Matildas Coach Defends Sticking with Veterans Ahead of World Cup
The age-old Australian mantra of “having a go” is seemingly being put on the backburner by the Matildas’ head coach, Joe Montemurro, as the clock ticks down to the next women’s World Cup. With just over a year until the global showpiece, Montemurro is facing increasing pressure, from both fans and media alike, to utilise the remaining time to blood new talent. In the lead-up to the tournament, the Matildas have a limited window of five international breaks and a maximum of 13 matches to fine-tune their squad. Their most recent outing saw them secure a 3-1 victory over Mexico, a welcome improvement on their earlier 1-0 loss to the same opposition in Newcastle.
What’s notable in these recent fixtures is Montemurro’s consistent selection of a veteran-laden starting eleven. In fact, ahead of these matches, four of these experienced players were recognised for reaching significant career milestones. This core group remained largely unchanged from the starting lineup that contested the Asian Cup final in March. Meanwhile, observing from the sidelines, clad in long puffer jackets, sat the next wave of Matildas talent. Many of these emerging players are already making their mark in international leagues, some have featured in FA Cup finals, and two, Leticia McKenna and Holly MacNamara, recently clinched the A-League premiership and championship. Adding to this impressive list is Izzy Gomez, the latest recipient of the coveted Julie Dolan Medal, awarded to the most outstanding player in the Women’s A-League.
Despite the clamour for new faces, Montemurro remains steadfast in his approach, refuting the notion that this burgeoning talent is being overlooked or is “wasting away” on the bench. Speaking after the second encounter with Mexico in Sydney, he articulated his philosophy on international football selection.
No Room for Sentiment in International Football
“International football isn’t about giving people the opportunity just because she won the Julie Dolan medal,” Montemurro stated emphatically. “International football is about the role that they play to help the team to do what they need to do. I think we’ve got this illusion that we’ve got to give everyone a go in international football. It doesn’t happen like that; that’s just not a reality.” He further elaborated on the dynamic within the squad, suggesting that the presence of promising players like Izzy Gomez serves a vital purpose even if they aren’t starting. “And if Izzy Gomez makes Leticia McKenna better or makes Mary Fowler better, then that’s her role,” he explained.
Montemurro is also unfazed by comparisons to his predecessor, Tony Gustavsson, and the suggestion that he might be favouring a single squad for the entirety of the next World Cup. In fact, this continuity is precisely his intention.
Building Continuity for World Cup Success
“The next window is in four months, that’s probably why even putting out a starting XI that’s close to where we want to be – I’m not saying it’s going to be the one at the World Cup, but it’s close to where we want to be – and having that continuity, it’s because we’re not going to reconvene for the next four months,” he explained. “So I could have done a lot of rotations in this camp and played a lot of players and tried things, but I don’t think it was necessary because we needed that continuity.”
While acknowledging the depth of talent on the bench, Montemurro maintains a pragmatic outlook on their immediate roles in upcoming tournaments, which will likely continue to be as impactful substitutes.
- “I think that it sets us up really good to have a good backup squad that will get a lot of minutes.”
- “I think we have to start now pushing two or three of them to really start being that number two to the players who are out there.”
Identifying the Next Key Players
Despite the established core, certain positions and player availability are still under consideration. Midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross has been on personal leave from both her club and the national team since the conclusion of the Asian Cup. Katrina Gorry has also been absent from recent squads. Furthermore, Montemurro openly discussed his assessment of the crucial No.10 role.
“Leticia McKenna is one that we’re really looking close at in terms of the No.10 role,” he revealed. “Holly McNamara is also one that we feel is very close to starting in this team. And Remy [Siemsen] is doing very well at club [level], she’s playing consistently, scoring goals, doing really, really well.”
Montemurro reiterated his fundamental principle for national team selection: “I’ve said from day one, there’s no givens in this national team. You’ve got to be playing regularly at club, you’ve got to be performing regularly at club, and you’ll be considered into this national team.”
For fans eager to see fresh faces gain experience before a major tournament, echoing the paths of even the most celebrated Matildas of yesteryear, Montemurro has offered a glimmer of hope. He has promised that in the upcoming two camps, scheduled for October and November, he will implement a degree of roster rotation.
In the interim, the intense focus on World Cup preparations will take a brief pause as Montemurro embarks on his first holiday in three years. Following this break, the Matildas are slated to compete in Europe during the October international window. “Which is going to be a big one for us because we’re playing against some good teams. They’re going to be top teams,” he stated, anticipating significant challenges. Fortunately for him, he will have his trusted and proven starting eleven ready to face these formidable opponents.
