Should have picked Wyndham (sorry about spelling).
We lack creativity without Chance in there at the SheBelievesCup so its good to have her back, but with both of them in the team I think we would have been a lot better placed to create problems.
Have not been impressed with selections to date. Way too safe and won't take us forward.
Is good to see some of the younger brigade still get picked though. Steinmetz, Anton, Bunge, Collins, Hand etc. And Jale given a call up. With Bott and Erceg out, would have preferred to see someone new in the environment like Barry or Taylor rather than Anna Green. But guess Klinkova has gone for experience here. Although Green hasn't played for a while so a bit odd. Yes also would have liked to see Wynham bought in even if only a training player. Lots of unattached players still. I hope that changes soon.
Edit. Aus are going to be tough to beat on home soil. They have a strong core of players, playing regularly compared to us. We are missing 3 good players in Leat, Erceg and Bott. And alot of the Ferns haven't been playing much football lately, either unattached or sitting on the bench, so selections will be interesting. Wouldn't mind seeing a few more of the A league girls get a run as at least they are match fit.
Lots of criticism in Aus of this squad - only one change (which was enforced) from the squad which failed abysmally at the Asian Cup in January.
These might be inconsequential friendly games for us but mark my words, if we pull off a result or two (particularly a win), pressure heaps right back on Tony Gustavsson...
I'd like to see them go with players that are more likely match fit. Something like this Esson Anton Bunge Stott Riley Steinmetz Percival Bowen/Hasett Satchell Wilkinson Chance
As bad as that Aussie squad might seem to some Australians, I think we'll be very lucky to get any kind of a result from what I've seen of the Ferns over the last few years from all coaches.
Still would love for us to get one over them in their own back yard.
I worry about our defence. With Erceg and Bott out. Moore hasn't been playing for Liverpool since her 3 oggies. (maybe one late 5 min cameo) Would like to see Stott slott back in to CB to help shore things up, in combination with Bunge. We can be competitive against the Aussies. But on paper they are a far better team. If we can hold them out and frustrate them for long periods, (that means not concede soft goals) we could come up trumps. They will be under alot of pressure after there poor performance at the Asian cup, where they were expected to at least make the final but got beaten in the quarters. Edit. Agree also re goal keepers. Esson has two clean sheets in her last two games for us. She has to be our number one for both these games if we want a result.
Strong Aussie squad (all based in the UK, Europe or the USA and only one A-League player) including one of the best female strikers in the world today, Sam Kerr of Chelsea FC who has been in awesome form this year (Golden Boot in the Asian Cup, January - 7 goals in 4 games; 10 goals in 7 consecutive matches in the English WSL in February and March). Interesting Kiwi connection: Kerr was scouted by former All White Aaron Lines from Christchurch who gave her her first overseas contract when head coach at Western New York Flash in 2013 where she played two seasons (a losing finalist in 2013).
The Matildas have awsome goalkeeping choices in London-based duo Lydia Williams (Arsenal) and Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham # 1 to Fern Anna Leat's # 2) Ten of the squad, including five strikers named, play in England's WSL. Five play in Sweden, two in the USA. Only one player, Courtnee Vine of Sydney FC, has their prime registration with an A-League Women's club: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_women%27s_national_soccer_team#Current_squad
We are getting carved up... this could end up a big score line if we are already struggling after 10 mins. The goal keeper looks a massive step up on Nayler though.
Even though she didn't need the stretcher, doesn't look like we'll be seeing Percival in Tuesday's game. We were already up against it but now it's going to be an even harder next 150 minutes of football.
That's an absurd goal. I think it was on purpose too, considering she hit it hard with full force, which is not usually what people do on crosses.... although with those ones it's a shame you will never know.
Yeah with that kind of power on it might have been one of those if someone's one it at the past to get a head to it sweet as, if they're not no worries might as well have a crack anyway. Intentional or not really impressive either way.
Yeah defo lucky to be up at the break, but we are up and it's great, big test of the girls now to try holding on against a much-favoured opponent (such as those we could face in 2023)
A bit disappointed not to have a Kiwi commentary/panel team on this one, I really enjoyed their insights for the SheBelieves Cup and the Aus commentators mostly just focus on themselves
2 goals in the last 30 seconds (or thereabouts) of injury time to go from winning to losing... I don't think I've ever seen such a thing in any format of football.
Worst part is I don't know where 5 mins of injury came from to start with and the winner was at about 96 mins.
Aussie view. And why are these games always in Australia. Sure the Ferns record against big sister is poor, but how many times do they ever get home advantage??
Surely home crowd played a part in the Matildas coming in late with 2 goals.
I just can't beleave how far off them we are... chasing shadows, unable to sting 2 passes together, little composure on the ball. Found it really hard to watch.
Esson outstanding, as she was against South Korea last year. Why Klimkova went back to Naylor I'll never know. And why she perseveres with Hannah Wilkinson I'll never know either. She offers nothing. Her positional play is all over the place and has zero pace. She was robbed of the ball at critical times. Yes, she scored goals in a fairly weak w league comp, but many were tap ins. I would have liked to see Stott on at the end - a solid and calm presence needed, who would have kept Kerr under wraps. Great strike Anna Green! And credit to Claudia Bunge too. Losing Percival was crucial at the end. But at least we've found our Keeper!
Aussie commentators were absolute numb balls, especially the women, talk about one eyed and it wasn't either of the ones in her head. Enjoyed the game though, run out of steam at end. Tell me though why did the Aussie coach have communication gear on, they said he was talking to someone up in the stand presumably a person calling possible tactics, when was this allowed I thought that was a no no. Can someone please explain????????
I only saw the first half, but we have to be concerned at how we are performing as a team. Esson in good form though.
Exactly, don't let the close scoreline throughout obscure the match. They dominated from first kick to last and if Esson wasn't superb and their strikers weren't poor/unlucky, it could have been a 4-1/5-1 wipeout.
I know Australia are a much better team than us and I don't expect us to be able to instantly compete with them, but we couldn't put three passes together at times, got so deep, didn't even defend that well and offered nothing going forward. At least I would have hoped for a solid defensive performance, a bit of sustained possession and some regular counterattacks of note.
Might sound cruel but considering it's a friendly match and result is largely irrelevant, it may be a good thing that we lost in the end... I'm sick of this game style being normalised as what we do, and it goes beyond the current coach Klimkova, although her early mentions of wanting to have possession and play the ball around have seemed to fall away a lot.
I think we need more matches against teams on a similar level to us (i.e. ranked 20-30 in FIFA), that way it will hopefully force us into learning that we can't just play defensive all the time and hopefully we can dominate some of those games. Our midfielders need to control possession (or at least sustain it) and create attacking movements for us, not just exist as a second line of defence.
