Adam Peacock: Believe the hype, the Matildas have what it takes to go all the way at the World Cup
Only one team has ever won the World Cup on home soil. ADAM PEACOCK is in no doubt the Matildas can become the second and the rest of the world believes it too.
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“Can the Matildas win it?”
It’s a question heard 10 times daily. Make that 100 times daily, as this big magnificent lollapalooza of football, the Women’s World Cup, hits us between the eyes on Thursday.
Yes. The Matildas can win it.
Reasons are, in order; the home crowd, Sam Kerr, a superb support cast of stars, emerging young guns, Sam Kerr, a top ten ranking, a good record against other big guns. And Sam Kerr.
OK, we’re biased. Incredibly so.
But beyond our little hamlet of beaches and desert, of weird time zones and long vowels, what does the world think?
Can the Matildas do the incredible, and be last ones standing on August 20?
“Yeah, can do,” says 31-cap England player turned TV expert, Izzy Christiansen.
“It’s going to be tough. There’s other teams that will emerge.
“Brazil, Germany, Sweden, England. I’m going to make a big call and write USA off.”
That is a frightfully large call from Christiansen, who will be sideline for Channel Seven during the tournament.
USA are number one in the world and back- to-back champions.
Joe Montemurro, an Australian currently coaching in the epicentre of women’s football in Europe with Juventus in Italy, won’t write anyone off.
This World Cup is as open as an unexplored galaxy.
“So much unknown, it’s a great thing,” Montemurro, who will be part of Optus Sport’s wall-to-wall coverage, says.
“You couldn’t pick it. It’s too hard.”
But Melbourne born and raised Montemurro can’t find a reason why the Matildas can’t win.
His holistic view is from the fact he’s managed teams in three countries – Australia, England and Italy – to win titles.
He presently coaches Juventus, who have 16 players representing a variety of nations at this World Cup.
They’ve all passed on intel about where the Matildas strengths and weaknesses lie.
“There is a two-way understanding of the Matildas,” Montemurro says.
“They have got a great reputation, a team that have qualities physically, but at times structurally be a team that can be beaten.”
Last Friday’s warm-up against France proved Montemurro’s point. France, at times, were comfortable in possession, and managed to pressure the Matildas into errors.
And it’s this style which only further clouds the question of who will prevail, because of what the Matildas can weaponise themselves with in a flash.
“There’s going to be moments in the big games where (the Matildas) are not in control,” Montemurro says.
“Not going to have the ball, then get an opportunity. These games are about the opportunities you put away. Tournament football is so different to 35 games in a league.”
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The Matildas recent record against fellow top ten nations is decent, without being spectacular.
Since the start of the Tony Gustavsson era in 2021, wins against Sweden, England, Spain, Brazil and France stand out.
Draws against the mighty U-S-A! U-S-A!! read well too.
There have been harsh lessons. Gustavsson’s first two matches were pumellings from Germany and the Netherlands. Put those down to transitional teachings. Spain battered us 7-0 last June, but numerous senior players were rested.
The process, sometimes rocky, has been worth it in the eyes of Christiansen, with the Matildas no longer just about a select few.
“Not relying on 11 players now. Now you’ve got 15 or 16 who could start.”
There is one star, though.
Sam Kerr. The hype is real in Australia, and from afar, justified.
“Sam’s the one sportsperson I can say absolutely lives up to anything she says or does,” Christiansen, who has played against Kerr in England, says.
“She’s a threat even if she’s not in the game, and I have a lot of admiration for the way she takes pressure on her shoulders.
“She doesn’t get the credit she deserves for carrying the hopes she does.”
Montemurro, with his tactical eye, says a gameplan to stop Kerr can only ensure so much.
“Most coaches would say reduce the space behind. When she comes short (into midfield to get the ball) don’t let her turn.
“But with Sam you need to be patient, and you need continuity. As soon as you lose that concentration, she’ll hurt you.
“And that’s where she’s so good, noticing the back four is a little bit broken, the distances (between players) aren’t right.”
Montemurro was in England with Arsenal when Kerr arrived at Chelsea, and reckons the Matildas star striker is a far more rounded player, comfortable in a variety of roles, either linking through midfield, or playing on the last line of the opposition defence.
“There were question marks initially from playing in the US and then coming to Europe,“ Montemurro says.
“Now she’s proven it as a footballer. We look at all the other things in Australia apart from the football questions. And I think she’s answered the football questions.”
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The great unknown, of course, is how the Matildas deal with home expectation.
After all, only one team, the U-S-A! U-S-A! in 1999, has won a World Cup on home soil.
The last four hosts have gone out in the quarter-finals, which, judging by the scent of hope, will feel a little deflating.
Montemurro believes a semi-final finish at least is well within the Matildas reach.
Christian thinks introspection will be a critical factor.
“The challenge is not on the players, but on the staff to create a feeling around the team,” Christiansen says, who will be part of Channel 7’s coverage of the first game on July 20 against Ireland.
The former England midfielder believes those 90 minutes will tell plenty about how the group will deal with external, blaring noise.
“If they beat Ireland, it’s not going to be like winning any game at a World Cup,” Christian says.
“It’s winning in front of 80,000 screaming Australians who then think they’ll win the World Cup. How do you manage that? That’s the challenge for the staff and the leadership.”
“If they lose or draw, how do you get over the disappointment?”
“Izzy’s spot on,” Montemurro adds.
“It’s about the internal togetherness of the group and the staff. Up to eight weeks together, same faces, same scenarios, you have to manage all that.
“The advantage for the (senior) Matildas is they’ve been together for a very long time.”
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Luck will play a role. It always does in major tournaments.
“A lot has to be aligned for the Matildas like England with the Euros last year,” Christiansen says.
“There was an injury to Germany’s key player (striker Alex Popp) in the warm up for the final. That changed the balance of the game.”
Not that Christiansen is advocating voodoo dolls or skulduggery. It’s just, fate twists every successful World Cup campaign.
Until now, those moments have escaped the Matildas, who are one from five in World Cup knockout stage games. The last two, conceding an 87th minute goal against Japan in 2015, and a penalty shootout defeat by Norway in 2019.
“Momentum needs to shift in their favour in key moments,” Christiansen adds.
“Which is something you can’t prepare for in sport, you need a bit of luck to win a major tournament.”
And luck of the draw will play a part.
Australia and England could meet in the round of sixteen, a less than ideal situation for both sides, though Christiansen hints the Matildas have an advantage over the European champions.
“Australia beat England in a warm up game,” she says.
“You talk about bogey teams in sport, there’s a bogey team situation going on there with England and Australia,” Christiansen says.
It’s not just us then.
Even with bias aside, the Matildas can win it.
Whisper it gently, and hold on for the ride.
Originally published as Adam Peacock: Believe the hype, the Matildas have what it takes to go all the way at the World Cup
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