Interim coach Tom Sermanni has delivered a truth bomb after declaring the Matildas have not planned well enough for the future as he prepares to field a side missing many of Australia’s biggest stars against Taiwan.
After a strong team suffered two defeats in four days to Brazil in Queensland, a effectively second-string line-up will take on Taiwan at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Wednesday night, and then GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Saturday evening.
The likes of Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy and Teagan Micah all left local shores after Sunday’s match against Brazil.
Tottenham duo Clare Hunt and Charli Grant plus Daniela Galic of FC Twente leave on Thursday and skip the last match.
The Matildas are looking to respond to back-to-back losses to Brazil, who beat them 3-1 in Brisbane and then 2-1 on the Gold Coast.
It offers opportunities for A-League Women stars and fringe Matildas such as Emily Gielnik, Chloe Logarzo and Alex Chidiac, along with youngsters such as Galic, Sharn Freier and recent impressive debutant Natasha Prior.
By comparison, predecessor Tony Gustavsson debuted 23 players during his tenure, but only Cooney-Cross, Hunt, Grant, Micah, Clare Wheeler and Cortnee Vine became regulars.
The Swede subsequently maintained a consistent starting XI of experienced players in major tournaments.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni has declared the Matildas have not planned well enough for the future as he prepares to field a side missing many of Australia’s biggest stars against Taiwan.
Injured skipper Sam Kerr was sorely missed in the recent defeats to Brazil as she continues to recover from a torn cruciate ligament
Veteran mentor Sermanni was quick to point out the downside of a stable squad as Australia prepares to host the 2026 Asian Cup.
“The Matildas have had a very consistent squad for four years and what has happened with that is that opportunities have not been created for other players,” he said on Tuesday.
‘And one of the most important things as a national coach is that you have to play for the present, but also make plans for the future. And honestly, I don’t think we planned well enough.
“So part of the job for me and for anyone who comes on a permanent basis has to be that we do both.
‘That means looking at other players (while) trying to balance everything else, which is getting results and delivering good performances.’
Sermanni promised to field a ‘balance’ of experienced campaigners and fresh faces against their opponents, who are ranked 41st in the world.
“One of my goals is to give opportunities to as many players as possible,” he said.
‘But I don’t want to give any guarantees about that, because a football match plays out in many different ways and you are never quite sure what will happen.’
Mary Fowler also did not play against the South Americans while in England, citing her mental health (pictured, with boyfriend Nathan Cleary)
Sermanni also hopes that his possible replacement will do the same Continue to combine the pursuit of positive results with developing a new crop of players.
‘Hopefully there is continuity. I think that’s important,” he said.
“When I step away, the coach coming in, hopefully he or she will rely on the staff that is (already) there, and maybe bring in their own staff as well.
“But I think some of the continuity is important for the program.
“If you look at the big picture, I think what’s really important in a job like the Matildas is that once the head coach comes in… they’re also the head coach of the Matildas program.
“That includes many more roles beyond just playing the national team. Hopefully whoever that person is will come in and can or should certainly rely on the expertise that is already there.’