New Zealand reached the World Cup for only the third time with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia but lost in-form Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to injury.
The All Whites join already qualified Japan and co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year’s finals thanks to three second-half goals.
But the victory in Auckland in the final of Oceania qualifying came at a cost, with skipper Wood suffering what appeared to be a hip injury.
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New Zealand’s Chris Wood goes down injured during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)Source: AFP
Soon after half time at Eden Park, Wood hurt himself swivelling for a shot and required treatment before hobbling off in the 54th minute.
“It’s not great for us losing our captain and our goalscorer. It was a difficult thing for the team but they came through so well,” said New Zealand’s English coach Darren Bazeley.
The hosts looked out of ideas after dominating the first half, but then up popped veteran defender Michael Boxall on 61 minutes to head home from a corner with his first goal for his country.
Five minutes later Wood’s replacement Kosta Barbarouses chipped the ball over advancing New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine.
Substitute Eli Just put gloss on the scoreline from close range with 10 minutes left.
New Caledonia’s unlikely World Cup hopes are not over and they will go into an intercontinental playoff.
Next year’s World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the first time for the team that won the qualifying competition in Oceania.
The region’s top side previously had to go through an intercontinental playoff, with New Zealand falling at the final hurdle to Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru in recent editions.
New Zealand have been to the World Cup twice before, in 1982 and 2010, but are yet to win at the competition in six matches.
“Once the World Cup expanded we expected this of ourselves,” said Boxall. “It’s not about getting there, it’s about what we do when we get there.”
Chris Wood acknowledges the crowd after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)Source: AFP
Facing a side ranked 152 in the world, 63 places below them, hosts New Zealand immediately went on the front foot.
New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory of about 300,000 people which has never been to the World Cup, twice cleared off the line in quick succession after 20 minutes.
Wood, who is in the form of his life at Forest with 18 goals in the Premier League this season, had a chance in the 32nd minute but Nyikeine saved comfortably.
The 33-year-old Wood then headed over the bar from a corner and at the half-time whistle, with the game unexpectedly level, the New Caledonia players mobbed Nyikeine.
Bazeley had seen enough and made two changes at the break, bringing on winger Just and defender Francis de Vries.
Despite losing talisman Wood, New Zealand’s pressure eventually paid off against a rapidly tiring New Caledonia to put the All Whites into the World Cup.
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni wants the Matildas “performing at the level required” after naming his star-studded squad for two home fixtures against Korea in the wake of the poor showing at the SheBelieves Cup in February.
Injured star Sam Kerr remains sidelined having failed to return for Chelsea in two fixtures across the weekend, but her team did topple fellow Matildas star Mary Fowler’s Manchester City overnight.
Fowler was included in the 23-player squad, with midfielder Clare Wheeler set to make a return to the squad after being absent for the last two international windows due to injury.
Young defenders Courtney Nevin and Jamilla Rankin have both earnt recalls off the back of their recent club form in Europe, with Steph Catley to again wear the captain’s armband.
Mary Fowler has been named in the Matildas squad. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFPSource: AFP
The clashes with Korea in first Newcastle and then Sydney next week loom as crucial in preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup after a failure against rivals Japan in the February tournament in the US.
“This squad selection is about achieving the right balance – reintegrating players returning from injury and rewarding those who have been playing consistently well in clubland. It’s important to create continuity while also bringing in players who have earned their place through strong performances,” Sermanni explained.
Sam Kerr is yet to return for Chelsea. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“We are fortunate to have a core group of players competing at the highest levels, whether it’s in the UEFA Women’s Champions League or major domestic competitions.
“Every match leading into the Asian Cup is an opportunity to finetune our approach, build cohesion, and ensure we are performing at the level required to take on Asia’s best during next year’s tournament.”
Kerr has not played for the Matildas since 2023 after suffering an ACL injury.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed that Kerr would not play for the team leading up to the international break and was unavailable to play for the Matildas.
“We will assess her on a week-by-week basis, and hopefully, after the international break, we will have a clearer understanding of her return,” Bompastor said.
Kerr injured her knee at a Chelsea training camp in January, 2024.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Tegan Micah, Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Lincoln
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has made 10 changes to his squad for two must win World Cup qualifiers this month against Indonesia and China, headlined by the omission of veteran striker Mitch Duke.
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The extended 26-player squad features six uncapped players in Scotland based midfielder Nectarios Triantis, Melbourne Victory midfielder Ryan Teague, Melbourne City defender Kai Trewin, Middlesbrough goalkeeper Thomas Glover, fellow shot stopper Paul Izzo and Sydney FC defender Alex Grant. It’s the first time Triantis, Teague, Grant and Trewin have earned a senior national team call-up.
Popovic has also turned to two players, Jason Davidson and Fran Karacic, who haven’t been a part of the Socceroos’ set-up for some time. Davidson, a 33-year-old left back who plays for Panserraikos F.C in the Greek Super League, hasn’t featured for Australia since a friendly against Jordan in 2022. Before that, the 2015 Asian Cup winner’s last appearance was in a World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in November that year. Karacic’s last involvement for the Socceroos was during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The right back, who now calls NK Lokomotiva in Croatia home, was part of the squad for all four games and featured in the group stage win against Tunisia and the 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16.
A raft of injuries to first choice players made picking this squad a tricky task. Goalkeeper Joe Gauci (hip), defenders Hayden Matthews (ankle), Harry Souttar (achilles), and Jordy Bos (hamstring) are all missing while Riley McGree (knock) continues to struggle with his fitness at Middlesbrough. Alessandro Circati is also a long-term absentee as the 21-year-old Parama defender continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament tear. The only two bits of good news from the frequent medical reports came in the form of striker Kusini Yengi returning to action for Portsmouth in the Championship three weeks ago after the 26-year-old hurt his knee in the Socceroos last match against Bahrain in late November while giant defender Cameron Burgess has seemingly shrugged off a calf complaint suffered in Ipswich Town’s fifth round FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest on March 4.
Mitchell Duke celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup match between Tunisia and Australia.Source: AFP
The rest of the squad is a mix of potential, young stars ready for their chance and one veteran who probably thought his time had passed.
Melbourne Victory’s Daniel Arzani gets another chance to impress after Popovic blasted the talented winger during an interview with reporters in January. The coach said Arzani “wasn’t good enough” when he came into camp in October last year and that his “level was really poor in training.” Arzani, once dubbed “the next big thing” in Australian football, missed selection for the November window and has been left in no doubt as to what Popovic wants to see from him. Marco Tilio’s impressive comeback for Melbourne City from a two-and-a-half-month stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury has also caught Popovic’s eye. Those two will be fighting to fill the inverted winger role with Ajdin Hrustic not selected. Hrustic has played just 16-minutes for Italian second division side US Salernitana in 2025.
Triantis made himself almost impossible to ignore after a stunning run of form for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League where he has featured as a ball-winning midfielder. Melbourne Victory’s Ryan Teague adds depth to the fight for that deeper lying role in the centre of the park. Speculation had recently linked him to the Chinese national team if his exploits had seen him overlooked for Australia again.
Triantis and Teague were picked over Max Balard and Patrick Yazbek. Balard has been a regular starter for NAC Breda in the Dutch top flight and was called into the Socceroos squad for the November window, but didn’t get on the field.
Defender Alex Grant gets his reward for a solid run of games with Sydney FC since signing a short-term deal with the Sky Blues in February. Grant is hugely experienced and has an Asian Champions League final appearance and a Korean Cup winners medal on his resume from his time with Pohang Steelers. At 6 foot 3 inches, the 31-year-old goes some way to filling the giant voids left by the injured Souttar and Matthews.
“It was a whirlwind start to the beginning of my tenure with the national team, and since November we’ve had the chance to review and assess all facets of our program ahead of these Qualifiers,” Popovic said.
“We understand the importance of these upcoming games and are excited by the opportunity to further cement our position in the group’s automatic qualifying positions.”
Australian coach Tony Popovic.Source: News Corp Australia
The biggest surprise is Duke missing selection. The striker has been a regular in green and gold since late 2019, but despite a huge work rate without the ball, hasn’t found the back of the net with the type of regularity the Socceroos have needed to smooth their path at or on the road to, major tournaments. Duke has found the back of the net just four times in 24-games at international level since the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The 34-year-old has also played 45-minutes for J-League side Machida Zelvia this season. Goals will now need to come from the boots of Yengi, Adam Taggart and Brandon Borrello.
There also wasn’t room for Nestory Irankunda once again despite the 19-year-old being named the Swiss Super League’s Player of the Month for February after his move from Bayern Munich to Grasshoppers.
The games against Indonesia on Thursday in Sydney and China in Hangzhou on Tuesday shape as crucial to Australia’s hopes of sealing direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico. The Socceroos currently sit in second spot in Group C with four games left in the third round. If they stay there, they’ll earn an automatic berth to the game’s global showpiece. It makes two wins from these next two fixtures vital with Japan at home and Saudi Arabia away to come in June. Just one-point separates second placed Australia from last placed China.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the players and getting the squad together on the pitch in preparation for what will be a great occasion at the Sydney Football Stadium,” Popovic added.
Extended 26 player Socceroos squad:
Daniel Arzani, Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Anthony Caceres, Jason Davidson, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Thomas Glover (GK), Craig Goodwin, Alex Grant, Jackson Irvine, Paul Izzo (GK), Fran Karacic, Lewis Miller, Aiden O’Neill, Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan (GK), Adam Taggart, Ryan Teague, Marco Tilio, Nectarios Triantis, Kai Trewin, Nishan Velupillay, Kusini Yengi
Declan Rice’s equaliser denied Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim a much-needed win but Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
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The Gunners sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, now with just one game in hand, with their focus beginning to turn to holding off the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Bruno Fernandes’ stunning free-kick put United ahead in first-half stoppage time.
The Red Devils, though, could not hold on for just a sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim as Rice swept home on 74 minutes.
United missed a string of late chances to win the game, with a point leaving them down in 14th.
“How we conceded chances in certain moments was not acceptable,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
“They have so much quality and they pick the right player and normally that would end in a goal.
Utd coach full of praise for Fernandes | 00:48
“We opened the gate to lose the game. there was no chance to lose the game and we opened it ourselves. I will defend my players all the time but in those moments we have to do better.”
Arteta, however, was in no mood to answer questions about the club’s failure to make signings in January amid a striker injury crisis, or about its stuttering title challenge.
The Arsenal boss awkwardly ended a post-match interview abruptly when asked about both matters.
Asked if he regrets not signing a striker in January, Arteta shook his head, said ‘no, it’s not about that’, then started trying to exit.
Stopped and asked for one more question, Arteta paused. But when the interviewer started to point out the 15 gap to Liverpool in the title race, the Spaniard said ‘no’ and completed his walk off.
Spurs salvage draw against Bournemouth | 01:30
Also feeling the heat will be United boss Amorim.
United have had three permanent managers and an interim during Arteta’s five years in charge of Arsenal.
Amorim said he knows he will not get the time Arteta did to turn around a sinking ship at Old Trafford.
The discontent among the home support could be seen around the stands with many taking part in a protest by wearing black over what they perceive as “the death” of their club.
“This club will never die, that is clear,” said Amorim. “You feel it in the streets. This is a big business and maybe all the fans in this league sometimes feel it is harder to go to the games and pay for tickets.”
Arsenal had failed to score in either of their previous two league games to realistically wave goodbye to their hopes of a first title in 21 years.
Premier League wrap: Arsenal fall behind | 03:13
Despite still missing the attacking quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners hit back in stunning fashion to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Infused with fresh confidence, Arsenal started on the front foot but again missed the focal point of a natural centre-forward.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise upfront in recent weeks and fired wide from the edge of the area with an early opening.
United have struggled for goals all season, but their skipper has remained a source of inspiration and Fernandes produced once more with a sumptuous free-kick just before halftime.
Questions will be asked over Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s starting position, but Fernandes still had to whip the ball over an imposing wall and back down into the visitors’ net.
Spurs suffer huge Europa League blow | 01:41
– Raya rescues Arsenal –
If Raya was at fault for the opener, he made amends with a string of saves in the second period.
Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were the first to be denied as United threatened a second on the counter-attack.
Arteta was able to throw on Martinelli on his return from a hamstring injury in the hunt for an equaliser.
Instead, it was Rice who matched Fernandes’ fine finish by arrowing a shot beyond Andre Onana from Jurrien Timber’s pass.
Amorim had dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench after a run of 19 games without a goal.
The Dane should have ended that streak when he allowed Rice to get back and make a goal-saving challenge.
More Raya heroics followed to stop Fernandes from snatching a winner as the match entered stoppage time.
However, a draw did little for Arsenal’s title challenge.
Arteta’s men edge four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and eight clear of Manchester City in fifth in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.
No Sam Kerr, no permanent coach, a horror showing on debut at a major tournament and now the lowest ranking ever; the shine has well and truly come off the Matildas since they became Australia’s No.1 team at the 2023 World Cup.
The latest FIFA rankings have heaped further misery on a team that was ordinary in three defeats at the SheBelieves Cup in the US that came on the back of a dismal Olympic campaign in Paris after which coach Tony Gustavsson stepped away.
Without injured captain Sam Kerr to bail them out with her bevy of goals, the Matildas have slumped to 16 on the world rankings, their joint-worst spot since they were introduced in 2003.
It’s a position they last held two decades ago in 2005.
Hayley Raso and her Matildas teammates have fallen off the pace. Picture: Orlando Ramirez / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFPSource: AFP
As Football Australia stalls on appointing a successor to Gustavsson, with Tom Sermanni doing his best in the interim, the Matildas have battled for success since an exhilarating run to the World Cup semi-finals on home soil in 2023.
The Matildas were still in their familiar top-10 position this time two years ago.
But after defeats to Japan, the US and Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup, and performances that raised serious questions given the quality of the line-up, albeit without Kerr, the slide down the rankings has hit a new low.
The Matildas will next be in action in a two-game series against Korea Republic in April.
It’s unclear whether Kerr, who also endured an ugly court hearing in the UK during which she was found not guilty of the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer, will be back for those games.
Triple M on Wednesday apologised for the Sheargold’s comments, which were made on Monday on his afternoon radio show.
Sheargold said he would rather “hammer a nail through the head of my penis” than watch women’s football and he was “sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that’s what I think of it so you can stick it up your arse”.
Sheargold’s comments also included a reference to the name of the tournament the Matildas are playing in, the She Believes Cup, saying, “Oh she believes in what? It better be men.”
His show did not air on Wednesday afternoon and Triple M has since made the call to part ways with Sheargold, with the station announcing they had “mutually agreed” to the decision.
“Southern Cross Austereo takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience,” SCA Chief Content Officer Dave Cameron said in a statement.
“Right now, it’s clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M, and the wider SCA network, will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff.”
Sheargold said: “Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments.
“I’d like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in.”
Football Australia on Wednesday issued a statement, saying it was “deeply disappointed by the unacceptable comments” and they “not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society”.
Triple M radio presenter Marty Sheargold has apologised for comments he made about the Matildas and women’s football. Picture: Supplied/Triple MSource: Supplied
Sermanni said sports teams were “used to criticism” but Sheargold’s comments “crossed the line”.
“It’s completely unnecessary and generally outrageous, and, it’s something that from a behavioural perspective, is really very, very disappointing,” he said.
“For me, it’s not so much about sexism and misogyny, in a sense, although that’s unacceptable – let me make that clear.
“It’s what the comments were. The comments just crossed the line. They were just basically out of order and very, very unnecessary.
“Our team is obviously a very high-profile team, and being a high-profile team, you do take criticism, you do create criticism sometimes very near the edge, but sometimes that just goes over the edge, and those comments did that.”
Triple M’s statement included a personal apology from Sheargold.
“Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence at my comments regarding the Matildas,” he said.
“I sincerely apologise.”
Sermanni said his team had moved on from the matter and was concentrating on beating Colombia after losses to Japan (4-0) and USA (2-1).
“We’ll put that behind us … we’re here to play football,” he said.
“The players have just completely focused on the game.”
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni speaks to players Kaitlyn Torpey (left) and Holly McNamara after Australia’s 2-1 loss to USA. Picture: Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Sermanni was expecting a “physical” contest similar to Australia’s two matches against Brazil – won 3-1 and 2-1 by the South Americans – in Queensland last year.
“(It will) probably be more of a Brazil-style game that … so that’d be more a very physical game,” he said.
“They’ve got a couple of outstanding players in the line-up. We need to look after them, and being South American, they’ve got a certain rhythm, a certain way of playing that’s a little bit different to the Japanese and a little bit different to the Americans.”
Having been “bullied” by Japan last week, Sermanni was happier with the amount of challenges his side won against the Americans on Monday and wants more of the same on Thursday.
“We had a pretty serious chat after the first game (against Japan), and I think the players responded magnificently in that second game,” he said.
WARNING: This article contains language that some readers may find offensive
Comments live on-air from Triple M radio personality Marty Sheargold about Australia’s Matildas have been blasted as “disgusting” and “a f**king joke” — with the comedian since apologising, while Football Australia called the incident “deeply disappointing”.
The Matildas, Australia’s wildly popular national football side, are in the United States competing in the annual SheBelieves Cup along with Japan, Colombia and the host nation.
When the Triple M program and podcast, The Marty Sheargold Show, began discussing the Tillies’ results in the tournament on Monday afternoon, the host took the opportunity to express his feelings towards the team and women’s sport in general.
It’s understood the station has been flooded with complaints after the comments were posted on social media late on Tuesday.
Listen to part of the comments in the player below
The Matildas following their loss to the United States on Tuesday. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
It’s worth noting that when Sheargold began Monday’s show, he started with the message to listeners: “Little ears warning for the following podcast.
“It’s probably not for kids, there’s some adult concepts, not just today, every day.
“Buyer beware as they say.”
But we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that is warning enough for what transpired live on Monday afternoon.
The discussion between Sheargold and co-hosts Troy Ellis and Will Ralson began with Ralston mentioning the tournament to date.
“In football or soccer it’s been a nightmare tournament for the Matildas over the last three or four days over in the US,” Ralston said.
Sheargold immediately jumped in with the following rant, including downplaying – unintentionally or otherwise – the Matildas’ semi-final appearance at the 2023 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
“There’s something wrong with the Matildas,” Sheargold began.
“They had that wonderful tournament out here where we all fell in love with them, even though they didn’t make the quarters.
“You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,” Sheargold continued, as laughter rang out in the background.
“All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a bitch’.
“Now I’m sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that’s what I think of it so you can stick it up your arse.”
Triple M radio and podcast host Marty Sheargold. Picture: Supplied/Triple MSource: Supplied
The broadcaster and actor announced at the time he was taking an extended break to spend more time with family and “prioritise self-care (and) maintaining a better work/life balance”.
Ralston then tried to continue with the sports news bulletin, stating: “So we’re playing in the SheBelieves Cup.”
Sheargold jumped in, screaming “Oh, she believes in what? It better be men” as more laughter rang out.
After a conversation about Sam Kerr and her partner, American footballer Kristie Mewis, which included Sheargold’s question “do they play the same position?”, Ralson tried again to keep the bulletin moving.
Kristie Mewis (left) and Sam Kerr were also discussed on the program. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“We’re 12 months out from Australia hosting the Women’s Asian Cup, so hopefully we have a better runway to improve before that comes around,” he said.
Sheargold responded: “Oh god. The Asian Cup. I’d rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that,” as a sound affect and more laughs were heard.
“Got any men’s sport?”
Ralston replied: “Yeah I do, baseball, the New York Yankees have dropped their 49-year ban on beards, on facial hair.”
“Now this is a good story,” Sheargold responded.
The exchange came to light after Olympic hockey player Ambrosia Malone posted part of it on TikTok with the following caption: “I honestly don’t know what is wrong with the world.
Tokyo Olympian Ambrosia Malone posted some of the comments on social media. Picture: Alex Coppel.Source: News Corp Australia
“I heard this on the radio yesterday in prime time (5.30pm) on the way to training and all I could think about was the young girls sitting in the car with their parents, maybe on the way to or from their own training sessions hearing this.
“I’m sure many of them would have been hurt and confused … I was in disbelief.
“This is apparently acceptable on mainstream afternoon radio??? HOW??”
She added: “I’d name the station and speaker, but I don’t want to reward their behaviour with publicity.”
There was a strong reaction on the platform, with many stating the same disbelief at the comments and asking for the station to be named.
“It’s worth lodging a complaint about this,” was one reply. “If you provide the station and time then I’m sure a few people would be interested in also lodging a complaint.”
Marty Sheargold and Mary Fowler. Photo: Triple M and Mark King, Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Another wrote: “Is this a f**king joke?!? I feel like I’m living in a simulation. That cannot be a real recording.”
“This CAN’T be real,” added a third.
After the station and host was added to the comments, a vast number confirmed they had lodged a complaint with Triple M.
News.com.au has reached out to Triple M for comment.
Meanwhile, more prominent female athletes voiced their anger.
Swimming great Libby Trickett commented: “I’m livid. It’s 2025 and this isn’t funny.”
Netballer Gretel Bueta commented “Yuk”, while Diamonds great Bianca Chatfield left an angry face emoji.
Sheargold has apologised amid the backlash, claimed his joke missed the mark.
“Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence to my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise,’’ he said.
Triple M distanced itself from the comments, without indicating whether any disciplinary action would be taken against Sheargold.
An SCA spokesperson said: “Marty Sheargold’s comments regarding the Matildas — made during Triple M Drive on Monday, 24 February — do not align with Triple M’s views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women’s and men’s sports. We are sorry for any offence caused.”
Football Australia later issued a statement.
“Football Australia is deeply disappointed by the unacceptable comments made by Marty Sheargold on Triple M regarding the CommBank Matildas. Such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society.
“The CommBank Matildas have inspired a new generation of Australians from young boys and girls to men and women who now see a future for themselves in football and sport more broadly. They have broken barriers, set new standards, and elevated the game to unprecedented heights. Their success has been instrumental in transforming women’s sport in Australia, and they deserve to be covered with the respect and professionalism they have earned.
“While we acknowledge the apologies issued by both Triple M and Marty Sheargold, this incident is a stark reminder of the responsibility media outlets and personalities have in fostering respectful and constructive discussions about women’s sport and its participants. Every comment, every report, and every discussion shape public perception and reinforces our society’s values toward women and girls in sport.”
Galatasaray have vowed to file a criminal complaint against Jose Mourinho amid claims he made “racist statements” after Monday’s Istanbul derby.
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce side drew 0-0 away with their bitter Turkish rivals but the match was overshadowed by allegations of racism.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho claimed after the stalemate that Galatasaray had tried to get one of his team booked early on, The Sun reports.
He told a press conference that “everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys”.
Galatasaray immediately hit back and accused the Portuguese manager, 62, of “regularly using derogatory words towards the Turkish people” since moving to Istanbul.
In a damning statement, accompanied by a #SayNoToRacism tag, the reigning Turkish champions added: “[He] has now added inhumane rhetoric to his immoral statements.
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“We would like to inform you that we will file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office and that we will also file a complaint with UEFA and FIFA regarding these racist statements against Jose Mourinho.
“Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce — an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’— in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
Fenerbahce’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho looks on from the technical area during the UEFA Europa League knockout phase play-off 2nd leg football match between Fenerbahce SK (TUR) and RSC Anderlecht (BEL) at the Lotto Park Stadium in Brussels, on February 20, 2025. (Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP)Source: AFP
In his post-match press conference, Mourinho claimed Galatasary players had played for a draw and tried to get one of his players a yellow card.
Praising Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who was reportedly drafted in from abroad following a string of controversies surrounding Turkish officials, Mourinho said: “The reason this was a good match was because of the referee’s performance.
“He had enough honesty to manage this match well. They tried to get a yellow card for our 18-year-old player from the first minute, but the referee managed the game well.”
However, it was his comments that followed which are believed to have caused uproar.
Mourinho continued: “In the situation I mentioned, everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys.
“If it were a Turkish referee, they would have immediately given the card, and I would have had to take the player off in a minute.
“It was a great match for him.”
Thirty thousand police were deployed. Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
“After the match, I went to the referee’s room. I said to the first referee, ‘Thank you for managing this big match well.’
“I said to the [Turkish] fourth official, ‘If it was you, this match would have been a disaster’. It was a very, very good match in terms of emotion and competition.”
Mourinho is yet to respond to the allegations made against him. The former Manchester United boss has previously spoken out on how football is plagued by racist incidents.
The feisty derby saw seven yellow cards dished out, and the match was also stopped momentarily when Fenerbahce fans launched flares into the home fans beneath them.
Some 30,000 police officers were believed to be on duty for Monday night’s match.
Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen later shared his club’s statement to his Instagram story.
Mourinho had previously criticised Osimhen for his on-pitch antics, labelling him a fantastic player, but claiming he “dives too much”.
Jose Mourinho is a multiple Premier League winning manager. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk later took aim at the “Special One” for going into the referee’s dressing room to talk to him.
Buruk said: “Mourinho took a long time to cry. The Crying One… He’s famous for crying. He went into the referee’s room and cried. Let him keep crying.
“Mourinho entered the referee’s room. It is very wrong for him to speak insultingly to the Turkish referee. He said that if they were the ones managing, it would be like this.
“This is very wrong. I cannot believe that he is humiliating the Turkish referees so much, I condemn it.”
Former Porto, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss Mourinho took over at Fenerbahce last year.
Monday’s result leaves them in second place, six points behind Galatasaray with 12 Super Lig games remaining.
— This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission
The Matildas have been given a reality check just over 12-months out from the Asian Cup on home soil with their defending in a 4-0 defeat to Japan at the SheBelieves Cup labelled “un-Australian” by interim coach Tom Sermanni.
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The gulf in class between the two sides in Houston could not have been more evident as Australia succumbed to its largest ever losing margin to its biggest regional rival.
If they’re to lift the Asian Cup next year then improvement in every facet of the game will be needed. This performance will either prove to be just a bad day at the office or an almighty warning sign.
The only positive from a dire outing is that the flaws have been ruthlessly exposed now when there’s still more than enough time to turn things around.
It was tough watching for interim coach Tom Sermanni.
This was the seventh match of his third stint in charge of the national side and it ended with the biggest defeat of that period.
The 70-year-old has a unique way of delivering bad news in a polite way, but even his assessment of the performance against Japan landed like a sledgehammer.
There are few things that hit home more than being labelled “un-Australian,” but there could be no other assessment of the Matildas effort without the ball in his 145th match at the helm of the Matildas.
“We want to be a team that is hard to beat and to be honest today, we really gave up some soft goals,” Sermanni said.
“I just felt some of the goals that we gave up were very poor, and that’s kind of un-Australian.”
The Matildas were dealt a reality check.Source: AFP
A CLASH OF STYLES
The opening five minutes of the match told the story of the entire game.
Japan retained possession with poise, patience and a huge dose of technical skill. The Matildas, in contrast, routinely turned the ball over on the back of a relentless and organised Japan press.
It was 2-0 at half-time but could’ve easily have been more and Japan’s third goal in the 52nd minute came off the back of a free-flowing 14-pass move that culminated with Maika Hamano being able to almost walk the ball into the back of the net.
“Sometimes you just have to sit back say ‘you know what, we were just played off the field today’ and that’s what we were,” Sermanni said.
“They were quicker to every ball, they kept possession fantastically; when we tried to press, they broke out of the press, when we sat back they managed to play through us so sometimes you have one of those games.
“I’d like to give you X, Y and Z as to why it happened, but in reality, they were just very, very good today and we were a bit off.”
Strangely, the Matildas were second best when it came to aerial challenges as well.
Japan’s fourth goal, which came via a Moeka Minami header, was one of many duels Australia lost in the air. It was uncharacteristic to say the least. They’re moments that even on a bad day the Matildas are usually in control of.
“I just felt some of the goals that we gave up were very poor,” was Sermanni’s assessment.
Physicality and intensity are the fallbacks when tactically things aren’t going to plan for Australia, but those attributes are only able to be applied when you can get near your opponent. That was something that proved out of reach.
The Matildas gameplan seemed to revolve around trying to win possession off long balls and playing off the back of that higher up the pitch and out of danger.
Japan produced a masterclass that was in complete contrast.
Their technical ability allowed them to keep the ball for long periods of time, shifting the Matildas defensive formation around until an opening appeared which they exposed with efficiency.
Sermanni, when asked where it all went wrong, didn’t try to deflect or make excuses.
“We were outplayed football wise, we were outplayed physically, we were outplayed, I think, mentally and outplayed in our decision making.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 20: Holly McNamara controls the ball against Yui Hasegawa.Source: AFP
ONE SHOT FOR THE MATCH
The statistical summation of the game doesn’t make for pretty reading for Australia.
The lone shot at goal came in the 87th minute and off the boot of left back Charli Grant, who was a second-half substitute for captain Steph Catley.
The attempt cannoned into the crossbar, but as spectacular as it would’ve been had it nestled into the back of the net, it still would’ve been little more than a consolation goal.
Grant’s effort came on the end of a nine pass move that followed a near miss-kick from Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold that offered Japan the chance to make it 5-0.
It was a rare moment of cohesion from a side that looked largely disjointed.
Japan finished with 18 shots and 8 on target.
MARY FOWLER
Fowler is one of the most technically gifted players in the Australian set-up but finding ways to get her into the game in green and gold has been problematic.
She came into this tournament with three goals and five assists from her last four games for club side Manchester City. It gave her the honour of being the first player in the history of the Women’s Super League to record at least two goal involvements in four straight matches.
This loss doesn’t fall on Fowler’s shoulders by any stretch, but the question of how to ensure she can have the most impact on matches remains unsolved.
The 22-year-old was able to get on the ball more in the second half, but a lack of possession from Australia more generally, hindered her ability to hurt Japan.
A fully firing Fowler isn’t the answer to all of Australia’s problems, but it certainly is part of the jigsaw.
THE SELECTION TABLE
Sermanni named a full-strength side to face Japan.
If this was the Asian Cup final then the team the Matildas would put out would be almost the same.
There’d be a lineball call on whether Sharn Freier, Kaitlyn Torpey or Tameka Yallop started on the left, but apart from that the starting eleven would be identical if everyone was fit and available for selection.
A performance that led to a defeat like this with an experimental side would be understandable.
This result against Australia’s best possible side is problematic.
“It was a pretty huge wake-up call I think,” Sermanni said.
City sliced and diced by Mbappe hattrick | 02:18
THE NEW KIT
On a day when Football Australia launched its new kit there was a frustrating sense of familiarity to the Matildas’ struggles in possession against a highly technical opponent.
That had nothing to do with the strip of course.
The jersey has been met with mixed reviews online, but Australian football fans might just find it grows on them.
Some kits look better on the field with shorts and socks included than hanging on the rack at your local retail outlet.
This one has the feel of being a collector’s item in 20-years-time, similar to the jersey worn by the Socceroos between 1990 and 1993 which is sought after right now.
Give it time.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Matildas have just three days to learn and move on from this result before running into tournament hosts America in Glendale, Arizona on Monday morning (AEDT).
Sermanni, who is holding the fort while Football Australia continues its search for Tony Gustavsson’s full-time replacement, has his work cut out for him.
“As a professional you need to bounce back after bad results and this will be a good test and probably a benchmark for the team to see if we’re able to do that in the next two games,” he said.
As affable as the interim is, he has left his players in no doubt as to what is now required.
In a match between the world No. 8 Japanese and No. 15 Aussies, it looked like it would have been a close match as the Matildas look to put a dire 2024 behind them.
Unfortunately, it was a horror show in the Matildas’ first match since December as Asia’s true powerhouse put the Aussies to the sword.
The result was the biggest ever loss by the Matildas to Japan and should have been much worse with some terrible shots, but what was worse was that the Aussies quite literally didn’t even fire a shot, with no shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes.
At halftime, the commentators were stunned by the 2-0 deficit, with calls for the Matildas to break out of their malaise.
Host Tara Rushton said it was “difficult to watch”.
“It looks like a team that doesn’t really know where they’re at with each other, and a little bit flat and bereft of energy.”
Aussie football veteran Andy Harper agreed.
“This was beyond less than acceptable. This is nowhere near good enough,” he said on Paramount+.
“Tom Sermanni came in, wanted to build stability with this first game, get off to a winning start. This team knows each other intimately. There’s almost 1000 caps spread across … this is so far away from being an acceptable first half of football from our national team in a preparation for an Asian Cup which we’re hosting.”
The Matildas were thrashed by Japan. Photo: Jack Gorman/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Former Matilda Grace Gill said the team would have to “take a good hard look at themselves at halftime”, hitting out at the team’s wasteful first half performance.
The only half chance the Matildas had a strong ball from Kyra Cooney-Cross that found an off-side Caitlin Foord but there was little else that could be considered a positive from a dire first half.
Even the Japanese goals were far from screamers with Mina Tanaka scoring off a weak strike after a failed header clearance from Australia.
The second was little more than a tap in after Clare Hunt and Alanna Kennedy ran into each other.
And the Matildas were lucky to not be further behind after a near-certain header clanged off the crossbar.
Gill said the goals were “easily preventable, easily fixed”.
“It was not controlling the ball, it was not settling things down, everything was going Japan’s way,” Gill says.
“Those (Japan) goals are easily defendable … it’s just defensively poor.
“It feels like the intensity is not there.”
But it was more of the same in the second half with the third goal five minutes after the break.
Despite a few positive moments from Japan showed the gulf in class with a sharp passing move giving Maika Hamano the easiest of tap ins.
At full-time, Harper called it “very very poor”.
“Disappointing doesn’t really come close to covering it,” Harper said.
“It was a morning which simply did not work.”
Hayley Raso reacts for the Matildas. Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Gill said it exposed the “chasm” between the teams.
Harper said the loss exposed a hard truth for Australian football.
“We’re having the same discussion after a Matildas game against Japan as we have after a men’s game against Japan,” he said.
“This is not a team against another team, this is a system against another system.
“While Japan over five, 10, 15 years have made vast progress on a technical level with their players, we sit here sending out national teams out and the chasm between Japan and Australia technically seems to be getting wider, not narrower.”
Fans were quick to take aim at the performance, with criticisms focusing on the fact the Matildas still have an interim coach.
Sport broadcaster Daniel Garb slammed the performance.
“That’s a disaster for The Matildas with as strong a side as it can name at present. Heaviest ever loss to Japan. Concerning a year out from a home Asian Cup,” he said.
“Tom Sermanni is a great of the women’s game & is not to blame but they’ve got to get a move on with a permanent coach.”
The West Australian’s Ben Smith commented: “One shot on target. Matildas in dire need of a direction and a coach, because right now they’re just spinning the wheels. Sermanni in a tough spot, but there doesn’t feel like there’s any jeopardy for senior players.”
“This she believes cup was the perfect time to have a full-time coach in camp with the Matildas. Why there isn’t one yet is insane,” one fan said.
Another added: “The Matildas look seriously out of form and poorly organised. They are a metaphor for @FootbalAUS. We have NO coach and the classy Japanese have an Australian assistant coach. We have a thin bench and a porous defence. Reform is an urgent need.”
There was nothing to celebrate for the Matildas. Photo by Maria Lysaker/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Speaking after the game, defender Ellie Carpenter lamented a horrific day at the office.
“It was a bad performance from us and we need to regroup, refocus for the game against the US,” she said.
“I think we weren’t all on the same page with the press. But like I said, it wasn’t good enough tonight and we just need to refocus, regroup and focus on the next match.”
It gets no easier for the Aussies with the Matildas facing hosts and world No. 1 the US on Monday before finishing against Colombia next Thursday.
