Women’s World Cup 2023: The biggest questions facing Australia, Sam Kerr in Matildas trophy hunt
How will the Matildas handle the pressure of a home World Cup? Who can help Sam Kerr steer Australia to glory? Our expert panel tackles the toughest questions for Tony Gustavsson’s squad.
As the Matildas prepare for their final warm up game against France in Melbourne before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, many questions still hang around Australia’s squad and their dream of lifting the trophy in a home tournament.
Our experts Adam Peacock, Erin Smith, Tilly Werner and Marco Monteverde debate the hot topics in the countdown to Australia’s biggest sporting moment of 2023.
1. Sam Kerr is Australia’s leading star, but who else is the most dangerous prospect for the Matildas that could become a household name this month?
AP: Calitin Foord, in a blink. Has improved so much since joining Arsenal a few years ago, and her understanding with Sam, cultivated since their teenage years in pathway programs, will bring out the best in both. As Sam said, she’s happy to take all the attention, freeing up space for others. That space will go to Caitlin, and she’s fearless enough to take advantage.
ES: Kyra Cooney-Cross – without a doubt. With 27 appearances, the 21-year-old dynamic midfielder is no longer a secret weapon – but there is no denying the impact she has had since her debut. Cooney-Cross might not be the one scoring the goals for the Aussies but she will be the key to setting Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord up for the shots.
TW: Hayley Raso has been a key player in the Matildas attacking line-up for a decade but it feels like she’s about to go global. In securing a transfer to Real Madrid, she’s found a club that will better suit her flair for fast and aggressive football. Since her rehabilitation, she’s reworked her football fundamentals and made herself a more versatile player, which will be a significant asset at this World Cup and she’ll be a key linking player between Carpenter in the backline and Kerr up front.
MM: Katrina Gorry has been superb for Australia since her return from giving birth to her daughter Harper. The Matildas have been much more assured with Gorry controlling play from the base of the midfield. Everything starts with Gorry, whose distribution is first-class.
2. What formation do you think Australia should employ for the tournament and are you expecting any big selection shocks this Friday against France?
AP: I love the 4-4-2 Gustavsson has used in 2023, utilising the pace of Courtnee Vine and Hayley Raso in wide areas. This means Kerr and Foord can play through the middle and link up with each other more. Puts a bit of pressure on Katrina Gorry and Kyra-Cooney Cross to keep control of the centre of the park, but they more than up to it. Then you’ve got dangerous attacking players like Mary Fowler and Kyah Simon to come off the bench to make an impact.
ES: Tony Gustavsson has rolled out the 4-4-2 successfully this year and I can’t see him changing that now – why fix what isn’t broken. The send-off match is his first chance to see his squad in action against an opponent since announcing the team – I would be surprised if Gustavsson strayed too far from his planned starting 11. But he could make some early substitutions and give those less experienced players a chance to play top opposition in front of a big vocal crowd.
TW: I’d love to see a two-pronged attack with Foord and Kerr up front. They make each other better. Foord will always look to goal and Kerr will always be there to recover any rebounds or fumbles. After ten years playing together, their connection is subliminal. I’m backing a 4-4-2, using Catley and Carpenter’s penchant for pushing forward.
Think we’re likely to see Gustavsson back his intended line-up for the World Cup opener when they take on France but this is also his opportunity to test the players carrying injuries. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the classic Kennedy-Polkinghorne combo at the back and Yallop in for Catley. It’s still a little early to test out Kyah Simon, who is shaping as an x-factor player for the all-important match up with Canada.
MM: Playing two strikers – Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord – together worked at the Cup of Nations so an uncomplicated 4-4-2 formation seems the best way for the Matildas to line-up. It’s hard to see any surprise selections against France. The time for experimenting is over.
3. The Matildas have had a long build up to the World Cup and will play with the pressure of the nation on their shoulders. How do you think they’ve handled those expectations and is there a risk that the pressure will be too big a burden to carry?
AP: For sure it can be a risk. No-one knows how you truly handle a situation until you’re put in it, and can only imagine it’s the same playing in a home World Cup. Counterbalancing that though is the experience in the squad, and togetherness. They’ve had the highs and lows in World Cup and Olympic campaigns, the swapping of coaches, mysteriously (and later proven unfairly) in the case of Alen Stajcic, plus the older ones have been through a bitter pay dispute (in 2015).
ES: The Matildas don’t have a great track record of performing in high pressure situations – but I think that is something Gustavsson has been working on – blooding new players in high pressure matches so they aren’t walking into an unknown situation this World Cup. Having so many of the squad (all but two) playing in top leagues in the UK and Europe will have also normalised pressure – every domestic game for them is a must win. There is always a risk the pressure will be too big a burden but I think the players’ attitudes with most of them referring to pressure as a “privilege” shows they have adjusted their mindset and are ready to embrace it.
TW: The Matildas are in one of the best positions for a host nation in that yes, there’s definitely an expectation for them to perform well, but given they are ranked 10th and have never progressed past the quarter-final stage, a win at that level could be considered a significant achievement. I think this has helped ease the pressure of performing and what they have done incredibly well so far is bring football to the masses. The players are everywhere. Linking up with international superstars and brands, all over social media and billboards and selling out stadiums.
MM: There’s always a risk that the pressure will prove too much, but a common theme out of the Matildas camp has been the embracing of expectations. There is more than enough experience in Australia’s squad to ensure no player should feel overawed.
4. What is the biggest risk for the Matildas this World Cup?
AP: Apart from every opponent in probably the toughest of the eight groups, and then the knockout stages which are always fraught – getting ahead of themselves. That’s the big challenge for Tony Gustavsson and the coaching staff. Keeping the mood in the perfect spot of up, but not too far up.
ES: Burnout – we have 23 capable players in the squad and Gustavsson has to make sure he uses them all if the Matildas want to progress deep into the tournament. Every player on the team can have an impact and they need to be given the chance to do that. It is unrealistic to expect players, coming off a big domestic season, to play every minute of a World Cup to the standard they need to play in order to get the win.
TW: An over-reliance on Kerr as our avenue to goal. We have plenty of players that can score, and putting too much pressure on Kerr to deliver us the first goal in a stalemate, or to kickstart a comeback could wreak havoc on the captain’s confidence. We need to ensure options are utilised across the final third. We also do not want the team to go in overconfident against Ireland. Ireland have proved they are a real threat with their dogged qualifying approach and they need to be taken seriously as it’s an important opportunity for the Matildas to get both a win and a good buffer in goal difference.
MM: A first-up loss to Ireland. While successful teams often build into tournaments, a defeat against the Irish next Thursday will suddenly have the Matildas’ backs to the walls. The Australians don’t want to be heading into their final group game against Olympic champions Canada needing a win to qualify for the knockout stages.
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