Premier hints at Matildas home clash; Socceroos to hit Melbourne in November

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has strongly hinted that the Matildas will be returning to Melbourne in the short term, as Football Australia says it’s had a barrage of enquiries about the vacant coaching position for the women’s national team.

Allan announced on Wednesday that the Socceroos will play a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on November 14 and when pressed about whether the state’s status as the “home of the Matildas” was in jeopardy, she hinted that an announcement loomed.

The Matildas could be returning to Melbourne in the near future.Credit: Getty Images

The next available slot for a home Matildas game would be the women’s international window in late November.

The Matildas will play Germany in a friendly in Duisburg on October 28 and play a second game in Europe during that window.

The Matildas beat Canada 4-0 during their FIFA Women’s World Cup game at AAMI Park last year and beat Uzbekistan 10-0 at Marvel Stadium in their Paris 2024 qualifier in February.

“Melbourne is firmly the home of the Matildas,” Allan said.

“The [sports] minister is very excited back here. We will have more to say about our action-packed major events calendar in the coming weeks.”

Matildas star Ellie Carpenter thanks fans at Marvel Stadium after the win over Uzbekistan in February.Credit: Getty Images

The Matildas are without a coach with Tony Gustavsson’s tenure ending once the team was knocked out of Paris 2024.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the FA was casting its net for candidates.

“We are monitoring the market. We are talking to a number of coaches at the moment,” Johnson said.

“Our focus right now is heading into the next window for the Matildas. If we don’t have a coach by that point, we’ll need to appoint an interim coach.

“But time is on our side as our next competitive match isn’t until the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup – when it comes to the Matildas’ coach, it’s about getting the right coach as opposed to rushing through a decision.

“We’ve had calls, emails, LinkedIn [expressions of interest] – it’s a very popular position in world football.”

A review, including reactions from players, is underway after the team missed out on qualifying for the quarterfinals in Paris after being drawn into a group of death against Germany, USA and Zambia.

“The review is systematic now, every time we finish any window we do a review and look at that campaign in full,” Johnson said.

Arnold praises Luongo, Souttar and Irankunda

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has no plans to see if English Premier League midfielder Massimo Luongo might reconsider his international retirement.

The 31-year-old who won player of the tournament at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia, announced his retirement in December last year to focus on club football where he played a key role in helping Ipswich Town return to the EPL this season.

Luongo is one of three EPL Aussies with teammate Cam Burgess and Aston Villa goalkeeper Joe Gauci but Arnold won’t be asking him to reconsider his future.

“Would you be asking if he wasn’t in the Premier League?” Arnold said on Wednesday at the announcement of the home qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

“It’s fantastic to see Mass doing it but three or four months ago he gave his reasons why he retired and that’s where it’s at, at the moment, but it was great to sit up the other night and watch him play.”

Massimo Luongo and Omari Hutchinson of Ipswich Town battle with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool in the English Premier League.Credit: Getty Images

The Socceroos begin the crucial third round of World Cup qualifying with a clash against Bahrain on the Gold Coast on September 5 and with the A-Leagues Men not beginning until October, he is expecting to fill his squad with overseas based players.

The Saudi Arabia game in Melbourne is the fifth game of 10 qualifiers and a win would likely put the Socceroos in prime position to qualify directly but they lost to Saudi Arabia during qualifying for the last World Cup.

Unlike their difficult second round game against Palestine which was played at a neutral venue, no concerns have been raised about facing Saudi Arabia who has a poor record of human rights but has hosted several previous qualifiers against the Socceroos.

Socceroos defender Harry Souttar captaining Sheffield United against Wrexham this month.Credit: Getty Images

“When we play over in Saudi, we want the same [kind of reception] when they come here,” Arnold said.

Newly signed Sheffield United centre-back Harry Souttar is expected to be called up given his strong form at the English Championship club and Arnold didn’t rule out picking teenage attacker Nestory Irankunda after his promising start with German giants Bayern Munich.

Arnold dismissed suggestions he might leave out Souttar or Irankunda to let them nail down spots at their new clubs.

“We need our best squad in these next two games and every game,” Arnold said.

“Everyone’s starting off on a plain sheet of paper. Harry has been in very good shape. [Manchester based assistant coach] René Meulensteen watched him play against Wrexham last week and said he is in great shape. Harry will be ready for these games.”

Bayern Munich’s Nestory Irakunda runs the ball back to the middle after scoring in a preseason game.Credit: DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Irankunda was named on the bench for Bayern’s cup game last weekend but still establishing himself at the club.

”Why wouldn’t I call him up? If I start doing that for one player, I will have to do it for everyone,” Arnold said.

Fellow Socceroos Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe are playing midfield roles for Bundesliga club St Pauli while Parma defender Alessandro Circati played the full match in Seria A.

The goal-keeper position is a concern with Socceroos captain Mat Ryan on the bench for new club AS Roma in Serie A and Gauci on the bench for Villa.

Former Melbourne Victory keeper Paul Izzo played a full game for his new Danish club Randers FC.

“It’s more of a concern for the nation overall as we used to have keepers galore,” Arnold said.

“Izzo is doing well with Randers but a couple of [A Leagues] boys, Andrew Redmayne, Lawrence Thomas and these guys, have had no game time at all so it’s probably something for the organisation to look at - a lot of those AFL players would make great goalkeepers.”

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