If Australia is to match its No.6 in the world ranking and reach at least the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup – or go even further as some pundits predict – it will need plenty to go right.
Ante Milicic's team will need its sharpshooting captain and inspirational leader Sam Kerr, one of the top players in the world, to be on form right from the start.
Sam Kerr.Credit:AAP
It will need its midfield to take control of games, ensuring Kerr and her forward partners get the opportunities they need to convert any dominance in possession Australia can earn into goals.
It will need luck with injuries and in the games themselves: a bad bounce, a poor referee's call, a misjudgment at a crucial moment can be the difference between triumph and disaster.
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But more than anything it is going to need to be defensively well organised.
It's a cliche, but only because it is a truism: attackers win matches, but defences win titles.
And Australia has been far from sound at the back in recent games.
It shipped goals far too easily in a helter-skelter game against the USA when the Americans scored five to Australia's three in Denver, Colorado, back in early April – Milicic's first game on foreign soil.
The Australians then went down 3-0 last weekend in their final warm-up match for the French tournament, losing to the Dutch, a team plenty see as perhaps more than a lively outsider for the title which will be decided over the next four weeks.
Scoring three and conceding eight is not exactly an ideal way to prepare for the biggest, most keenly contested tournament in the world.
Yes, they were against strong teams – teams rated more of a winning chance in France than Italy, Brazil and Jamaica, who the Matildas will encounter in their group games.
But tightening up at the back, maintaining concentration and allowing as few chances as possible is a non-negotiable if the Maatildas are to make this the World Cup in which they really make their mark.
They will now have to do so without experienced centre back Laura Alleway, who has been ruled out through injury. Her place will be taken by Canberra defender Karly Roestbakken.
A key component of that backline is vice-captain Steph Catley, the Melbourne City stalwart who is also a crucial part of the Matildas.
Catley's absence from the defeat to the US – with a calf strain she sustained during the lead up to that match – was widely noted as perhaps one reason for Australia's porousness that day, and it is to the team's benefit that she is back in harness now.
She featured in the loss to the Netherlands, but says that outing did her the power of good.
"My fitness is going well. Getting 90 minutes the other day was good and getting through it no worries was great. It was really important getting back to international football, resuming training and getting through everything okay," she says. "I definitely feel I am match fit."
She looks back on the game against the Dutch and follows the party line in describing it as the sort of wake-up call all teams need before major competitions.
But, she points out, it wasn't all one-way traffic – and Australia should be able to fix up its problems in 'easy' fashion.
"Football is a funny game and we were playing some really good football (during the match). Statistics were in our favour, we had more shots and more time in the final third and we didn't really finish our chances," she says.
"We had some sloppy set piece defending at times which is pretty easy to fix up.
"Having a couple of those moments unfold you realise what you need to tighten up, it was good timing for us.
"It's set pieces, we know we can defend them, we know we are good in those situations. we know positionally we can tighten up. It's nothing to panic about, it's definitely fixable."
She is adamant that morale has not suffered as a result of those two losses.
"It's something we were saying to each other straight after the game, not to let the results affect us, not to forget the hard work that's been done. We need to focus more on the process. The video [the team watched] looked at things we did really well," she says.
Catley says that none of the Matildas' opponents will be taken lightly. She says Italy are improving, professional and have a lot of incredibly skilful players that have a lot of experience.
"Their league is improving. They will be a challenge," Catley said.
"They are good with set pieces, great delivery and really hungry for the ball, and that's something we have to be very watchful of. They are very smart and technical so we have to be ready for all aspects.
"But we can cause them problems. If you look at our front three, they are very dynamic and some of the players running at their backline can cause havoc."
Catley was looking forward to reacquainting herself with Brazil.
"In major tournaments it seems like we always come up against them. That adds a bit of rivalry I would say, we have kicked each other out of major tournaments at different times," she says.
Catley described Jamaica as an 'unknown quantity'.
"They have a couple of players playing around the world in different leagues that the coaches are keeping an eye on … they will be hungry and excited to be at a World Cup, and will be hard to break down," she says.
"Every game will have its chalRead More – Source
If Australia is to match its No.6 in the world ranking and reach at least the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup – or go even further as some pundits predict – it will need plenty to go right.
Ante Milicic's team will need its sharpshooting captain and inspirational leader Sam Kerr, one of the top players in the world, to be on form right from the start.
Sam Kerr.Credit:AAP
It will need its midfield to take control of games, ensuring Kerr and her forward partners get the opportunities they need to convert any dominance in possession Australia can earn into goals.
It will need luck with injuries and in the games themselves: a bad bounce, a poor referee's call, a misjudgment at a crucial moment can be the difference between triumph and disaster.
Advertisement
But more than anything it is going to need to be defensively well organised.
It's a cliche, but only because it is a truism: attackers win matches, but defences win titles.
And Australia has been far from sound at the back in recent games.
It shipped goals far too easily in a helter-skelter game against the USA when the Americans scored five to Australia's three in Denver, Colorado, back in early April – Milicic's first game on foreign soil.
The Australians then went down 3-0 last weekend in their final warm-up match for the French tournament, losing to the Dutch, a team plenty see as perhaps more than a lively outsider for the title which will be decided over the next four weeks.
Scoring three and conceding eight is not exactly an ideal way to prepare for the biggest, most keenly contested tournament in the world.
Yes, they were against strong teams – teams rated more of a winning chance in France than Italy, Brazil and Jamaica, who the Matildas will encounter in their group games.
But tightening up at the back, maintaining concentration and allowing as few chances as possible is a non-negotiable if the Maatildas are to make this the World Cup in which they really make their mark.
They will now have to do so without experienced centre back Laura Alleway, who has been ruled out through injury. Her place will be taken by Canberra defender Karly Roestbakken.
A key component of that backline is vice-captain Steph Catley, the Melbourne City stalwart who is also a crucial part of the Matildas.
Catley's absence from the defeat to the US – with a calf strain she sustained during the lead up to that match – was widely noted as perhaps one reason for Australia's porousness that day, and it is to the team's benefit that she is back in harness now.
She featured in the loss to the Netherlands, but says that outing did her the power of good.
"My fitness is going well. Getting 90 minutes the other day was good and getting through it no worries was great. It was really important getting back to international football, resuming training and getting through everything okay," she says. "I definitely feel I am match fit."
She looks back on the game against the Dutch and follows the party line in describing it as the sort of wake-up call all teams need before major competitions.
But, she points out, it wasn't all one-way traffic – and Australia should be able to fix up its problems in 'easy' fashion.
"Football is a funny game and we were playing some really good football (during the match). Statistics were in our favour, we had more shots and more time in the final third and we didn't really finish our chances," she says.
"We had some sloppy set piece defending at times which is pretty easy to fix up.
"Having a couple of those moments unfold you realise what you need to tighten up, it was good timing for us.
"It's set pieces, we know we can defend them, we know we are good in those situations. we know positionally we can tighten up. It's nothing to panic about, it's definitely fixable."
She is adamant that morale has not suffered as a result of those two losses.
"It's something we were saying to each other straight after the game, not to let the results affect us, not to forget the hard work that's been done. We need to focus more on the process. The video [the team watched] looked at things we did really well," she says.
Catley says that none of the Matildas' opponents will be taken lightly. She says Italy are improving, professional and have a lot of incredibly skilful players that have a lot of experience.
"Their league is improving. They will be a challenge," Catley said.
"They are good with set pieces, great delivery and really hungry for the ball, and that's something we have to be very watchful of. They are very smart and technical so we have to be ready for all aspects.
"But we can cause them problems. If you look at our front three, they are very dynamic and some of the players running at their backline can cause havoc."
Catley was looking forward to reacquainting herself with Brazil.
"In major tournaments it seems like we always come up against them. That adds a bit of rivalry I would say, we have kicked each other out of major tournaments at different times," she says.
Catley described Jamaica as an 'unknown quantity'.
"They have a couple of players playing around the world in different leagues that the coaches are keeping an eye on … they will be hungry and excited to be at a World Cup, and will be hard to break down," she says.
"Every game will have its chalRead More – Source
