Matildas horror show examined after 4-0 loss to Japan in SheBelieves Cup

Alarm bells are ringing for the Matildas after their embarrassing display against Japan. Is the coaching uncertainty to blame or are there deeper issues? Here’s what we learned from the 4-0 defeat.

An uninspired and embarrassing performance from the Matildas should have alarm bells ringing with the “strongest team” unableto make a dent against Japan in their opening SheBelieves Cup clash.

Matildas fell 4-0 in a lacklustre performance. It is the biggest win celebrated by Japan in 30 outings against the Matildas.

With the Asian Cup just over a year away it really doesn’t bode well for the Matildas.

The Matildas were not expected to win — the team is far from in peak condition, they have had just two days to prepare andare still under an interim coach — while Japan are all midseason fighting to impress a brand new manager.

But the Matildas were at least expected to put up a challenge.

Japan looked to be playing on a whole new level.

Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy looks on as Japan celebrates a goal. Picture: Getty Images

After 45 minutes, with what interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni called his best team on the park, the Matildas couldn’t geta shot on goal.

Japan dominated possession as expected but on the odd occasion the Matildas did manage to win the ball they couldn’t keepit.

Their touches were poor, the defence was left scrambling.

Post match Sermanni said he didn’t have an answer or excuse for the Matildas poor performancce.

“Sometimes you just have to sit back and say ‘you know what, we were just played off the field today,” Sermanni said.

“Probably the most dissappointing thing was the goals that we were gave up were very poor and that is unAustralian, we want to be a team that is hard to beat and we relly gave up some soft goals.

‘But overall it was more than a fair result.

“There wasn’t a lot of positive things to take away from this game.”

Kyra Cooney-Cross and Hayley Raso react after a Japan goal. Picture: Getty Images

Japan are currently the top ranked team in the AFC. If Australia want any chance of lifting a trophy at the home hosted AsianCup in just over 12 months then drastic changes are needed.

Not necessarily just a performance level. All the players on the pitch have been performing in club land. There are no questionsover why they were on the field.

But as seen at the Paris Olympics the Matildas are missing the spark they had at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It tookthem more than 80 minutes to get a shot on goal.

There is plenty of off field drama surrounding the Matildas going into this camp. Their captain Sam Kerr was on trial in London,there is a pay dispute going on between the PFA and FA and they are still without a permanent coach.

But Sermanni said none of that had an impact on performance.

“I don’t sense any off the field dramas to be honest,” Sermanni said.

“It would be false of me to deflect anything on the performance today from anything off the field I don’t think that impactedhow they played today.

“We just played very poorly and they played very well.”

Is it a case of burn out? We saw Mary Fowler take time off the last window for that very reason.

Or is there a cultural issue in the team?

Or could it simply be the fact the Matildas are still without a permanent coach?

COACH DRAMA

Sermanni says he has no idea how much longer his services as interim coach will be needed which means the players also haveno idea.

That has to create a bizarre sort of twilight zone feeling for the players.

They aren’t really fighting to impress a coach or to keep their spot in the team. It takes away an extra level of competitivenessneeded by elite level athletes.

Tactics, formations - it will all likely change when a new coach is named so it has to make it hard to get a team to reallycommit to the plan.

The longer it takes for Football Australia to appoint a coach the worse the problem is going to get.

Every loss takes a chunk out of the Matildas armour - damages their confidence.

It means that when the new coach comes in they will have to find a way to repair that on top of putting in place new structures,tactics and finding the right combinations of players.

There is just over a year until the Asian Cup it is going to be a big task for a new coach to bring the Matildas back to theirWorld Cup form or better in such a short time.

Tom Sermanni has no idea how much longer his services as interim coach will be needed. Picture: Getty Images

THE FOWLER PROBLEM

Mary Fowler was put front and centre for the Matildas but with the team having little control of the ball the star didn’t have much of a chance to shine.

We know Fowler is in form. She is breaking records in the English WSL for Manchester City — Fowler has had at least two goal involvements in her last four matches, a first for the league.

She doesn’t have the class of player around her in the national team that she does at City.

There was a moment in the first half when Fowler finally got the ball at her feet in a promising position but Japan sent three troops to shut her down quickly.

It’s hard to give a fair assessment of Fowler given her little involvement in the game was hardly her fault.

KEEPER CONUNDRUM

It is normally one of their strong points but the Matildas backline resembled more a construction zone than a brick wall. They did not appear to be on the same page at all and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was caught out twice in the opening half. Arnold, who cemented herself as the side’s No.1 keeper at the 2023 World Cup has struggled to perform since.

Meanwhile Teagan Micah has really laid down a case to challenge for the top spot. She is on fire for Liverpool, playing regularly and being tested consistently. It was an odd choice for Sermanni to opt to start the out-of-form keeper over an in-form Micah when up against an opponent as tough as Japan. Not to mention Micah comes up against the Japanese strikers regularly in the WSL.

Mackenzie Arnold has struggled for the Matildas since her World Cup campaign. Picture: Getty Images

NOT ALL BAD NEWS

While the onfield performance was embarrassing there was a spark of good news from the clash and that was the return of HollyMcNamara to the national side.

McNamara heartbreakingly ruptured her ACL just days after being named in the Matildas side in the lead up to the Olympics.

After missing the ALW season she is back and firing for Melbourne City, scoring seven goals in 12 matches.

It is not the result she would have wanted for her Matildas return but the accomplishment can’t be overlooked.

McNamara is a danger player and could well prove key come the Asian Cup.

Sermanni said it was the only “good bit of the day”.

“It’s fantastic, she’s had thre ACLS and has done a huge amount of rehab and preparation to come back and it was really goodto see her out there and lively,” Sermanni said.

“She will be a big asset to us going foward.”

Originally published as Matildas horror show examined after 4-0 loss to Japan in SheBelieves Cup