With just 100 days until their home World Cup opener against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney, the Matildas pulled off a stunning victory that will ramp up enthusiasm and expectation back home. In ending the 30-game unbeaten run of the world’s most in-form side in England, Tony Gustavsson’s side put in a gutsy performance that displayed all of their mettle and counter-attacking attributes.
On top of all of that, however, one of the main points shining through in west London was the need for the Matildas to protect Sam Kerr at all costs. There will, therefore, be plenty of concern as the Australian captain hobbled off the pitch deep into injury time to be replaced by Alex Chidiac. A problem that in all honesty looked like tiredness more than anything; the forward gave a wry smile as she departed before strapping an ice pack to her knee.
The Matildas’ talisman, with all of her attacking guile and energy, is Australia’s not-so-secret weapon. Without her, as in the defeat to Scotland last Friday, they look like half a team. She is their cutting edge, a player with the tenacity and vision to send shivers through even the world’s best defenders, whose presence forces them into errors they would not normally commit. This was the case in the rain at Brentford, where her pressure caused Leah Williamson, one of the calmest players there is, to fluff her lines at the back.
After a start in which England dominated the possession and chances created, it was Kerr’s goal in the 32nd minute that took the sting out of their tail. Her awareness was exact, the finish deft, as she lifted her shot over the stranded Mary Earps, who had been sold short by a soft header from her captain.
Kerr had stamped her mark on this game, as she so often does for club and country, and from that moment, the Lionesses’ back-line was never the same. Every counter attack caused trepidation, whether she dropped deep to influence play or broke the lines with her seemingly endless reserves of energy. It was, therefore, perhaps unsurprising that she was at the heart of Australia’s second goal. Sprinting through once more, she turned provider as she stood up a pinpoint cross for Charlotte Grant to head home. There was some luck in the finish, a diversion off Williamson that sent Earps the wrong way, but Australia had more than earned it.
Despite the certainty over Kerr, there are still plenty of unknowns around Gustavsson’s side and what heights they can reach at the World Cup. Their injury list is extensive, and they came into this April camp with at least five of their key players out with a variety of ailments. While Ellie Carpenter was a welcome returnee for these two games, Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Kyah Simon, Emily Gielnik and Alanna Kennedy were all side-lined. When and if that quintet return is still in question, but with over 600 caps between them, they will surely add quality to the promise that this display presented. One worry, however, will be the loss of Tameka Yallop to an ankle injury in the first half. The midfielder emerged on crutches and an assessment will be needed to determine the extent of the damage.
The lack of his more experienced heads has provided Gustavsson the opportunity to give minutes to some of his younger contingent. Six players under 25 lined up against Scotland, five against England with Clare Hunt continuing the start of her Matildas career with another strong showing at centre-back. Being partnered with the wisdom of Clare Polkinghorne in defence will have given the Matildas’ newest player plenty of confidence going forward. The two of them dealt with everything England’s attack threw at them, whether it being alert to low balls across the face of goal or displaying their aerial ability to beat the likes of Alessia Russo in the air.
Australia’s midfield mirrors this. The relationship between Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross, one of the Matildas’ brightest young talents, builds with every game, and they controlled and closed the space in the middle for the majority of the game. They rarely gave England an inch to work in, pressing with intent and disrupting the flow of the hosts’ attack.
It was a performance and a result that showed more than anything that, on their day, this Australia side can compete with the best in the world. Whether it is enough to consider them genuine contenders for the trophy remains to be seen but the signs for Gustavsson’s side were positive in the final overseas showing before the World Cup. Only the pre-tournament warm up matches remain – at the moment, a meeting against France is scheduled – but home comforts can only add to Australia’s confidence ahead of the biggest tournament in their history.
