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.
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.”
It took just 41 seconds for the Matildas to fall behind with the USA scoring the opening goal in a flash in Arizona.
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The nighmare start for the Australians came via a blunder at the back which allowed Lynn Biyendolo to stroll into the box unmarked and complete a tap-in.
“A nightmare start for Australia,” former Matilda Grace Gill said on commentary.
Biyendolo put the ball into the back of the net for a second time at the eight-minute mark, but the linesperson’s flag saved the Matildas from falling 2-0 down.
The USA celebrate their opening minute goal against the Matildas.Source: FOX SPORTS
PREVIEW
The Matildas have made four changes to the starting XI that was humbled 4-0 by Japan for their an important SheBelievesCup clash with the USA.
The Olympic champions are always a formidable opponent, and particularly so on home soil, with the Australians desperately needing to lift their game in Arizona after an incredibly disappointing first up defeat.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, defender Clare Hunt, and veterans Tamika Yallop and Katrina Gorry have all been benched with goalkeeper Teagan Micah, defender Winonah Heatley, recalled striker Holly McNamara and Charli Grant taking their places in the starting side.
McNamara’s comeback is special as she makes her first start in national colours in more than three years after enduring three ACL tears.
“It’s fantastic for her and for the team,” Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni told Paramount+.
“She’s done an exceptional job to get herself fit and healthy after three ACLs in quick succession. It’s important to get her out there and see how she goes from the start.”
Meanwhile, USA have opted to change all eleven players in the starting team from their previous match – the first time they have done so in 24 years.
“The thing that the US has done now is they’ve built up not just a starting team, but a real quality squad, where even if they have five or six key players missing, they’ve still got an outstanding team … so they’re a very formidable side at the moment,” Sermanni said.
“Everybody plays a little bit different to Japan, but the US and the Australian styles in general, have been, to a degree, quite similar,” Sermanni said.
“If you look historically, particularly over the last 10 or 15 years, most of the games between the US and the Aussies have been quite tight and very competitive because I think we’re two very similar nations in many ways.”
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.
Sam Kerr will always be remembered as one of the greatest women’s players to grace the game, but one drunken night out in London has raised questions over the Australian superstar’s reputation.
The 31-year-old Chelsea striker, who is mixed race, issued a public apology despite being found not guilty on Wednesday of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer in the early hours of January 30, 2023.
Kerr was recorded calling the policeman “stupid and white” but claimed she did not use “whiteness as an insult”.
The judge said after the verdict: “I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation.”
In a statement, Kerr apologised for “expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening”, with the case threatening to leave an indelible mark on an otherwise unblemished career.
Whether the case has a lasting impact remains to be seen. Kerr has not played football in over a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL).
Football Australia chief James Johnson refused to speculate during the trial on her future with the national team and whether she should remain captain and in a statement on Wednesday, FA was noncommittal on the matter.
“Football Australia invests heavily in building the behavioural standards and expectations of all involved with our game, especially for all our national team players, where leadership comes with added responsibilities on and off the field,” the statement read.
“Football Australia will reflect with Sam on learnings from this matter and we will continue to provide appropriate support for her moving forward.”
Interim Australia coach Tom Sermanni said last week he expected Kerr to be fit for selection when the Matildas host South Korea in April, but he too declined to comment on whether she was the right person to lead the side.
The Australian Financial Review’s Myriam Robin, in an opinion piece, wrote that Kerr’s suitability to be skipper “has more to do with public opinion, and its tolerance for entitled or idiotic athletes behaving badly”.
“That tolerance has, lately, been shrinking,” she added.
Meanwhile, Erin Smith of Code Sports was adamant Kerr should be “stripped of her Matildas’ captain armband and banned from any leadership roles”.
“If the captain of any of our national men’s teams, the Socceroos included, had been found drunk in a taxi, mid-season, and using deplorable language they would have been stood down from the role immediately,” she wrote.
“So why should Kerr get any special treatment?”
Kerr leaves Kingston Crown Court after being found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Well, The West Australian’s Kate Emery went some way to answering that question in an opinion piece where she argued the trial was a “waste of everyone’s time”, adding the not-guilty verdict was the “only good bit of news” to come out of the entire ordeal.
“An almighty mess of a bad night that should never have made it to the courts and turned into a two-year-long circus,” Emery added.
“Was Kerr, who has Anglo-Indian heritage, acting like a drunken prat when she said those four words to a police officer during a dispute over a taxi fare after a night out? Sure.
“Was she racially abusing the cop when she did so? Nope.
“And it seems like the jury that returned a not-guilty verdict agreed with me.”
Emery went on to write that it “would be a shame” if this incident, and the commentary that followed, “tainted” Kerr’s reputation in the long-term.
“Particularly given the drunken antics Australia’s male sporting heroes have long gotten away with, even been lionised for,” she added, arguing the double standards exposed by the Kerr saga with men often instead lauded for their “larrikin spirit”.
Emery also drew attention to the fact Kerr, and not her white fiancé Kristie Mewis, was arrested for criminal damage over the broken taxi window despite defence lawyer Grace Forbes stressing that Mewis told police “time and time again that she had broken the window”.
Kerr’s fiance defends her character | 00:55
“There is a broader point to be made here — one that came up at trial — which is that there is a difference between insulting a caucasian person for their race and insulting a non-white person for theirs,” Emery wrote.
“That difference comes down to one word: power. Racism is prejudice plus power. Historically, in our western world it is white people who have held the power and non-white people who have not. Overwhelmingly that remains true today.”
The same is also true for women’s safety concerns, as Sam Squiers wrote in a comment piece for foxsports.com.au. Nadia Russell of The Sydney Morning Herald also empathised Kerr’s situation while recalling her experience with one Uber driver who got lost and then instead of “apologising for the inconvenience” proceeded to “turn on” her.
“I’ve been in Sam Kerr’s shoes, and not only do I completely understand her behaviour during her infamous exchange with a constable in a Twickenham police station, I don’t have a problem with it,” she wrote.
Kerr has been at the centre of a media storm. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, former NZ Football Fern and Team Heroine Founder Rebecca Sowden asked on LinkedIn if anyone else felt “uncomfortable” watching the Kerr trial unfold.
“Before smashing a taxi window to ‘escape’, Kerr & partner, Kristie Mewis feared they were being kidnapped after the driver locked the doors & windows, drove erratically & wouldn’t stop (after Kerr spit-vomited out the window),” she wrote.
“Whenever I take a taxi/uber, particularly at night I study the driver ID & am on high alert. Sadly, I’m sure many women go through similar ‘fears’ when doing other ‘day-to-day’ activities (taxis, jogging, walking to your car at night…). Feeling afraid during daily activities should not be, but is the reality for many women.”
Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells also threw her support behind Kerr, saying “the more we find out about the incident the more you can understand why they’ve acted the way they have”.
“… Sam certainly has Australia behind her.”
But that isn’t necessarily the case.
Kerr audio from taxi played in court | 00:56
As The Guardian’s Kieran Pender wrote, the not-guilty verdict “does little to quell bigger questions about the ongoing reputational fallout, including Kerr’s future as captain of the national team and the face of women’s football in Australia”.
He mentioned the additional context that was brought up throughout the trial in Kerr’s favour, including the Matildas star telling the court that after she vomited out the window the driver allegedly acted “crazy” and refused to let them leave.
Kerr went on to tell the court that he locked the doors and started heading in an unknown direction, adding that she felt “terrified” for her life while Mewis feared it was a “kidnapping”
Pender also referenced Kerr’s citing of the Claremont serial killer, along with the fact she felt like she was treated differently by police because of “the colour of my skin”.
“For Kerr’s detractors, this wider context obscures the central point: here was an entitled millionaire footballer, drunk, vomiting in the back of a taxi, and then using rude language as police officers sought to de-escalate the situation,” Pender added.
“… As the evidence over the past week revealed, there are competing kinds of privilege at play here – with enough material for those on either side of the debate to claim vindication. The video footage is not flattering to Kerr; the context explains, even excuses, say her backers.”
So, the big question: what does this all mean for Kerr and her standing in women’s football?
What will come next for Kerr? (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Kerr made her Australia debut aged just 15 and has gone on to become one of the world’s best players.
She was the face of the 2023 World Cup on home soil after her profile soared to new heights when she moved to Chelsea in 2020 and steered them to the domestic double.
Australia’s all-time leading scorer, among men or women, with 69 goals in 128 appearances, Kerr has been shortlisted for the women’s Ballon d’Or and nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s Player consistently since 2017.
Named “Young Australian of the Year” in 2018, Kerr was hailed as “inspirational, well-grounded, professional and mature”, helping drive change in Australian football with a minimum wage now in place and players treated as professionals.
Pender wrote that “even before the verdict it was clear things will not be the same” for Kerr or Australian football.
“The extent to which this incident tarnishes a glittering career, or is relegated to a footnote, remains to be seen,” he added.
“For many, in these polarised times, the answer to that question was predetermined before the trial had even commenced.”
Kerr officer challenged over motives | 01:50
It is a similar point to the one made by the Australian Financial Review’s Hans van Leeuwen, who wrote that Kerr was “exonerated by the jury unanimously, but the court of public opinion remains divided”.
“Who was belittling whom? Who was racist to whom? Everyone has a view, and there’s no chance of a universal verdict,” he added, referencing the fact that while many women are “sympathetic” to Kerr’s situation, the “furious commentary” in reaction to the case suggests she has “lost a lot of admirers”.
Kathryn Batte, meanwhile, wrote in a column for The Telegraph UK that “it is up to Kerr now what story she writes next”.
“Australia’s golden girl, their sporting superstar and hero showed she was not perfect after all,” wrote Batte.
“Kerr showed herself to be human. A human who can make a mistake, just like everybody else. The question now is whether she can repair her damaged reputation off the pitch and rediscover her best form on it.”
Ange Postecoglou said Mathys Tel is “100 per cent” committed to Tottenham after the French forward signed on loan despite reportedly rejecting a move to the club earlier in the January transfer window.
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Tottenham were busy in the final hours of Monday’s deadline day as they bolstered Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged squad, bringing in Tel and defender Kevin Danso.
Bayern Munich’s Tel, 19, was also linked with Manchester United and Arsenal before opting for Tottenham, who have an option to make the move permanent in the summer transfer window.
Postecoglou, whose team take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s League Cup semi-final second-leg at Liverpool, told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision.
“It’s not so much that he rejected us or rejected anyone else,” said the Spurs manager. “Rightly so he was getting as much information as possible.”
The Australian added: “I had a conversation with him and I guess mine was purely around the football and I think he’ll find a really great place here in terms of where he is in his career.
Kerr still out of strong Matildas squad | 03:28
“He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here, and the way we play will suit him.
“Certainly with what we have in the next few months and then more importantly what we’re building beyond, I thought he would be a perfect fit.”
When asked if he felt the France under-21 international was fully committed to Spurs, Postecoglou said: “Yes, 100 per cent. I am more than 100 per cent sure because he took so much time, was so diligent about finding out everything when he made a decision that it’s us.
“He obviously had options and that sort of gave me even more confidence that we are getting the right kind of mentality, the right kind of player.
“He is very ambitious. He’s got a great deal of self-belief and self-confidence. He feels he can reach the top of the game and he has chosen us, which is a great vindication of what we are doing.”
Tel and Danso will both be available for Thursday’s match at Anfield, but Micky van de Ven and fellow centre-back Cristian Romero are set to miss out, with Postecoglou taking a “conservative” approach after the duo’s injury absences.
Kerr officer challenged over motives | 01:50
Tottenham are one match away from a League Cup final at Wembley as they seek to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2008.
Former Celtic boss Postecoglou, in his second season at Tottenham, put himself under pressure earlier in the campaign when he said he “always wins things in my second year”.
But he said Premier League leaders and League Cup holders Liverpool would also be feeling the pressure.
“I don’t think Liverpool will be any less anxious than us about the fixture,” he said. “You’re in a semi-final, particularly a second leg and it’s still very tight.
“It’s a big game for both clubs so you recognise that, you embrace that but ultimately if you want to be successful these are the games you want to be involved in.”
Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says there’s a “good chance” captain Sam Kerr could be available for two fixtures against Korea in April despite questions hanging over the superstar amid shock revelations in a London court.
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As part of an early sighter against prospective opponents for the home AFC Asian Cup in 2026, the Matildas will play the Korea Republic in Sydney and Newcastle.
Having said on Monday, as he announced Kerr would miss the SheBelieves Cup tournament in the US later in February, Sermanni said he believed the skipper, who is running strongly in her return from an ACL injury, could play in March.
That timeline could allow Kerr, who is on trial in London having been charged with causing racially aggravated harassment to a police constable, to feature in the two internationals which Sermanni on Tuesday said could be on the cards.
“Right now, I would say there’s a decent chance that she will be fit,” Sermanni said.
“But then, by that stage, she’s not played for probably 15 months.
“A lot of things will potentially depend on what her schedule is with Chelsea, how quickly or how slowly, rather, and safely, we need to bring her back.”
FA boss James Johnson said the matches against Korea would be crucial in the lead-up to the Asian Cup.
“We are delighted to secure Korea Republic for our first home international series of 2025. As we build towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, facing high-calibre opposition like Korea Republic is crucial in sharpening the team’s competitive edge,” he said.
“With the tournament just over a year away, this series offers fans an exciting preview of the level of competition they can expect on home soil. We look forward to seeing our passionate supporters fill Allianz Stadium and McDonald Jones Stadium to back the CommBank Matildas.”
The matches will be played on Friday, April 4 at Allianz Stadium and then on Monday, November 7 in Newcastle.
Liverpool swept four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah’s masterclass inspired a memorable 6-3 rout of Tottenham on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
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Salah delivered a sublime performance featuring two goals and a pair of assists as Arne Slot’s side ran riot in north London.
Liverpool took advantage of second-placed Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Everton earlier in the day to cement their status as title favourites heading into the Christmas period.
Hapless Tottenham had no answer to Liverpool’s intelligent pressing and supreme passing and movement, with Egypt star Salah at the heart of their lethal attack.
Salah is the only Premier League player to reach double figures in goals (15) and assists (11) this season.
The 32-year-old is now Liverpool’s fourth top scorer ever with 229 goals. His brace took him past Billy Liddell, with only Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285) and Gordon Hodgson (241) ahead of him.
Salah’s latest heroics only underlined the urgency to get his future resolved, with the forward’s current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
He is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January and has hinted several times that this could be his last season at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth goal against Tottenham.Source: Getty Images
With Salah scoring 18 times in all competitions, Liverpool have been on fire since Slot arrived from Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp in the close-season.
Klopp delivered Liverpool’s last Premier League title in 2020 and it looks increasingly likely Slot will emulate that success in his maiden campaign.
The Reds have won 21 of their 25 matches in all competitions under Slot and have a game in hand on Chelsea to strengthen their lead in the title race.
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This was a remarkable display of Liverpool’s firepower as Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister scored to put them in command.
Dominik Szoboszlai grabbed Liverpool’s third just before the interval and Salah took over after the break before Diaz netted again.
Punished for Ange Postecoglou’s insistence on sticking to his high defensive line, it was the first time in 10 years that Tottenham had conceded five or more at home in a Premier League game.
An eighth league defeat this season leaves Tottenham languishing in 11th place as the pressure mounts on Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou shows the strain as Liverpool goals rain down.Source: AFP
Foreshadowing the demolition to come, Salah slalomed past three Tottenham defenders and blasted against the crossbar in the early stages.
Liverpool’s pressure reaped its deserved reward in the 23d minute as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inch-perfect cross arced towards Diaz, who headed past Fraser Forster from six yards.
Tottenham fans released black balloons in protest at chairman Daniel Levy’s reign midway through the first half.
They became even more deflated in the 36th minute as Liverpool struck again. Szoboszlai climbed to meet Andrew Robertson’s cross and the ball deflected kindly for Mac Allister to nod beyond Forster from close range.
Slot defends Postecoglou despite loss | 00:59
Liverpool’s focus briefly wobbled as Mac Allister was robbed by Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison rifled home from 18 yards.
But Szoboszlai quickly restored the two-goal lead, capping a typically incisive raid in the final seconds before half-time.
Salah took Szoboszlai’s flick in stride and returned a clever reverse pass to the midfielder, who took a touch before planting his shot through Forster’s legs.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Ange Postecoglou pre-match but routed the Aussie’s Spurs side.Source: AFP
It wasn’t long before the unstoppable Salah got on the scoresheet. Cody Gakpo slipped a pass into the six-yard box in the 54th minute and, when Tottenham failed to clear, Salah was on hand to tap in.
Salah bagged his sixth goal in his last five games in all competitions seven minutes later with another close-range finish from Szoboszlai’s pass.
Dejan Kulusevski’s 72nd-minute volley from just inside the area was followed by Dominic Solanke’s close-range effort in the 83rd minute as Tottenham hit back.
But Salah provided a fitting coda to his eye-catching display two minutes later with a precise pass that Diaz converted to ensure the scoreline reflected Liverpool’s supremacy.
Tottenham 3 (Maddison 41, Kulusevski 72, Solanke 83) Liverpool 6 (Diaz 23, 85, Mac Allister 36, Szoboszlai 45+1, Salah 54, 61)
Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s sixth goal with teammate Mohamed Salah.Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER UNITED HUMBLED
Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday.
United boss Ruben Amorim, who once again left Marcus Rashford out of his squad, is set for a miserable Christmas following the worst result of his brief reign.
Languishing in 13th place, United have suffered four defeats in nine matches in all competitions since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
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United’s second successive loss after their League Cup exit at Tottenham on Thursday underlined Amorim’s belief that their road back to the top will be long and arduous.
United, who have conceded first in their last six games, were booed off at half-time, while the final whistle was greeted by more jeers from the few fans who stayed until the bitter end.
“This game was hard on us. We suffered again on set-pieces and we were a bit nervous. I felt it in the stadium,” Amorim said.
“We have to suffer again but we will try to win.”
Ruben Amorim shakes hands with with striker Rasmus Hojlund after Manchester United ‘s poor 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.Source: Getty Images
Amorim’s decision to play without Rashford for the third consecutive game will face fresh scrutiny after United’s wretched performance.
Amorim surprisingly omitted the 27-year-old England forward from the squad for United’s win at Manchester City last weekend, prompting Rashford to hint he was willing to leave the club for a “new challenge”.
Again, United were exposed at set-pieces in the 29th minute when Bournemouth’s teenage defender Dean Huijsen punished poor marking at a free-kick to glance a header past goalkeeper Andre Onana.
There was even worse to come for Amorim in the second half as Justin Kluivert doubled fifth-placed Bournemouth’s advantage with a 61st minute penalty following Noussair Mazraoui’s foul on the forward.
Antoine Semenyo compounded United’s misery two minutes later with a cool finish from Dango Ouattara’s pass.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaks with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a stalemate at Everton.Source: AFP
With Liverpool playing in Sunday’s late game, second-placed Chelsea would have gone top, for at least a few hours, if they had won at Everton.
But Enzo Maresca’s side had to settle for a goalless stalemate that ended their five-match winning run in the league.
“That was a real game. Everton are one of the best teams in Europe in terms of clean-sheets. We are very happy because this is a tough stadium, not only for us but also in the Premier League,” Maresca said.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira enjoyed a dream debut as his side won 3-0 at relegation rivals Leicester.
Replacing the sacked Gary O’Neil, Pereira made an immediate impact after leaving his role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab thanks to goals from Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Cunha.
Third-bottom Wolves are within two points of fourth-bottom Leicester. Bottom-of-the-table Southampton held on for a 0-0 draw at Fulham as new manager Ivan Juric watched from the stands before officially taking charge.
Results from the two games against the South American champions and the pair of fixtures against Chinese Taipei were both everything and, at the same time, completely irrelevant compared to other objectives.
Impressive crowds followed the team from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and on to Victoria and winning for those who paid their hard-earned money will always be the goal. However, with continental and global silverware up for grabs over the next two and a half years, those games will be the last where player selections, formations and form won’t be scrutinised heavily for some time.
Stylish Tillies crush Chinese Taipei | 03:08
THE SELL OUT CROWD STREAK
The Matildas streak of selling out stadiums on home soil stopped at 16.
47,501 packed into Suncorp Stadium and 25,297 rocked up on the Gold Coast for the games against Brazil.
The 26,795 in attendance at AAMI Park in Melbourne for the first match against Chinese Taipei fell just shy of ensuring the house full sign went up.
The teams who featured on the sellout list make the length of the streak even more impressive.
It started with 50,629 packing into Marvel Stadium for the last fixture the side played before the Women’s World Cup, against France, in 2023.
By the time the full-time whistle went in their third-placed play-off defeat to Sweden in Brisbane the streak sat at eight.
The wave of enthusiasm didn’t wane after the World Cup.
59,155 were at Optus Stadium in Perth for an Olympic qualifier against the Philippines. That fixture was wedged either side of sellouts at HBF Park against Iran and Chinese Taipei.
54,120 against Uzbekistan at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne saw them seal qualification for the games in Paris while 76,798 were in attendance at Accor Stadium in Sydney for a clash with China. It doubled as a farewell match for the side prior to the ill-fated Olympic campaign and veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams’ final game on home soil before retirement.
That figure is almost unheard of for a Monday night in Sydney and it came off the back of 52,912 at Adelaide Oval for the first game against China.
Those are remarkable numbers.
THE COACH SEARCH
When will Football Australia settle on Tony Gustavsson’s replacement as Matildas coach?
All the governing body will confirm is that the search is ongoing.
It’s been ongoing since August and is likely to continue into 2025.
There are six international windows next year as the side prepares for the Asian Cup on home soil in March of 2026. The side will head to America in the first of those windows in February for the SheBelieves Cup. They’ll take on Japan, the USA and Colombia and it’s unclear, at this stage, if the search for a coach would’ve concluded by then.
Players, former players and pundits have all aired their opinions over the last few weeks on the qualities the new coach should possess.
The man currently filling the void, Tom Sermanni, also had some thoughts.
“Somebody young,” the 70-year-old quipped when asked.
“Ideally its someone that has to be here; that has to be invested in the game here, that has to take greater responsibility than just a one singular national team.
“That would be the ideal role.”
That would require any foreign candidate to relocate and immerse themselves in pathways programs.
In the meantime, Sermanni has turned his attention to the SheBelieves Cup.
“I’m in here as a coach. I haven’t thought about it as if I’m just here in the interim. What I’ve tried to do is do what I would’ve done had I come in here under a two, three or a four-year contract.”
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THE YOUNG AND THE RETURNING
The experience of Sermanni – this is his third stint as coach of the Matildas – perhaps explains why Football Australia feel like they’ve got time to settle on the right coaching candidate.
He’s already set about building depth in the squad. Sermanni created headlines – something the affable Scot is not prone to doing – by saying depth building was something the program hadn’t done well enough. It was seen as a shot at Gustavsson and was widely reported as such. He was at pains to clarify on Friday that he meant it was a decade old problem that Football Australia needs to address.
Either way, it’s a valid point on the road to the Asian Cup and World Cup.
His solution, so far, has been to not just name generation next in the squad, but actually give them game time.
Bryleeh Henry, Daniela Galic, Winonah Heatley, Sharn Freier, Natasha Prior and Leah Davidson all got minutes at stages, and none looked out of place at international level.
Freier is the most established of those players and looks increasingly dangerous with every appearance.
“I think the first thing that we learned is that some players have come in and really stepped up to the level that we’re playing at,” Sermanni said.
“We actually have some talent around that we need to try to utilise a little bit better.”
More established players like Emily Gielnik, Chloe Logarzo and Remy Siemsen, who missed the profile boom of World Cup induced Matildas-mania, have also returned to the fold.
A mix of the young and the returning will be required for the side to get its hands on silverware.
CLARITY ON SAM KERR
Sam Kerr has been sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury since suffering the setback at a Chelsea training camp in January.
Hard details around her recovery have been difficult to come by since.
Now, new Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor has provided a ballpark timeframe for Kerr’s return.
“We are looking to have her back with us in February, March, not before that,” Bompastor said.
“She didn’t start yet to train, even being modified with the group, so she’s still on her individual process rehab and I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad.”
That means the SheBelieves Cup will, most likely, come too soon and Chelsea would surely hold reservations about Kerr departing for international duty if she was only just back on the park.
Having Kerr fit and firing for the Asian Cup in 2026 and the World Cup in 2027 must be the goal after an injury interrupted run at the last edition before missing the Olympics in Paris completely.
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THE HARDEST MOMENT TO WATCH
Chloe Logarzo made her first appearance for the Matildas since October 2022 in the game at AAMI Park against Chinese Taipei.
After a lively first half-hour spent cleverly linking up with the strike pairing of Emily Gielnik and Michelle Heyman, a head clash while competing for a ball saw her night come to an end.
The next day she was ruled out of the second match in Geelong.
“She has got the old egg on the side of her head at the moment,” Sermanni said after the AAMI Park game.
“She is devastated at having to go off. She waited quite a long time to get back in the team.”
It’s not hard to understand why Logarzo was pleading for the medical staff to let her continue.
The 29-year-old has had a horror run with injuries.
The midfielder tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during a friendly against Ireland in September of 2021.
Issues with her foot followed the completion of rehabilitation on her knee.
Logarzo wasn’t fit enough for the World Cup and turned television pundit for the tournament instead.
The Western United star will be desperate to be on the pitch instead of in a TV studio when the Asian Cup rolls around.
The tears that followed her substitution in Melbourne were a raw and honest expression of how cruel professional sport can be.
THE BEST MOMENT OF THE FOUR MATCHES
Clare Polkinghorne take a bow.
You know you’ve made it when you enter the Australian consciousness just by your nickname.
“Polks” got a celebration game against Brazil in-front of family and friends in her home state in Queensland and then a farewell game against Chinese Taipei in Geelong.
The defender made her international debut in 2006 against China in Shanghai as a 16-year-old and went on to be picked for five World Cups, five Asian Cups and three Olympic Games.
The 35-year-old exits the game with 169 appearances for the Matildas to her name that saw her go from playing in-front of small crowds to selling out stadiums.
The gloom created by the Matildas’ group stage exit at the Olympics might be starting to fade after two positive results, but there is still a host of fundamental issues the side needs to address before they can really move on from what happened in France.
The squad arrived in camp in Zurich desperate to step out of the shadow created by their performances at the Games. Vice captain Ellie Carpenter stressed multiple times in the lead-up to the 1-1 draw with Switzerland that this was a “clean slate” and a “new cycle” and the chance to put the Olympics behind them was “exactly what [they’ve] needed.”
Switzerland proved to be a frustrating opponent while a 2-1 win over Germany was the type of result that – while an upset and perhaps a little more than they deserved on the balance of play – can be a building block for a side that was self-admittedly low on confidence.
These are the four biggest takeaways from Australia’s performances during this international window.
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MARY FOWLER MYSTERY A SIMPLE FIX
Mary Fowler struggled to make an impact against Switzerland and the debate around where she’s best suited in this team immediately reignited.
It’s a question that was also put to former Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson during his tenure, and one he struggled with until the end of his time with the side.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni used Fowler in a more withdrawn role on the right side of a midfield trio alongside Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross and she barely touched the ball.
The problem wasn’t that Mary went missing, but more her teammates struggled to find her feet.
Fowler is a player capable and comfortable in extremely tight spaces on the field. It may look like passing into that space is risky, but the 21-year-old is able to turn on a dime and create attacking opportunities from those situations.
Watching Fowler’s movements on the field, in isolation, is an interesting exercise. She constantly drifts into threatening spaces, but often when it appears she’s having a quiet night, it can also be the case that she’s just not being given the ball.
Questioned on this prior to Australia’s win over Germany, Sermanni conceded that it was something he’d noticed.
“It’s a good point, and in essence should be an easy fixable point in a sense of players even having a chat with each other, and saying, ‘just give me the ball and I can handle it,’” Sermanni said.
DUISBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 28: Mary Fowler of Australia passes the ball whilst under pressure from Giulia Gwinn of Germany during the Women’s international friendly match between Germany and Australia at Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena on October 28, 2024 in Duisburg, Germany. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images for Football Australia)Source: Getty Images
“It’s a combination of perhaps players looking and thinking it’s too tight and of Mary being in a space, and regardless if that space is tight or if it’s big, to actually want to look like you want to get on the ball.”
Mystery solved then.
Fowler needed to be more vocal and display body language that told her teammates she was ready to receive the ball in those tight spaces. Her teammates needed to be more daring and trust Fowler to handle those passes.
We didn’t quite get to see the solution play out against Germany. Fowler featured as a striker, alongside Caitlin Foord, in Duisburg, and was afforded far more time and space than against Switzerland.
However, she was significantly more involved and looked a constant threat, especially in the first half.
THE CONFIDENCE BOOST THE MATILDAS NEEDED
The Matildas weren’t hiding it; they were low on confidence when they reported for camp.
The aura of invincibility, developed during their incredible run to the semi-finals at a home World Cup in 2023, had been wiped away by an Olympic campaign that had promised plenty and delivered only heartache.
Germany completely outclassed them in the first group stage game in Marseille. It finished 3-nil but could’ve easily have been more. They needed an 11-goal thriller to beat Zambia 6-5 in Nice and were knocked out after losing to the USA 2-1.
“To be honest I think the team did come into camp feeling a little bit low,” Sermanni told reporters prior to the game against Switzerland.
Back-to-back defeats during this window would hardly have raised morale.
Losing, just as much as winning, can become a habit, but walking away with a draw against Switzerland and a victory over a side, in Germany, who were significantly better than them just months ago is a huge step in the right direction.
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NEW COACH NOT LIKELY UNTIL THE NEW YEAR
Tony Gustavsson left his post the day after the Matildas exit from the Olympics was sealed.
That was in early August and now with November knocking, Football Australia still doesn’t have a full-time replacement in place.
In a way, Sermanni is the perfect man for this moment.
The players respect him immensely. For many, it’s a full-circle moment, with Sermanni having given them their debuts when they were just teenagers, during his second stint in charge of the national side between 2005 and 2012.
If Football Australia was looking for a coach with an ability to instil belief in a playing group again, then they found it with the 70-year-old Scottish born manager.
However, Sermanni has made it clear that he does not want the role fulltime, meaning the side is just circling until a successor is named.
DUISBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 28: Tom Sermanni, Interim Head Coach of Australia, gestures during the Women’s international friendly match between Germany and Australia at Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena on October 28, 2024 in Duisburg, Germany. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images for Football Australia)Source: Getty Images
He can implement tactics and build confidence, but both of those things are likely to be done differently when Football Australia settles on its preferred candidate.
Sermanni expects to be in charge when the Matildas return to Australia for two games against Brazil and two against Chinese Taipei in November and December.
It means whoever takes over won’t start their era until 2025.
There are six international windows next year and the big goal is the 2026 Asian Cup on home soil.
Sermanni believes any coach would need all next year to prepare the team properly for that tournament.
So, on this front, there’s still time, but the clock is ticking.
BALL USE NEEDS TO BE BETTER TO CHALLENGE THE BEST
Neither the draw with Switzerland nor the win over Germany was pretty (an incredible long-range lobbed goal from Kyra Cooney-Cross in Duisburg aside.)
In large part though, Sermanni’s brief is not so much about style, but substance. Don’t lose and rebuild confidence is the goal and on that front, its job done.
Given the chance to win ugly or lose while playing breathtaking football, Sermanni said he’d take the former over the latter. It wasn’t exactly ugly, but it did leave plenty of room for improvement next month.
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In moments of pressure, against Germany in particular, the Matildas often struggled to find a teammate. After managing to win the ball back, opportunities to transition from defence to attack also broke down quickly.
The Aussies had just 25 per cent possession and 63 per cent pass accuracy against Germany in the first half and those numbers (26 per cent possession and 62 per cent pass accuracy) didn’t change too much by full-time.
The results during this window are undeniably a positive, but those numbers aren’t sustainable for the goals they have in mind over the next four years through to the 2028 Olympics. That road takes them past the Asian Cup in Australia in 2026 and the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
