Matildas’ drubbing means hard questions need to be asked

No coach, no shots and no hope. Why can’t the Matildas get their act together on the world stage?

It was an embarrassing loss and one that should have the Matildas reflecting on why their team, loaded with experience, can’t get it together on the world stage.

The lucrative jewel in Football Australia’s crown, who are said to be the most valuable sports brand in the country, are not dominating where it really matters – the field.

And the fact is the Matildas are sick of “not winning anything”. They said as much in a recent internal survey, and it is expected the women will be asking hard questions of themselves after Friday’s 4-0 loss to Japan (their worst against the country) at the SheBelieves Cup in Houston.

“It was a bad performance from us, we weren’t all on the same page with the (defensive) press,” Matildas star Ellie Carpenter observed after the loss, adding: “It wasn’t good enough tonight.”

It was Japan’s biggest win over the Matildas in 30 games Picture: AFP

With a disastrous Paris Olympics campaign just in their rear-view mirror, the drubbing by Japan, albeit in a friendly, has caused concern for those around the Matildas team as it struggles to fire.

The most telling stat is that the Matildas only shot on goal came in the 87th minute.

While the loss to Japan doesn’t signal a full-blown crisis for the Matildas, it does mean harder questions are being asked of the squad laden with stars. Striker Mary Fowler, who has been in red-hot form for her club Manchester City, couldn’t make an impact for her country. Goalkeeper MacKenzie Arnold had one of her worst games.

Then there is Sam Kerr. The status of Kerr’s captaincy still uncomfortably lingers over the team – Football Australia are yet to say if she will keep or lose the role – following her recent court case. Interim coach Tom Sermanni was questioned on Kerr’s captaincy on the eve of the game against Japan, as was Carpenter.

Ellie Carpenter gets a cross away in a rare moment of attack for the Matildas Picture: Getty Images

The other pressing question is who will be the team’s next head coach – and when?

It’s understood the FA is closer than ever to securing a coach and have narrowed down their shortlist further to a couple of candidates.

The decision on who will next hold the Matildas top job is expected to be made in the coming months.

The appointment must justify the delay.

Recently, internally, the Matildas playing group was consulted on what qualities they would like in a head coach. They said they wanted someone who had high performance standards and added they were done with being second best. They were “done with not winning silverware”.

It’s been 15 years since the Matildas last held a trophy aloft. That was the Asian Cup in 2007.

The coming months, in the countdown to the home Asian Cup in March 2026, are undeniably crucial as the Matildas seek to rebuild in the hope of becoming a force on the world stage.