Matildas coach Alen Stajcic claims Australia is a team ready to jump over every hurdle the AFC Asian Cup presents in Jordan
Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has appointed five captains on rotation that will have armband duties in internationals as part of the leadership group at the women’s AFC Asian Cup in Jordan.
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MATILDAS coach Alen Stajcic is much wiser – claiming Australia is a drilled tournament team ready to jump over every hurdle the AFC Asian Cup presents in Jordan – after some of his squad showed hints of cabin fever at the 2016 Olympics.
With the Matildas favourites to claim a second AFC Asian Cup crown, Stajcic said Australia got it wrong two years ago in Brazil when the side spent weeks locked up in camp.
The Matildas boss revealed the long lead up to the Rio Games became a major obstacle which Australia could not overcome as it bowed out of the medal race in the quarterfinal to host Brazil in a penalty shootout.
Stajcic says balance between his side working hard during games and at training and the chance to do other activities away from the game to keep minds fresh is crucial.
“We got to Brazil a bit too early,’’ Stajcic said.
“We spent six or seven weeks together cocooned in a hotel in Fortaleza because of the security issues at the time, we weren’t allowed to leave the hotel.
“There was no release.”
Stajcic is now experienced in three major FIFA tournaments after leading Australia to runner up status at the Asian Cup in Vietnam in 2014, less than a month after he was made interim boss before winning the job permanently later that year.
He also led the Matildas to a cruel quarterfinal exit to Japan at the 2015 FIFA women’s World Cup in Canada.
Stajcic’s record with the Matildas is spectacular with 31 wins, 10 draws and 10 losses in his 51 games in charge, including last Monday’s 5-0 hammering over Thailand in Australia’s first clash in Perth.
Stajcic has had most of the side in camp in Perth since the beginning of last week.
The side will end its camp on Saturday before flying to Jordan on Easter Sunday, which is exactly what Stajcic ordered after the Rio Games experience.
“There was a thought that we’d go to Dubai to spend time at the Aspire there before we went to Jordan,’’ Stajcic said. “But we wanted to spend as much time in Australia as we can and Perth is as close to Jordan as we could get.
“They had the creature comforts of home where they could walk down the road and relax and some can see family and friends and for us we have been looked after and we’ve got good local support.
“They’re getting the best of both worlds, they can relax and enjoy their own country and we’re still together and focusing on what we have to do together on the field.”
Stajcic has appointed five captains on rotation that will have armband duties in internationals as part of the Matildas leadership group for Jordan.
Lydia Williams, Steph Cately, Emily van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna and Elise Kellond-Knight are the leaders.
Stajcic has already scouted Jordan, its two host Asian Cup stadiums and the Matildas training grounds.
He likes the vibe of the progressive nation which is hosting for the first time a senior women’s Asian Cup in the Middle East which is ground breaking after the nation hosted the under-17 women’s FIFA World Cup in 2016.
Australia faces South Korea in the first Group B match on April 8, early Sunday morning Australian time, before meeting Vietnam and Japan in the other group matches.
The top two Group B sides will qualify for the semi finals.
The best five teams at the tournament will also win automatic qualification for next year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in France.
Stajcic says all 23 members of this squad are vitally important to Australia winning the tournament.
With Kyah Simon, Catley, Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik all destined to recover from their various injuries after the quartet had been sidelined for the Thailand clash, Stajcic expects to have 23 players to choose from by the time the first match rolls around.
“They’re all progressing on their own timetable,’’ Stajcic said.
They’re all on track but we have to be careful we don’t want them to get re-injured, it’s a fine line.”
Stajcic is also confident the Matildas will be able to stick to their successful game plan of choking opposition sides with a high press, move the ball quickly between the lines and a plan to hit teams clinically every time Australia is close to their attacking penalty box.
He also warned Australia must respect every team it faces.
MATILDAS AFC ASIAN CUP SQUAD
No. 1: Lydia Williams
Age: 29
Clubs: Melbourne City, Seattle Reign (US)
Caps: 66
No. 2: Caitlin Cooper
Age: 30
Clubs: Sydney FC
Caps: 9 — Goals: 2
No. 3: Aivi Luik
Age: 33
Club: Melbourne City
Caps: 17
No 4: Clare Polkinghorne (co-captain)
Age: 29
Club: Brisbane Roar
Caps: 102 — Goals: 8
No. 5: Laura Alleway
Age: 28
Club: Melbourne Victory
Caps: 53 — Goals: 2
No. 6: Chloe Logarzo
Age: 23
Club: Sydney FC
Caps: 25 — Goals: 4
No. 7: Steph Catley
Age: 24
Clubs: Melbourne City/ Seattle Reign (US)
Caps: 63 — Goals: 2
No 8: Elise Kellond-Knight
Age: 27
Uncontracted
Caps: 91 — Goals: 1
No 9: Alex Chidiac
Age: 19
Club: Adelaide United
Caps: 8 — Goals: 1
No. 10: Emily van Egmond
Age: 24
Clubs: Newcastle Jets/Orlando Pride (US)
Caps: 70 — Goals: 14
No. 11: Lisa de Vanna (co-captain)
Age: 33
Club: Sydney
Caps: 133 — Goals: 45
No 12: Casey Dumont (GK)
Age: 26
Club: Melbourne Victory
Caps: 3
No. 13: Tameka Butt
Age: 26
Clubs: Brisbane Roar/ Klepp IL (Norway)
Caps: 65 — Goals: 9
No 14: Alanna Kennedy
Age: 23
Clubs: Melbourne City FC/Orlando Pride (US
Caps: 64 — Goals: 3
No 15: Emily Gielnik
Age: 25
Club: Brisbane Roar
Caps: 15 — Goals: 4
No 16: Hayley Raso
Age: 23
Clubs: Brisbane Roar/Portland Thorns (US)
Caps: 22 — Goals: 1
No. 17: Kyah Simon
Age: 26
Clubs: Melbourne City/Houston Dash (US)
Caps: 78 — Goals: 22
No 18: Mackenzie Arnold (GK)
Age: 24
Clubs: Brisbane Roar/Arna Bjornar (Norway)
Caps: 17
No 19: Katrina Gorry
Age: 25
Clubs: Brisbane Roar/Utah Royals (US)
Caps: 64 — Goals: 14
No 20: Samantha Kerr
Age: 24
Clubs: Perth Glory/Chicago Red Stars (US)
Caps: 62 — Goals (21)
No 21: Ellie Carpenter
Age: 17
Clubs: Canberra United/Portland Thorns (US)
Caps: 16 — Goals 1
No. 22: Larissa Crummer
Age: 22
Clubs: Melbourne City
Caps: 20 — Goals: 4
No 23: Michelle Heyman
Age: 29
Clubs: Canberra United
Caps: 59 — Goals: 20
Coach: Alen Stajcic
Matildas record: 51 games
Results: 31 wins, 10 draws, 10 losses
2018: AFC Asian Cup women’s championships Jordan
GROUP STAGE
SUNDAY: APRIL 8
Matildas v Korea Republic at King Abdullah Stadium II, Amman
Kick-off: 2.30am (CST)
TV: Fox Sports
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11
Vietnam v Matildas at Amman International Stadium, Amman
Kick-off: 2.30am (CST)
TV: Fox Sports
FRIDAY, APRIL 13
Matildas v Japan at Amman International Stadium, Amman
Kick off: 11.15pm (CST)
TV: Fox Sports
GROUP B
Australia: FIFA ranked: 6th
Coach: Alen Stajcic
Captains: Leadership group of five: Lisa de Vanna, Claire Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond, Lydia Williams,
Star player: Sam Kerr
Honours: AFC Asian Cup champion (2010): OFC Nations Cup (1994, 1998, 2003)
Korea Republic: FIFA ranked: 16th
Coach: Yoon Deok-yeow
Star player: Ji So-yun
Captain: Cho So-hyun
Honours: —
What Matildas coach Alen Stajcic expects:
“They’re a good side but a little bit up and down at times. Their ups are very good and they have three central midfielders that are probably the best players in the world technically.
“Ji So-yun plays for Chelsea, and probably Chelsea’s best player and they’re in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League.
“She is world class and Lee Min-a is fantastic and their captain Cho So-hyun completes three of the best in the game.
“Their front three are very good as well and able to isolate players in one-on-one situations.”
Vietnam: FIFA ranked: 35th
Coach: Mai Duc Chung
Captain: Nguyễn Thị Liễu
Star player: Nguyễn Thị Liễu
Honours: South East Asian Games gold medallists (2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2017)
What Matildas coach Alen Stajcic expects:
“The last two times we played Vietnam we beat them 9-0 and 11-0 but they took games to North Korea, China and Japan. They’re technically quite good and improving all the time and if you take your foot off the pedal they can certainly give you a run. They have been very close to big teams on different occasions, they certainly can surprise you.”
Japan: FIFA ranked: 11th
Coach: Asako Takakura
Captain: Saki Kumagai
Star player: Mizuho Sakaguchi
Honours: FIFA World Cup winners (2011)
AFC Asian Cup winners (2014)
What Matildas coach Alen Stajcic expects:
“They have gone into transition since winning the Asian Cup in 2014 and they have called a couple of players back that haven’t been in the team for a year or two. They’re still a team in transition but they’re transition is not like other countries. Their youth teams have won World Cup finals over the past six years and they have been at the top of the world in development. “They’re a good team and one of the favourites to win the tournament.
“They brought back Nahomi Kawasumi into the team who plays in the US, Mizuho Sakaguchi has been around for many years and is a very good player.”
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