Interim coach Tom Sermanni dropped a truth bomb after declaring the Matildas have not planned well enough for the future, as he prepares to field a team missing many of Australia’s biggest stars against Taiwan.
After a strong team suffered two defeats to Brazil in Queensland in four days, an effectively second-string line-up will take on Taiwan at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Wednesday night, and then GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Saturday night .
Players including Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy and Teagan Micah left local shores after Sunday’s game against Brazil.
Tottenham pair Clare Hunt and Charli Grant, plus FC Twente’s Daniela Galic, will depart on Thursday and will miss the final match.
The Matildas are looking to respond to back-to-back losses to Brazil, who beat them 3-1 in Brisbane and then 2-1 on the Gold Coast.
It presents opportunities for A-League Women stars and fringe Matildas such as Emily Gielnik, Chloe Logarzo and Alex Chidiac, alongside youngsters such as Galic, Sharn Freier and recent impressive debutant Natasha Prior.
By comparison, his predecessor Tony Gustavsson debuted 23 players during his tenure, but only Cooney-Cross, Hunt, Grant, Micah, Clare Wheeler and Cortnee Vine became regulars.
The Swede then maintained a consistent starting eleven of players experienced in major tournaments.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni has declared the Matildas have not planned well enough for the future, as he prepares to field a team missing many of Australia’s biggest stars against Taiwan.
Injured captain Sam Kerr was sorely missed in recent losses against Brazil as she continues to recover from a torn ACL.
Experienced mentor Sermanni was quick to point out the disadvantages of a stable team as Australia prepares to host the 2026 Asian Cup.
“The Matildas have had a very consistent team for four years and what’s happened with that is it hasn’t given opportunities to other players,” he said on Tuesday.
“And one of the key things as a national team coach is that you have to play for the present, but also plan for the future. And I think, to be fair, I don’t think we have planned well enough.
‘So part of the task for me and whoever comes permanently has to be to do both.
“That means looking at other players (while) trying to balance everything else, that is, getting results and good performances.”
Sermanni promised to field a “balance” of experienced activists and new faces against his opponents, who are ranked 41st in the world.
“One of my goals is to give opportunities to as many players as I can,” he said.
“But I don’t want to give any guarantees about that, because a football match develops in many different ways and you are never sure what is going to happen.”
Mary Fowler also did not play against the South Americans while she remained in England, citing her mental health (pictured, with her boyfriend Nathan Cleary)
Sermanni also hopes that his eventual replacement Continue to balance the pursuit of positive results with the development of a new generation of players.
“I hope there is continuity. I think that’s important,” he said.
“When I leave, the coach that comes in will hopefully depend on the staff that is (already) here, and maybe bring their own as well.
‘But I think some of the continuity is important for the show.
‘If you look at the bigger picture, I think what’s very important in a job like the Matildas is that once the head coach comes in… he’s also the head coach of the Matildas program.
“That encompasses many other roles, besides being on the national team. Hopefully, whoever that person is, they come in and trust, or should trust, the expertise that already exists.’