The Matildas are facing a tough emotional recovery after their heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Japan in the Asian Cup final. The sting of defeat was palpable as the final whistle blew, with shattered players acknowledging that a significant opportunity to lift a trophy together had slipped through their grasp. This was despite a performance that many considered the team’s best in recent memory, holding their own against one of the world’s elite teams for extended periods. The stats told a story of dominance: more possession, more shots on goal, more corners, and more crosses.
However, the crucial element – the clinical finish – was absent. Coach Joe Montemurro acknowledged the difficulty in lifting his squad’s spirits but stressed the importance of extracting positives from the tournament. “The moment, the situation, having the coldness to put the ball in the back of the net… it didn’t fall for us,” Montemurro admitted.
He continued, “It’s going to be hard to bring them together. But they know deep down in their hearts that they gave everything. They did everything they could. They put on an amazing journey for the public and for their fans. I think we solidified us as a footballing team and what we mean. We just have to now start looking forward.”
Building on a Strong Foundation
Montemurro urged his players not to dwell on the disappointment. “I said to them after the game, ‘You should be so proud to represent this country. You should be so proud of what you’ve done. Don’t drop your heads.’ They can’t drop their heads. They’ve got to keep going forward now because we’re at a very, very good point – a really delicate point to go forward at the next stage. I’ll be trying to keep the belief going.”
The players are set to return to their respective clubs, but the Matildas’ journey is far from over. An international window in April will see them reconvene for friendly matches, providing an immediate opportunity to regroup.
Montemurro believes that the team’s demonstrated improvement in possession-based play offers a solid platform for future success. This focus on ball retention is seen as crucial as the team shifts its attention to the next major tournament: next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil, for which they secured qualification by reaching the Asian Cup semi-finals.
The Importance of Possession and Belief
“I know all this talk about philosophy and game style and style of football… you’re probably sick of me talking about it, but for us to be a top team, we have to keep the ball,” Montemurro stated. “We have to be better with the ball. We have to be able to create situations with the ball. And, yes, doing it against one of the top teams in the world in the way we did it, that gives me hope. That gives me belief. But more importantly, it gives the players belief.”
He emphasised the intrinsic link between belief and performance: “That’s the most important thing, because I’ve said all along, this team… it needs to believe more in who they are and what they can do and what they can achieve. And this tournament has shown that.”
Nurturing Talent and Sustaining Excellence
When questioned about how the Matildas can maintain their elite standing in women’s football while simultaneously integrating emerging talent, Montemurro’s response was clear: increased exposure to top-tier competition at both club and international levels is paramount.
Intriguingly, his perspective also suggests a measured approach to squad transitions, with no immediate push to move on from experienced players, particularly those competing in prestigious leagues worldwide.
“We need to play top games, allowing the next group, if you want to call it that, to really be given the opportunity to feel what playing against a big crowd, playing in difficult conditions, what that means,” Montemurro explained. “Tournament football at this level is really about understanding and adapting to the situation. We just need the next generation to be playing high-level football… but we’ve still got the core group that are at the top level themselves. So it’s very hard to say bye-bye because they’re all playing Champions League.”
Montemurro highlighted the evolving nature of professional football: “Maybe in my time, when you’re over 28 or 29 or 30, you were too old – but nowadays with our sports science and with our recovery and with our processes and our load management, players can still play on. I’m excited of that batch, but the next batch is really, really exciting too.” This forward-looking outlook suggests a balanced strategy, leveraging the experience of seasoned professionals while actively cultivating the next wave of Australian football talent.
