‘Not good’: Channel 10 apologises for dodgy stream in Matildas friendly

Channel 10 has apologised after the second friendly between the Matildas and Canada was marred by issues with the broadcast.

Channel 10's Matildas broadcast was very patchy.

The Matildas produced an improved performance against Canada in their second friendly on Wednesday (AEDT), but you would have been lucky to catch much of the action due to technical difficulties.

After being thrashed 5-0 in the opening friendly on the weekend, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson brought in the big guns, swapping out nearly the entire starting XI for the last hit out of the year in Vancouver.

But the Aussies went down 1-0, completing a Canadian clean sweep from their two friendlies.

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Sam Kerr and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold were still out with injury and Canada opened the scoring through a point blank header to Quinn in the 40th minute.

But viewers in Australia weren’t able to watch the goal as Channel 10’s broadcast via the world feed became extremely patchy towards the end of the first half.

The broadcast became a combination of static and a grey screen, making it near impossible to make out the players on the field for several minutes.

A Channel 10 spokesperson told news.com.au: “We apologise to viewers for the quality of the incoming feed from Canada late in the first half. The World feed supplier has resolved the issue in time for the second half.”

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Photo: Channel 10.

Channel 10 flashed up a message on the bottom of the screen during play that read: “We apologise for the quality of the incoming feed.”

Social media had a field day reacting to the patchy broadcast.

“Bit of grey area” in the referee’s call for the disallowed goal is a superb piece of commentary given the circumstances. #CANvAUSpic.twitter.com/6zK0FbkkJ2

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) December 6, 2023

Reminds me of the olden days when we had to hunt illegal streams.

Just when you think we've come so far 🤣#CANvAUSpic.twitter.com/NjRsdEOWaj

— Danielle Warby (@DanielleWarby) December 6, 2023

Not good for @TheMatildas or football fans…#Matildas#CANvAUSpic.twitter.com/TLKf8vYRn7

— Matt Clinch (@MattClinch) December 6, 2023

42' Canada has the ball in the back of the net, but it's been called back for a foul on Micah, we think...

🇨🇦1-0🇦🇺 #CANvAUS#Matildaspic.twitter.com/CUyYWJqKHM

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) December 6, 2023

At the main break, Channel 10 host Tara Rushton said: “An apology to all of our viewers with the quality of the feed that is coming in via Vancouver right now.

“A big apology for the feed that is heading your way, it is that way across the world at the moment but we are working to get it so that we will have a clear picture of the second half.”

Former Socceroo Andy Harper joked: “Firstly, a gold medal performance in commentary forgetting us through that horrendous fog, the roof closed, what was going on there?”

The issues with the broadcast were resolved for the second half.

Ten also had issues with the incoming feed during the Socceroos’ friendly against England in October.

The Matildas lost both friendlies against Canada. (Photo by Christopher Morris/Getty Images)

Harper described the Matildas’ performance as “pretty anaemic” and questioned Gustavsson’s tendency not to use his substitutes more.

“The lack of use of the bench is another point that comes to mind, and the one change that was made to personnel wise, not structured wise, there were a couple of those, but I have my head scratched on that one as well.”

Veteran Canadian striker Christine Sinclair, represented her country for the final time as she bowed out with 190 international goals, the most of any male or female player ever.

Gustavsson was criticised for throwing a second string Matildas side to the wolves against Canada in the first friendly in an effort to give inexperienced players a chance to push their case for a handful of spots in the squad for the Paris Olympics.

The Matildas have progressed to the next stage of Olympic qualifying with comfortable wins over Iran, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.