Things you may have missed from the Matilda’s Olympic Qualifiers
Now that the dust has settled on Western Australia’s capital, all of the Matildas stars have made their journey back to clubland, and fans start to look forward to a do-or-die clash with Uzbekistan in February, it’s worth delving into the hidden storylines from a helter-skelter week of football that was Perth’s Olympic Qualifiers.
Gustavsson stretching out his squad
A minor concern which arose from the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, was a perceived reliance on thirteen or fourteen players within the squad, with a lack of cohesion becoming evident whenever coach Tony Gustavsson was forced to shuffle the deck following any injuries.
Just three games into the post-World Cup era, and the Swedish manager has aimed to unearth a number of hidden gems within his squad, ready to challenge for regular minutes in Paris, should the girls qualify.
Everton midfielder Clare Wheeler burst on to the international scene in late 2021, making her debut as a substitute against the #1 ranked United States, helping set-up the side’s late equalizer, following a superb interception on Ashley Sanchez. However, the tireless defensive midfielder has remained mostly unused throughout the last twelve months, as a Cooney-Cross – Gorry – Fowler midfield partnership began to blossom.
Gustavsson, eager to widen his options, handed the keys to Wheeler in all three matches last week, starting the 25-year-old in both the Iran and Chinese Taipei matches, while allowing her to roam from off the bench against The Philippines, where she picked up her first international goal, from a stunning long-range effort.
Another player, who narrowly missed out on World Cup selection was forward Amy Sayer. Having been involved with the extended squad prior to the tournament, the decision to leave the 21-year-old out, could’ve caused a downward spiral in the youngsters’ career. Yet the quiet achiever had been playing the long game, already formulating a strategy to help regain a place in the twenty-three player roster.
Not long after the news, Sayer made the jump from college football in America to the Norwegian top flight, singing for Kristianstad, where the winger impressed immediately, having now played in almost every available match across league and cup competitions.
The most striking difference between the teenager prodigy that debuted for the Matildas back in 2018, and today, is a large stature and physicality which has been deveopled, with Sayer known to regularly bully opposition defenders back in Norway.
Emily Van Egmond is the only Aussie forward taller than Sayer, with Tony Gustavsson blessed with another aerially dominate attacker who can also play her way out of tight situations, as displayed by her assist against Chinese Taipei, with the forward finding Yallop along a crowded penalty box.
First Centre of Excellence to be named after a Matilda
Taking the time out of her busy training schedule, Matildas captain and all-time leading goal-scorer Samantha Kerr headed to the south-east suburbs of Perth to open the state’s first footballing centre of excellence.
State Premier Roger Cook was on hand, announcing to an adoring crowd of young Matildas fanatics, that the 50.8-million-dollar facility would be named after the city’s greatest footballer.
“Sam Kerr's phenomenal football journey has become part of the State's international identity.” – WA Premier Roger Cook.
Despite there being several female-specific facilities named after former players, never has a footballing centre which caters for all players, been named after a female footballer. The first of its kind in world football, the forward will now be immortalized in her hometown, with young boys and girls hoping to one day emulate the heroics of Australia’s iconic #20.
Kerr entered the Olympic Qualifiers having never scored an international goal in Perth, a stat which was quickly abolished, with the 30-year-old netting five over three matches, including a hat-trick against The Philippines. Now in the prime of her career, Kerr would want nothing more than to bring a first Olympic gold medal back home to Western Australia.
Matildas love spreading to south-east Asia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has floated the idea of using sport to help grow relationships between Australian and its Pacific neighbors, namely, through the formation of a rugby league team in Papua New Guinea. However, if the PM had noticed the admiration of Australia’s female football team across the region, perhaps, he would change his strategy.
Following their side’s 3-0 loss to the Matildas, Chinese Taipei manager Hiu Ming spoke glowingly about the respect that his team and nation have for the Australian side.
“I told my players this kind of experience is priceless. Because at home, football is not the most popular sport,” Ming told the press.
“I hope this can inspire our players to stay dedicated and inspire more in (Chinese Taipei) to play football.”
Taiwan has an enormous love for Arsenal Football Club, which was evident as the Taiwanese players surrounded Gunners striker Caitlin Foord during the post-game festivities. However, this is the not the first time that the Matildas have found themselves playing against their own fanatics.
During the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup, Australia found themselves swamped with signature and photo requests after their match against neighbours Indonesia. The requests did not come from supporters in the stands though, with the match played behind closed doors, instead coming from the Indonesian players themselves.
The Sam Kerr effect™
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) January 21, 2022
Respect 🇦🇺🤝🇮🇩#WAC2022 pic.twitter.com/3XTZsr961f
Mary Fowler has also spoken about the good wishes received from her mother’s home village of Kira Kira, in Papua New Guinea, with locals regularly packing screens to catch a glimpse of the ‘girl from their tribe’, whenever she steps out for the green and gold.
If the PM is willing to spend the money to promote Australian sport within Asia and the Pacific, then the last seven days have proven, that the Matildas and women’s football are the sector worth investing in.
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