‘It’s about winning something’: As minnows topple giants, Matildas see a World Cup opportunity
By Vince Rugari
As yet another upset at the FIFA Women’s World Cup took place, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and a handful of their Matildas teammates were glued to the television in the lounge area of their hotel in Brisbane.
Others watched by themselves in their rooms. Some probably didn’t watch at all.
Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy speaks to the media on Friday.Credit: Getty
But in the back of their minds, they must have all had the same thought when they learned Germany had been bundled out of the tournament: jeez ... we could really win this.
The tournament is suddenly opening up for Australia. Brazil, who dazzled in their opening match against Panama with some awe-inspiring attacking football, didn’t reach the round of 16. Neither did Canada, the reigning Olympic champions who found themselves on the wrong end of a Matildas mauling. The USA made it through, but only just, and certainly aren’t the team they used to be.
Now Germany, the two-time winners, will also be watching the knockout phase unfold from afar. They were held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea in Brisbane on Thursday night, while in Perth, Morocco prevailed 1-0 over Colombia – and the jubilant celebrations among the Atlas Lionesses as they discovered the result from the other game had guided them through to a stunning round of 16 berth, contrasted with the heartbroken Germans on Optus Sport’s split screen, summed up all the emotions of tournament football.
“That’s just football. It’s so unpredictable,” Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy said.
Morocco’s Rosella Ayane, centre, celebrates after her side’s victory over Colombia in Perth on Thursday.Credit: AP
“You can see all of the lower-ranked teams have a point to prove. The moment the camera was on Morocco, when they found out, was really special. It’s obviously sad for Germany ... we got close to a taste of it at one point, and it’s a horrible feeling. I can’t imagine the feeling of being such a big nation and going out so early.
“It’s sad to see big players and big nations bombing out earlier, but I think it’s incredible to see the rise of the lower-ranked teams and how the gap is closing.”
Former US coach Jill Ellis is now working with FIFA.Credit: AP
Germany were on the same side of the draw as the Matildas and loomed as a possible quarter-final opponent. Now they’re out of the reckoning, and the path for Tony Gustavsson’s side to the final on August 20 is becoming clear: all they’ll have to do is win on Monday night against Denmark, a team they beat last year, and then probably beat France and then England, two teams they’ve beaten this year.
It will not be easy by any stretch – indeed, the flip side is that there are no more easy games left, not even against the so-called minnows who have learned how to defend better for longer.
Jill Ellis, the coach who steered the United States to World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019, is now the lead of FIFA’s technical study group, who on Friday presented their findings on the group stage.
Statistically, they said, games have tightened: there are fewer goals being scored (from 2.94 per game at France 2019 to 2.63), more matches are ending in draws (8 per cent to 21 per cent), more first-time qualifiers are finding the back of the net earlier, defensive line breaks have decreased by 28 per cent and goalkeepers are saving seven per cent more shots.
All the improvement is coming from below.
“Gone are the days of total predictability,” Ellis said.
Women’s World Cup Round of 16
- Switzerland v Spain, 3pm Saturday, Eden Park
- Japan v Norway, 6pm Saturday, Wellington Regional Stadium
- Netherlands v South Africa, 12pm Sunday, Sydney Football Stadium
- Sweden v USA, 7pm Sunday, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
- England v Nigeria, 5.30pm Monday, Lang Park
- Australia v Denmark, 8.30pm Monday, Stadium Australia
- Colombia v Jamaica, 6pm Tuesday, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
- France v Morocco, 9pm Tuesday, Hindmarsh Stadium
“The level of play is advancing, the level of coaching has advanced clearly and we’re seeing stars that we’ve never seen before on this kind of stage. If I’m candid, I really am surprised. When you suddenly see a Germany or Brazil get knocked out of a World Cup in the group stage, I don’t think any of us could have predicted that.”
So with all of that said, what does this mean for the Matildas in the here and now?
“We look at it as an opportunity for us,” winger Hayley Raso said when asked about the fates that have befallen some of the more recognisable nations in football, and if that makes the road ahead any easier.
“It’s a really tough competition. Anybody can win in this tournament ... it depends who turns up on the night, depends who wants it the most.”
If anyone can win, why not them?
“We have done so many things as a group – we’ve beaten so many teams ranked above us and played such good football – but it’s about winning something,” Kennedy said.
“We’re just taking each step as it comes, with the vision of winning the World Cup in the end. But that’s still so far away. We still have so many things before we even get to that game and our focus is purely on this Denmark game.”
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