Matildas v Switzerland, news, scores, results: Mary Fowler almost non-existent as Matildas secure 1-1 draw in Zurich

The Matildas came away with a draw against Switzerland in Zurich in their first game under Tom Sermanni but a new coach wasn’t able to unlock the attacking flair of Mary Fowler.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 25: Mary Fowler of Australia warms up prior to the Women's international friendly match between Switzerland and Australia at Stadion Letzigrund on October 25, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Getty Images for Football Australia)

A draw isn’t a terrible result against the top class Swiss side but like his predecessor, interim coach Tom Sermanni struggled to unlock the team’s biggest weapon - Mary Fowler.

There was no question about Fowler’s form going into the match, which ended 1-1, - she has been banging in goals for Manchester City.

Yet when she dons the green and gold she is almost non-existent.

Sermanni unleashed a new formation for the Matildas.

In possession he used three defenders with Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy and Courtney Nevin - Ellie Carpenter and Kaitlyn Torpey joined the wall when the Matildas were without the ball.

The midfield makeup wasn’t anything new - Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross.

Caitlin Foord in action against Switzerland. Picture: Arnd Wiegmann/Getty Images for Football Australia

Caitlin Foord and Tameka Yallop took the role of strikers.

Unusually though Fowler didn’t play her favoured N.10 role - instead pushed to the right-hand side of the midfield.

The dynamic player, dubbed a once in a generation talent, hardly touched the ball.

Ousted Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson, in the lead up to the failed Olympics campaign, acknowledged finding a way to use Fowler that allowed her to play and capitalise on her incredible creativity was a challenge.

Sermanni doesn’t seem to have come any closer to solving the puzzle.

“She’s a very talented footballer and still a young footballer so I don’t want to over expose her,” Sermanni said in his post-match press conference.

“It was a game that was difficult not just for Mary, it was difficult for all the midfield players tonight because I thought Switzerland defended vert well, they had lots of numbers in the midfield and it made it difficult for us to get some quality possession in there - that’s part of football.

“It’s just a case of how we come back, looking over it and seeing how we can solve that problem to get our key players on the ball more often.”

Fowler often looked lost in the match - even drifting all the way back to the defensive line in a bid to simply get her feet on the ball.

There were fleeting moments when she did touch the ball and most times it resulted in a positive run of play.

This camp is the first time Sermanni has worked with Fowler. He opted to use Foord and Yallop in the attacking positions - players he has coached previously.

Technology and the rise of women’s football means there are hundreds of hours of footage available at the click of a button Sermanni shouldn’t have needed a camp to suss out where Fowler should be playing on the pitch.

A few hardy Matildas fans in the crowd. Picture: Arnd Wiegmann/Getty Images for Football Australia

The match was a tug-of-war battle against the well drilled Switzerland side.

While the Matildas walked away with the draw it was far from a clinical performance.

The first half was littered with sloppy passes out of the defensive line, the midfield was inconsistent and the attacking line up struggled to make the most of opportunities.

Foord was solid - her well-timed runs creating some of the Matildas best chances - including the goal.

It was her daring run into the box that forced the Swiss keeper to make a questionable dive into her legs - resulting in a penalty, which Foord coolly sent into the back of the net.

Matildas didn’t emerge for the second half with their trademark renewed level of energy.

Switzerland took control - testing the Matildas defence.

It took them just 18 minutes to find a break - Geraldine Reuteler capitalising on Matildas sleepy defence to level the scores.

Foord firing in from the spot 🎯

🎥: @paramountplusau#Matildas#[e-mail]/0UyCvqZrqK

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 25, 2024

If the Swiss strikers had shown more composure the goal could have been their second or third.

Matildas struggled to get back in the match with Switzerland increasing the pressure and suffocating the Matildas every touch.

Sermanni turned to the bench in the 65th minute - bringing Steph Catley ( who is recovering from an injury), Michelle Heyman and Sharn Freier into the fray.

While it gave the Matildas some new life it didn’t result in a change in position for Fowler.

Fowler was pulled off the pitch in the 77th minute - a rarity - to make way for 18-year-old debutant Daniela Galic.

No one expected a perfect performance from the Matildas though.

It is their first game since their disappointing Olympic campaign. First under interim coach Sermanni.

“I thought it was a bit mixed,” Sermanni said of the team’s performance.

“I thought we were a little off the pace and Switzerland were a little bit sharper than us, got to the ball a little bit quicker, but in general we looked fairly solid and fairly safe.

“I was a little bit disappointed in the quality of the goal that we gave away, I thought it was very messy defensively from us.”

They have just three days though to adjust their set-up and fine tune their footwork before taking on Olympic bronze medalists Germany.

Originally published as Matildas v Switzerland, news, scores, results: Mary Fowler almost non-existent as Matildas secure 1-1 draw in Zurich