Montemurro’s tactical shift promises more versatility and less reliance on Sam Kerr

The Matildas have always been a picture of fluidity at their best, but the latest strike was the strongest sign that Project Montemurro has clearly broken away from the past, particularly the style that carried the team to the 2023 World Cup semi-finals.

His predecessor Tony Gustavsson, like Montemurro, prioritized fast attack, possession and pressing. However, his system was more centered around a select group of players he trusted, and the Swede was criticized for his extreme lack of rotation and, at times, overly complex tactics.

Montemurro’s success at Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon has been achieved through a philosophy that looks similar on paper – proactive and possession-based – but there appear to be key differences that are encouraging Australia’s Asian Cup hopes at home in March.

Sayer’s reference to Total Football, the 1970s Dutch system made famous by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels in which no outfield player holds a fixed position and moves frequently to create goals through extra space, wasn’t far off the mark based on Friday’s display.

Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry and Emily van Egmond were regularly spinning, drifting, falling back and breaking lines in the middle. The defensive line was high and compact (except when caught in transition), which limited the Football Ferns’ space.

It was also clear that Montemurro’s penchant for patience and measured, deliberate preparation game was starting to hurt the team. This has also been helped by the smart distribution of centre-back pairing Steph Catley and Wini Heatley, giving promise that this Australian team is capable of overcoming previous struggles by breaking through low defensive blocks.

“We worked especially hard [on] We understand when we can go beyond the limits and prepare to move forward,” said Montemurro. “My football has never been direct, so it’s not a hit-and-hope kind of thing. “Sometimes you have to be direct, but this is prepared direct football and that makes a little more sense.”

Sayer said the team’s emphasis is on “establishing ball control.”

“We don’t want to rush any forward-looking attack,” he said. “We want to keep the ball and make sure we move up the pitch in a controlled manner. Joe doesn’t have a complicated style of play; I think the best part about it is the simplicity.”

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This simplicity, hints of regular rotation throughout the tournament to avoid first-team World Cup fatigue, and the breadth of strikers (five) means that the absence of a player like Sam Kerr for whatever reason will not be as catastrophic as it was two years ago when individual effort trumped the collective output.

However, there is hope that Kerr’s “crusty calf” will be rested enough to make up one of the anticipated starting line-up changes against New Zealand in Adelaide on Tuesday night, where the Matildas will aim to close out the game more comfortably in their final warm-up before the Asian Cup.

Claire Hunt is expected to return after rest and defender Alanna Kennedy will be free to play after serving a red card suspension in last month’s defeat to England.