It hasn’t even been two weeks since the Matildas lost to Japan in the final of the Women’s Asian Cup but the squad for the next window has been released.
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The inaugural FIFA Series sees Australia back in international action, playing in a group with Malawi, India, and host nation Kenya.
There was a hope, or an expectation, that, considering the opposition and the closeness of this window to the Asian Cup, the Matildas would bring a different kind of squad.
One that was full of younger, less-experienced players. It would give them a chance to play international football, to prove themselves to Joe Montemurro, and — just as importantly — to give the senior Matildas a rest after a gruelling three weeks of tournament football and no reprieve in club land.
Instead, 19 of the 26 players who made it to the Asian Cup will be running around again in Kenya.
Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter headline the absences, with Katrina Gorry, Kahli Johnson, and Michelle Heyman also out. Kyra Cooney-Cross has not been named, which comes after Arsenal announced she would not return to England and would instead stay in Australia following her mum’s cancer diagnosis. Clare Hunt will also miss after picking up a knee injury in the Asian Cup semifinal.
The three additions to the squad are Jessika Nash, currently playing in Italy for Sassuolo, Isabel Gomez and Leticia McKenna, who play for Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City, respectively.
And while the three inclusions are incredibly exciting, with Nash and Gomez returning to the fold and McKenna a first-time call-up, it feels a little bit underwhelming for a fanbase that assumed there would be mass change for this window at least.
When asked about the squad, one word was used more than any other by Montemurro.
“I think continuity is the most important thing, are we able to continue doing what we’re doing against different opposition?” he told media.
“But for me it’s really important that we’ve set the base for continuity going forward and for me to make the relative adjustments and for me to see the combinations that I’m looking for and for me to prepare the tournament, the World Cup. I think we have to do it through the benchmark that we’ve set.”
“So it was strategic to bring in the bulk of the squad back and, surprise surprise, a lot of them wanted to come back and continue the work that we’re doing which was great.”
While this continuity may have been strategic, it was a surprise nonetheless.
Montemurro did make note that he wanted to test certain combinations and also give players who didn’t get many minutes at the Asian Cup playing time in this window to see where they are at in terms of playing the way he wants the national team to play. The juggle of introducing newer players to the system, while also giving them the support from older players required to learn and adapt to the style but not relying on the experienced players as a default, is nothing new but something Montemurro must navigate as well.
He also reiterated the team’s need for more high-level competitive football — for the players at the individual level and also the team as a whole; a call that loses none of its validity despite the rankings of the Matildas’ opponents in this April window.
“Our biggest issue is competitive football. Our biggest issue is bringing these squads in together more often and giving them competitive football so we can make clear decisions,” Montemurro said.
While fans hoped for a different looking squad, 19 players from the Asian Cup squad, headlined by Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, are playing in thie FIFA Series. Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images
When asked about the three inclusions, Montemurro made note of the midfield in particular, and what Gomez and McKenna bring to the Matildas.
“The midfield area is one where we are looking, in regards to finding those players that are of a modern sense, in terms of explosive, technically good with the ball, and very good in positioning, but also can break lines and make runs.”
“So with Izzy, especially, we felt that she’s a player that can break the lines going forward.”
“Leticia, I’ve watched her over the last, probably six months. And I think another one that we believe that working in between the lines and is quite comfortable on the ball can take the next level and does already play at a high level, in terms of rhythm, and in terms of game tempo.”
“All of them again, they are ones that we believe, that moving forward for the way we want to play, are really important. And as I said we just now need to find the high-level continuity for them to be exposed to that, to do it more, so that when big tournaments come around, they’re able to adapt to the situations.”
The Matildas play Malawi on April 11 and will play either Kenya or India in a second game during the window.
