Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler decisions to be made by Matildas coach
Fowler has made great progress, making his first start for Manchester City since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last weekend. But after a long-haul flight straight into the Western Australian heat, the risk isn’t worth it.
Will Montemurro field a full-strength squad?
Maybe. Some, like the tireless Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord, feel definitive. Same goes for Hayley Raso and Katrina Gorry, and see above for Kerr and Fowler. However, it is more difficult to predict the structure of the midfield and defense.
Katrina Gorry will once again play a big role in the Matildas’ midfield throughout this Asian Cup.Credit: Getty Images
Does Kyra Cooney-Cross’ load management open the door for Clare Wheeler? What about Amy Sayer? Will Steph Catley start, or will she use this opportunity to rest after a heavy club load at Arsenal? Will this lead to Jamilla Rankin or Kaitlyn Torpey at left-back and who will accompany Wini Heatley in defence?
Can the Matildas beat the Philippines again, 8-0?
These teams last met at the same Perth venue in 2023. Kerr and Foord scored hat-tricks and Fowler and Wheeler had an entertaining Olympic qualifying match in front of almost 60,000 spectators. Will we see a similar leaderboard?
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You wouldn’t put your money on a $26 underdog, but Australia’s Mark Torcaso, the Philippines coach, believes the world No. 41 has made huge growth since that defeat, his second match in charge. “We’re just going to be out there, be annoying and put constant pressure,” Torcaso said. “And I know the girls will fight. That’s the only thing I’m proud of about our country.”
How does this compare to other group games?
You should never speak too early, but Australia’s opener looks to be the simplest of the three fixtures in Group A. Yes, the Philippines has improved since 2023, but their style is also cleaner than Iran’s, despite being ranked 68th. They are known for their playfulness. this breaks the momentum and can create banana peel moments for the Matildas. South Korea appears as the three most difficult shapes in the game. Although they are no longer as strong as they once were, Australia will well remember the 1-0 defeat in the quarter-finals that eliminated them from the 2022 Asian Cup.
