mary's a special player and I can tell you from a club perspective, she's in the eye of a lot of the big clubs," Montemurro said. "It's unfortunate for her, it happens, but she's in probably the best environment with the City Group. "From a physical and from a training load (perspective) and from a return to play scenario, she'll be right and hopefully she'll be right for the Asian Cup."
New Straits Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Serial winner Montemurro confirmed as new coach of Australia's Matildas
SYDNEY: Joe Montemurro was confirmed as the new coach of the Australian women's national team on Monday and handed the task of taking the Matildas to the Women's Asian Cup title on home soil next year. The 55-year-old Australian moves from Lyon Women to replace Tom Sermanni, who has held the role on a caretaker basis since Tony Gustavsson departed in the wake of last year's disappointing Olympic campaign in Paris. "Joe brings world-class experience, a deep understanding of the Australian football landscape, and a genuine connection to our national identity," Football Australia interim Chief Executive Heather Garriock said in a statement. "Importantly, he has spent the last decade coaching at the very highest levels of the women's game in Europe and brings with him an unparalleled understanding of what is required to compete and succeed at the top of modern football. The Matildas have established themselves as one of Australia's most popular sports teams but despite runs to the latter stages of the Olympic Games in 2021 and the Women's World Cup on home soil two years later, silverware has been sparse. Serial winner Montemurro, who said the appointment was the "honour of a lifetime", will be expected to change all that. "This team means so much to so many Australians, and I'm humbled by the opportunity to help shape its next chapter," he said. "There's a generation of talent coming through and major tournaments on the horizon. My job is to honour the legacy, harness the momentum, and help this team play football that inspires and unites the country."
7NEWS
21 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
New Matildas boss Joe Montemurro outlines plan for Sam Kerr captaincy call
Joe Montemurro is confident Mary Fowler will be fit and firing for next year's Women's Asian Cup as the new Matildas boss said he won't make a decision on Sam Kerr's future as captain until she returns to play. Montemurro, who was unveiled as Australia coach in Sydney on Monday on a three-year deal, declared that under his watch the Matildas would be a team that attacks and takes risks regardless of who they face. But Australia's fortunes in the final third will hinge on the fitness of Kerr and Fowler, both of whom have been sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the time since the 2023 World Cup. Kerr has not played for Australia in close to two years after suffering a knee injury in December 2024. The Chelsea striker, 31, has returned to training over recent months but has yet to play a game. 'My intention is to sit down with all the players, even the extended squad, and map out a process of what's required to play the brand of football that we want to play from a physical and a mental perspective,' Montemurro said. 'You can get fit, you can get right tactically but then some players go through processes where (they ask) are they mentally prepared for a big tournament? 'Sam fits into that scenario where we're just going to monitor and see where she's at. 'Let's get her fit then we'll have those discussions (over the captaincy).' Fowler, meanwhile, suffered her rupture in April, leaving the 22-year-old Manchester City attacker facing a race against the clock to get fit for a home Asian Cup in March next year. 'Mary's a special player and I can tell you from a club perspective, she's in the eye of a lot of the big clubs,' Montemurro said. 'It's unfortunate for her, it happens, but she's in probably the best environment with the City Group. 'From a physical and from a training load (perspective) and from a return to play scenario, she'll be right and hopefully she'll be right for the Asian Cup.'
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Matildas boss reveals plans for Sam Kerr captaincy call
Joe Montemurro is confident Mary Fowler will be fit and firing for next year's Women's Asian Cup as the new Matildas boss said he won't make a decision on Sam Kerr's future as captain until she returns to play. Montemurro, who was unveiled as Australia coach in Sydney on Monday on a three-year deal, declared that under his watch the Matildas would be a team that attacks and takes risks regardless of who they face. But Australia's fortunes in the final third will hinge on the fitness of Kerr and Fowler, both of whom have been sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the time since the 2023 World Cup. Kerr has not played for Australia in close to two years after suffering a knee injury in December 2024. The Chelsea striker, 31, has returned to training over recent months but has yet to play a game. "My intention is to sit down with all the players, even the extended squad, and map out a process of what's required to play the brand of football that we want to play from a physical and a mental perspective," Montemurro said. "You can get fit, you can get right tactically but then some players go through processes where (they ask) are they mentally prepared for a big tournament? "Sam fits into that scenario where we're just going to monitor and see where she's at. "Let's get her fit then we'll have those discussions (over the captaincy)." Fowler, meanwhile, suffered her rupture in April, leaving the 22-year-old Manchester City attacker facing a race against the clock to get fit for a home Asian Cup in March next year. "Mary's a special player and I can tell you from a club perspective, she's in the eye of a lot of the big clubs," Montemurro said. "It's unfortunate for her, it happens, but she's in probably the best environment with the City Group. "From a physical and from a training load (perspective) and from a return to play scenario, she'll be right and hopefully she'll be right for the Asian Cup."
