Alen Stajcic has developed killer instinct in Matildas and winning mentality can elevate them to best in world

MATILDAS boss Alen Stajcic is not satisfied with a thumping 8-0 win over Vietnam. He says that killer instinct can elevate Australia’s women’s national team to the best in the world.

Emily Van-Egmond and Kyah Simon celebrate a goal. Picture: Getty

MATILDAS boss Alen Stajcic still managed to hand his team a cutting critique just minutes after they stepped off the Amman Stadium pitch with an 8-0 win over Vietnam on Wednesday.

The hiding steadied Australia’s hopes of reaching a second AFC Asian Cup final under Stajcic after he led the team to a heartbreaking loss in the final to Japan in 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City.

BIG WIN: MATILDAS SEND WARNING TO JAPAN WITH 8-0 BELTING OF VIETNAM

Stajcic had a fair point to make after the clash which possibly stems from a problematic soccer culture.

What drives Stajcic mad is Australia’s fair go mentality in soccer where everyone gets a prize as a kid, results are not kept officially and game time is equal, whether a child is good or not.

Kids don’t have to earn a right to play and that’s just plain wrong for Stajcic.

Emily Van-Egmond and Kyah Simon celebrate a goal. Picture: Getty

That’s not how Stajcic sees the game developing superstars and his post-match press conference in Amman is perhaps a product of the Matildas boss demanding his team to step up all the time and to never be satisfied.

Australia scored eight goals against Vietnam — he wanted nine, 10 and 11.

That spirit has translated to his squad of 23.

Many Matildas players left Amman Stadium’s bitterly cold night wearing frowns when perhaps lesser teams would have been insulting their adversaries and bragging about the scoreline.

There was no trash talk from Stajcic about the opponent.

Vietnam got lumped into an ugly Asian Cup group alongside the Matildas, too bad for them.

Sport is not an equal playing field despite what organisations are trying to pass onto our young.

Sam Kerr leaves Vietnam defenders in her wake. Picture: Getty

Stajcic loathes that upbringing.

He knows the mentality required to ensure Australia continues to become a fertile breeding ground for female talent needs to be better.

In the four years that this coach has had a good input towards the national team and the growth of the W-League he has demanded the bar to be raised higher.

He’ll never be content and at the same time he is transitioning fine young talent in driving Australian women’s soccer to greater achievements.

Here’s the proof against Vietnam.

Ellie Carpenter and Alex Chidiac’s Asian Cup debut on Wednesday — at just 17 and 19 years old respectively — did not upset the balance of the team one iota.

Stajcic’s team is very well balanced.

Teenager Ellie Carpenter looked right at home. Picture: Getty

He has a fine blend of youth and experience and he has also driven the Matildas to have that winning mentality — every time they put on a shirt at training or in games.

Players can be taught the skills of the game, learn all the tactics but if the head space isn’t right teams will suffer.

The Matildas have bought into Stajcic’s ways, he continues to harden them up because they have all the attributes to be the world’s No. 1.

It’s refreshing to actually hear, good enough for some is really not good enough for the ones that really care about this national team.

And Stajcic cares a lot.

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