A controversial conservative commentator has sparked a debate after declaring he expected the Matildas to lose their opening game.
Kobie Thatcher, known for her outspoken opinions, shared a post on social media Thursday night.
“I’m going to say it now because I won’t be staying up until 3am: I hope the awake Matildas lose tomorrow morning’s game,” she wrote.
Their hopes were realised when, at 3am AEST, Tony Gustavsson’s side succumbed to a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Germany in their opening Group B match in Marseille.
While some called Thatcher’s comments “unpatriotic” and “un-Australian”, many others praised her stance.
“As predicted, they were terrible,” said the former One Nation leader from New South Wales Mark Lathan said.
‘As usual, the media has given it too much importance.’
Kobie Thatcher, known for her outspoken opinions, said she refused to wake up to watch the Matildas and hoped they would lose.
Their hopes were realised when, at 3am AEST, Tony Gustavsson’s side succumbed to a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Germany in their opening Group B game in Marseille (pictured: stunned players after the defeat)
Several others accused the Matildas of focusing too much on “woke” issues at the expense of their football.
“I can’t say I’m sad to see this bunch of woke, arrogant, overrated people who have accomplished nothing being embarrassed on the world stage once again,” one online commenter fumed.
Another asked: “When will sports administrators learn the lesson: if you wake up, you go broke?”
It is not clear exactly why the Matildas have been accused of being “woke.”
In 2021, Pauline Hanson criticised the team for posing with the Aboriginal flag before a match.
Although not as openly critical, many loyal fans were equally disappointed by the Matildas’ lackluster performance.
“Ahhhh Tillies, it’s hard to watch this at 4:30 in the morning,” said one fan when the third goal was scored.
Another said: “Not exactly what you expect when you wake up at 3am to see it.”
“This is tough for 4.30am,” said a third fan.
Other fans pointed out the World Cup semi-finalists’ lack of energy, an uncharacteristic trait for Gustavsson’s team.
“The Matildas are so out of shape they’re not even funny anymore,” said one fan.
Another added: “This is the worst I’ve seen them play in a long time.”
Several critics accused the Matildas of focusing too much on “woke” issues at the expense of their football.
But for most fans, there was only one person to blame for the Marseille team’s poor form.
“Tony Gustavsson has rarely put a foot wrong in major tournament matches during his tenure, but this one lives up to Nigeria’s nightmare,” said one fan.
‘Wrong tactics with high pressing and that’s why the wrong players were put in the starting line-up.’
“Tony Gustavsson is the Brad Fittler of women’s football,” said another fan. “He’s holding our team back.”
The Matildas barely created a single valuable chance, any decent approach work was thwarted by poor delivery, and the Germans were decisive winners with two headed goals from Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller from corners, before 21-year-old Jule Brand fittingly wrapped up the most comprehensive of victories.
This is not the first time Thatcher has caused a stir with her comments.
Earlier this year, he accused Westfield Bondi Junction bosses of “consciousness-raising nonsense” after they held a “community day of reflection” when they reopened following the stabbing murder of six people by schizophrenic Joel Cauchi.
In a later post, she insisted: “Virtue Signalling Day at Bondi Junction. Oh, I mean ‘Community Reflection Day’.”