Australia roar 4-0 win end Switzerland in Melbourne for three wins. One Caitlin Fooded doubles as well as goals for Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler helped Matildas win against his highest ranked opponent since a 0-1 loss to world number 1 USA in 2017.
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While Sweden dominated in the first half, it was Matildas who took the lead thanks to Kerr’s 37th minute goal. In her first goal in a blue and yellow shirt since April, Kerr was able to. pounced past her Chelsea team-mate Zecira Musovic in Sweden’s goal, following Katrina Gorry’s precise cross, Foord’s clever save and Hayley Raso’s cross.
The Matildas kicked in with intensity in the second half and added three more goals into the net, their most comprehensive win ever against a team ranked in FIFA’s top five.
Foord begins to consider her gear, delivering a beautiful heart attack to make it two after a warm-up assist from Cooney-Cross. Fowler, with the help of a large deviation, added a third. The ball stretched from behind G’s midfield area to find Kerr, who was able to hit Fowler to finish. Foord rounded the line and scored his brace, after some favorable passes from Kerr and substitute Emily van Egmond.
It was gratifying for the Matildas, who were able to keep a clean sheet, the first since a goalless draw with the United States at the Olympics, overall it was a near-perfect performance by the Australians.
CLICK: Player Rating | Best/worst performer | Highlights and remarkable moments | Quotes after the game | main statistics | Upcoming furniture
rapid response
1. Caitlin Foord is the best Matilda
Tony Gustavsson is always the first to admit that much of a player’s development takes place at the club, he can only hope that the players can bring that form to the national team. Foord has completely done that and has been able to sustain it throughout the international window as well as across the league for Arsenal. Her two goals against Sweden in addition to a brace against Denmark and a goal against South Africa in October.
When asked about her reasons for her good form, Foord laughed and said that she simply enjoys her football. But when forced to think about it more, she gave a lucid answer about the advancement of women’s football in general, especially for Australians. Foord told the media after the game: “I just assumed it was an illegal season. “I think having a time to step away from the game, a time to refresh and miss the game a little bit, I think that’s what I need. It’s been so many years. [between leagues] and don’t really have that time to settle down. “
“I think the same is true for many of us and moving to England gave us the opportunity to do that.”
2. Gustavsson seems to have found the optimal lineup
After nearly two years of experimenting, aligning systems and formations, it seems that, by an admittedly small sample size, Gustavsson has found the basic formation from which Matildas can win games. play. The coach has not only stuck with his midfield options since the October transfer window despite the return of bigger players, but also with the squad that worked especially well against Dan. Circuit.
After the game, the coach pointed to his team’s spine – the central midfield pair of Catley and Polkinghorne, midfield duo Gxin and Cooney-Cross, as well as the dynamic duo of Kerr and Foord at the top – as “” part that helped us win the game today.”
Tactically, the team were able to make adjustments midway through the game, which saw them not only end the first half with a much-needed goal, but also continue in the second half to take the game away from Sweden. completely.
“We went from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 more,” Gustavsson said after the game. “When we took Vine and Raso down the pitch and leveled Caitlin and Sam, because Caitlin and Sam are very good at cutting through channels and knowing when to press. And when they staggered, we had too many. space inside the bag.”
The fact that these changes can happen mid-game speaks volumes about the way Gustavsson’s side have evolved and their ability to now be more flexible and perform game management – things that Gustavsson has done. talked about a long time ago.
3. The training session for the World Cup that everyone wants (except for Sweden)
Many teams have and will take advantage of the friendlies against Australia and New Zealand ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Likewise, the Matildas are using these friendlies as dress rehearsals for the biggest matches they’ve played. Australians will play.
– FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and fixtures
It begins with the United States in November 2021. The clash is billed as the warm-up of the World Cup — the Australian Stadium will host the match and will host the World Cup final — but the Matildas appear to be was overwhelmed by this event. Likewise, against Canada at the Sydney Football Stadium in September this year, where the Matildas will play the opening match, a bright start has given way to a Canadian comeback.
But at AAMI Park, where Australia will face Canada in the final group stage match in 2023, things have come together. 22,065 boisterous crowds were engrossed in each Matildas attack. The whole team didn’t seem bogged down by a sense of opportunity but took the lead in an exciting second half. And although they were small in number, the pockets of Swedish fans contributed their own noise to make for an incredible event.
Not everyone needs that extra boost to get excited about the iconic tournament in women’s football, but Melbourne and the Matildas provide exactly that.
Player Rating
Australia: Teagan Micah 6, Courtney Nevin 5, Clare Polkinghorne 6, Steph Catley 6, Charli Grant 5, Katrina Gorry 7, Kyra Cooney-Cross 7, Hayley Raso 6, Caitlin Foord 8, Sam Kerr 7, Cortnee Vine 5.
Prep: Mary Fowler 7, Emily van Egmond 7, Larissa Crummer 5, Aivi Luik 5.
Switzerland: Zecira Musovic 5, Jonna Andersson 5, Linda Sembrant 5, Madelen Janogy, 6 Sofia Jakobsson 5, Stina Blackstenius 5, Nathalie Bjorn 5, Emma Kullberg 5, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd 6, Hanna Bennison 5, Elin Rubensson 5.
Register: Rebecka Blomqvist 4, Julia Zigiotti Olme 4, Olivia Schough 4, Filippa Angeldal 4, Matilda Vinberg 4.
Best and worst performers
BEST: Caitlin Foord
The Arsenal forward is simply unstoppable and is enjoying his central position for the national team.
WORST: Stina Blackstenius
One after another Arsenal striker, Blackstenius was very quiet for Sweden.
Outstanding and remarkable moments
Fire food from the range!
: @10FootballAU #WeAreMatildas #AUSvSWE pic.twitter.com/lo4OqUUn6L
– CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) November 12, 2022
Not many players hit the 100-game mark in Australian football, let alone 150. But Clare Polkinghorne has joined an exclusive group to become the only third Australian to make 150 appearances for the team. national selection.
Joining Matildas legends Lisa De Vanna and Cheryl Salisbury, Polkinghorne could finish the year at the top with Salisbury, who has made 151 appearances for the national team.
Caitlin Scoord. That’s it.
— Ann Odong (@AnnOdong) November 12, 2022
While the team would be delighted to win an important match, today’s focus is really on Foord, who may need to consider a name change after her efforts.
After the game: What players and coaches say
Caitlin Foord, on why she’s in good form: “Above all, being at a club like Arsenal. Obviously, the level I’m working on day in and day out and asking to perform differently, in a squad surrounded by so many great players. Great, if you’re not in shape, you’re on the bench.”
Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson: “Am I happy with this performance? Yes, but I’m not too excited. I’m very humbled about our position and this is just a game.”
main statistics
– Polkinghorne becomes the third Australian, male or female, to play 150 games for the national team. She is on track to equal Cheryl Salisbury’s record of 151 appearances against Thailand on Tuesday.
– This is the Matildas’ biggest win ever against a top five ranked team and their highest ranking win since a 1-0 win over USWNT No. 2017.
– The Matildas kept their first clean sheet against a country in the top 10 since a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the Olympics with the United States.
Next
Australia: The Matildas will end their year in Gosford when they meet hosts Thailand in the second match of this international season.
Switzerland: Meanwhile, this loss will be made in 2022 to Sweden. The team will no doubt regroup and reassess as we head towards the opening match of the World Cup in New Zealand against South Africa in July 2023.
