90 Minutes: SA teenager Charlotte Grant eyes future World Cup berth as Matildas kick-off bid for glory
Adelaide United young gun Charlotte Grant will be watching the Matildas’ bid for World Cup glory, hoping to emulate her heroes on home soil in four years’ time. This and more in 90 Minutes.
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Emulating her idols on home soil will be on Charlotte Grant’s mind as she watches the Matildas kick-off their quest for World Cup glory.
The teenage talent had enjoyed a whirlwind six months since making her W-League debut, captaining Australia at underage level and being named Adelaide United’s top young prospect.
But her focus was fixed four years down the track, when she aimed to become the first SA player at women’s soccer’s showpiece tournament since 2007.
“That’s the ultimate goal of mine,” said Grant, who would be 21 when Australia was bidding to host the next World Cup.
“It’s such a privilege to put on the green and gold, but to represent the country at a (senior) World Cup would be amazing.
“I can’t wait to watch the Matildas take on all the best teams in the world (this month).
“I feel like I’ll be able to learn so much just watching them all.”
The state would again be unrepresented at the global event, after Croweater Alex Chidiac unluckily missed selection despite winning a title with Spanish giant Atletico Madrid.
Grant, along with 20-year-old Chidiac, was emerging as a genuine chance to snap that streak and follow in the footsteps of SA’s triple-World Cup star Di Alagich.
The left back, who can also play as a winger, shone as Australia sailed through its under-19 Asian championship qualifying in Myanmar last month.
She demonstrated her leadership qualities, wearing the skipper’s armband for the last two matches to secure a spot at October’s continental titles in Thailand.
“It was such an honour to walk the team out and it felt so surreal,” Grant, of Hallett Cove, said.
“But it’s such a great bunch of girls, so I felt comfortable being captain.
“As a group, it was amazing to qualify for the AFC championships and take the next step closer to our goal of making the under-20 World Cup.
“That’s something I’m working towards.”
Grant was spending the winter season playing and training in Sydney alongside the nation’s best young performers as a scholarship holder in the Future Matildas program.
But she shot to prominence last year when she won the Women’s National Premier Leagues SA player-of-year while excelling for Football Federation SA’s National Training Centre.
It earned her a maiden contract with the Reds where she played all but one of United’s matches last summer.
The Cumberland United product’s pace, skill and combative streak was recognised, when she claimed Adelaide’s rising star award.
“I wasn’t expecting to play that much,” said Grant, who won 83 per cent of her tackles to demonstrate the physical edge which belies her tender years.
“But it was a great experience and I felt as though I learnt so much and developed as a player getting that game time.
“I was very grateful for (coach) Ivan Karlovic giving me the opportunity to play for such an amazing club and privileged to win the award.”
Ilusionada con formar parte de este bonito proyecto y gran club dos años más 🔴⚪ï¸ðŸ”µ #2021
— Alex Chidiac (@chidiac10) May 24, 2019
Gracias @atletifemenino por la confianza depositada en mi pic.twitter.com/y15uokWNVJ
SA star extends Spanish stay
Alex Chidiac has made up for the disappointment of missing the Matildas’ World Cup squad by signing a new deal with Atletico Madrid.
The SA gun revealed the contract extension on her social media channels last week, after agreeing to extend her stay with the Spanish giant until 2021.
Chidiac played an important role in Atletico lifting the Primera Division title for a third consecutive year, scoring three goals in 20 appearances this past season.
The 20-year-old was not named in Ante Milicic’s Australian squad for this month’s World Cup, despite her impressive debut campaign in Europe.
Chidiac was now back in Adelaide during her off-season.
Fixture mystery
Football Federation Australia has left most fans bewildered with their plans for a lopsided A-League fixture list.
Now next season’s structure, which would result in Adelaide United playing every team twice and only “select” opponents three times, had stunned an SA football great.
Joe Mullen played 324 matches for Adelaide City from 1983-96 winning three National Soccer League titles.
But the two-cap Socceroo, who coached NPL SA side Campbelltown City to a treble of trophies last year, was puzzled by the new A-League approach.
“It makes me shake my head,” Mullen, now 55, said.
“I can never remember anything like that.
“I can remember when they split it (the NSL) between the southern division and northern division.
“But this is a professional competition.
“Play each other three times — surely a professional team can take care of 30 games.
“Even if they have to have some midweek games, like they do all over the world.
“I’m scratching my head. I can’t see the sense in it.”
The revised A-League format, which included three byes for each club, was aimed at accommodating start-up franchise Western United in an 11-team competition.
But the 26-game, 29-round concept had drawn criticism given sides would meet all rivals on two occasions, but just six clubs three times.
FFA said maximising TV ratings, maintaining fairness and integrity, and boosting crowds and commercial opportunities, would be the priorities when determining third-opponent match-ups.
Gloves off for Reds great
Eugene Galekovic will return to SA next season, but do not expect to see the Adelaide United legend between the posts at a local ground.
The Reds championship-winning captain was unveiled as the club’s new goalkeeper coach last week, after hanging up his gloves with A-League rival Melbourne City.
Galekovic confirmed he would not be registering to play as a back-up custodian should United require his services during an injury crisis.
He said he had been approached by several SA sides about featuring for them this winter, but would not be accepting their offers.
“That playing side of it’s all gone,” Galekovic, 37, said.
“I’m just really motivated in my (coaching) role and really looking forward to it.
“I’ve even knocked back a few offers to go back to the lower levels to play.
“You might get me running around in over-35s as a No. 9 or something like that, but that’s about it.”
SA players abroad
Brandon Borrello — Freiburg (Bundesliga): In line to make his Socceroos debut on Friday night against Korea Republic.
Alex Chidiac — Atletico Madrid (Women’s Spanish Primera Division): Back in Adelaide preparing for next season after signing a two-year contract extension with Atletico.
Ben Garuccio — Hearts (Scottish Premier League): Recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.
Meni Haralampopoulos — Acharnaikos (Greek Gamma Ethniki): Off-season after achieving an 8th placed finish with his club.
Bradden Inman — Free agent: On the lookout for a new club after being released by English League One outfit Rochdale.
Awer Mabil — Midtylland (Danish Super League): In Socceroos camp in Busan preparing for Australia’s clash with Korea.
Andrew Marveggio — Macva Sabac (Serbian Superliga): Off season after avoiding relegation with Macva Sabac. Yet to sign a new deal with the club.
Ryan McGowan — Free agent: Looking for a new club after being released from Bradford City and spending the past season on loan at Scottish side Dundee.
Dylan McGowan — Vendsyssel FF (Danish second division): Off-season after Vendsyssel were relegated to the Danish second tier.
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