Matildas’ Mary Fowler problem exposed in ‘disappointing’ Switzerland draw

Questions have been raised about Mary Fowler in the Matildas side after the Aussies’ latest frustrating performance in Switzerland.

The Matildas’ growing Mary Fowler problem has once again been laid bare in Australia’s “disappointing” 1-all draw with Switzerland in Zurich on Saturday morning (Australian time).

Playing in front of a record Swiss crowd of 14,370 in the first meeting between the countries, the world No. 15 Matildas shared the spoils with the world No. 25 ranked nation.

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In the Matildas’ first match since crashing out of the Paris Olympics in the group stages, Australia hit the lead just before halftime as Caitlin Foord scored a penalty.

But just before the hour mark, Geraldine Reuteler drew Switzerland level and almost stole the win after a bullet from substitute Larina Baumann hit the crossbar in the 90th minute.

In the side’s first match of interim coach Tom Sermanni’s third stint in charge of the team as Football Australia searches for a new permanent coach to replace Tony Gustavsson, the Matildas were far from the side that captured Australia’s imagination during the 2023 home World Cup.

Having largely hovered around 10th in the world, Australia has slid to 15th as both Gustavsson and now Sermanni struggle to unlock the Matildas with inspirational star and captain Sam Kerr out injured.

Australia celebrate Foord’s goal. Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Getty Images for Football Australia

Kerr is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world when healthy but the Matildas have struggled to replicate the success they tasted during the 2023 World Cup where they were largely without the 31-year-old.

Kerr’s return date is still a mystery as she recovers from a horrific ACL injury.

Outside of a 10-0 win over Uzbekistan in February and a 6-5 win over Zambia in the Olympics, goals have been hard to come by for the Aussies.

And it’s left 21-year-old Aussie superstar Mary Fowler in the spotlight.

After a quiet game against Switzerland, plenty of questions are being asked of the young gun as the Matildas deal with life without Kerr.

Fowler has become a household name despite her tender age — and it has nothing to do with her relationship with rugby league star Nathan Cleary.

Fowler is a deadset superstar and has had a brilliant start to her Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League season for ladder leaders Manchester City.

In five matches in the WSL, Fowler has a goal and an assist, while she also scored in one of her two Champions League outings.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Vince Rugari wrote in a column that “at international level, she remains a rocks or diamonds case, who drifts frustratingly in and out of games”.

The Matildas have to work out how to get the best out of Mary Fowler. Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Getty Images for Football Australia

And her latest lacklustre performance saw Sermanni come to her defence.

“In fairness to Switzerland, I thought they defended very, very well,” he said.

“Sometimes you’ve got to give credit to the opposition and what they did. I think for part of the time in our midfield, we didn’t quite work out how to press or when to press. I think the result of that was that Mary never really got a foothold in the game at any time.

“I also thought that a lot of our play actually went down the left-hand side tonight and that didn’t allow her to get on the game and to start dictating the game.

“She’s a very talented footballer and still a young footballer. I don’t want to overexpose her in a sense. It was a game that was difficult for, not just Mary, (but) for our midfield players … (they) made it difficult for us to get some quality possession in there.”

Fowler was then replaced in the 78th minute with teenager Daniela Galic getting on for her debut.

But despite the Matildas’ strong representation in the biggest leagues around the world, outside of Kerr, Australia’s offensive stocks are reasonably bare.

It means the Matildas need to find a way to unlock Fowler on the international stage and has left fans frustrated.

Fox Sports’ Luke Doherty believes the issue comes with Fowler’s Matildas teammates.

“Lots of Mary Fowler quiet game headlines today. That’s true but the why is the enduring question. So often she just isn’t getting the ball off her teammates. She naturally takes up positions in tight spaces. It takes courage to play that ball – they just need to do it,” he wrote.

“Also, it’s really interesting if you just watch one player on the pitch as if you’re watching an isolated camera shot of them. You see their movement & when they’re available. The team needs to adapt to Mary. She’s already moving into space. It’s a quick fix.”

Fowler has had a great start to her season for Manchester City. Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images

Fowler against Germany’s Jule Brand during the Olympics. Photo by Christophe SIMON / AFP

One tweeted: “How do we have someone like Mary Fowler on our team and she is practically anonymous more often than not. Surely you would prioritise finding her best position.”

Another commented: “Mary Fowler still playing deeper. She was trained as a #9 in her youth, plays as a winger/striker for Man City but the Matildas have a fascination with playing her deeper and wonder why they can’t get the best out of her?!?”

A third wrote: “5-3-2 has been okay so far, just wish Mary Fowler can get on the ball a lot more. Has hardly been involved.”

Fowler has scored 15 times in 57 matches for the Matildas, having debuted for the national team at the age of 15.

Australia will be hoping for more output from Fowler in their next match against world No. 4 Germany in Duisburg on Monday.

The Matildas last played Germany in their opening clash of the Paris Olympics with the Germans claiming a dominant 3-0 victory.

Originally published as Matildas’ Mary Fowler problem exposed in ‘disappointing’ Switzerland draw