Matildas veteran Alanna Kennedy details the challenges Australia’s women’s football team must overcome

Alanna Kennedy knows the Matildas have ‘let themselves down’ since their World Cup run. She details the problems that have brought them undone as they look towards the Asian Cup.

Alanna Kennedy says the Matildas know they’ve “let themselves down” and are far from the team that pulled off a historic fourth placed finish at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

But the 134-capped defender believes the team can turn it around and win next year’s Asian Cup in Australia.

“We don’t want to be the Matildas team that is inconsistent, we’re better than that,” Kennedy said of the national football side’s slump.

“For us we need to start being that version of ourselves again, the Matildas who everyone loves, who are exciting to watch, hard to play against.

“It’s reigniting the fire within the team and that passion to fight and I think it’s been missing just a little bit over the last period of time.”

The Matildas have been on a downhill slide since they were bundled out of the Olympics in the group stage. They have slipped to 16th on the FIFA rankings – their equal lowest place and lost all three matches during the She Believes Cup in America.

Australia's Alanna Kennedy in action against Korea Republic. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Fans were given a glimpse of the Matildas team they fell in love with at the World Cup when they beat Korea Republic 1-0 in Sydney on Saturday.

It wasn’t a perfect game, the single point was an own goal off the head of the opposition. But it was the way the Matildas played the game that got fans excited. There was a renewed sense of energy.

“We are at a point where we feel like we’ve let ourselves down, our fans down and we haven’t been the best version of ourselves that we know we’re capable of being” Kennedy said.

“Coming back, being in Australia, in a familiar space, some of us getting to see our family and playing in front of an Aussie crowd and all our fans is motivating,” Kennedy said.

“The timing as well, off the back of the She Believes (Cup) and wanting to turn a new leaf with the Asian Cup around the corner, there were a lot of different motivations for us.

“It was nice to feel that energy and passion within the squad again.”

The Olympics did not go how the Matildas had hoped. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Kennedy said there wasn’t one thing, person or cause to blame for the Matildas’ form.

Instead it was a mix of issues that included the lack of a permanent coach, players being out of season and the poor performance at the Olympics.

“When you’re coming off the back of a major tournament, it’s hard to describe, but we plateaued a little bit,” Kennedy said.

“I don’t think that comes down to anyone one thing, I can’t put my finger on it. There are lots of variables.”

With the Asian Cup now less than a year away Kennedy said it gave them something tangible to work towards.

The 30-year-old joined the team just after the Matildas won the Asian Cup back in 2010. The team and Kennedy haven’t won a major tournament since.

Alanna Kennedy alongside interim head coach Tom Sermanni. Picture: David Gray/AFP

It’s a bit of a sore point for the defender.

“It’s been frustrating coming so close twice at the World Cup (fourth) and Tokyo Olympics (fourth) but winning the Asian Cup at home, you couldn’t write a better sort of story for the tournament,” Kennedy said.

“There are so many different motivations behind it – you’re at home, we want to win, we need to get a trophy as it’s too long without.”

This is the first time the Matildas have tipped themselves as favourites to win a tournament though.

They were confident of a place at the World Cup and a podium finish at the Paris Olympics.

“We’ve talked about missed opportunities and I don’t want to do that again,” Kennedy said.

“I feel a bit silly saying this right now because I feel like we said that at the World Cup and Olympics and now we are saying it again but you still have to keep chasing that just because it didn’t happen doesn’t mean you stop chasing it.

“It is more like we got to do it this time.”