From what I can remember of life as a 17 year old, my time was spent worrying about the big things in life: the stress of study, and the effect this had on the condition of my skin. What wasn’t on my mind was representing my country in football.
But this is the reality facing several of the Matildas squad preparing for the World Cup in Germany.
Much of the media’s attention in the days since the squad was named has been on the fact that the average age of the team is just under 22 (21.9 to be exact).
Alan Hansen’s famous quote about not being able to win anything with kids might have been uttered in the context of the top tier of men’s football in England, but the question is equally relevant in this context.
The case for the prosecution centres on the well-established argument that, for the big stage, nothing is as valuable as experience.
Players that have been there and done that will know what to expect and won’t be overawed by the occasion. They will settle better, cope with the pressure better and have a better understanding of what is required to succeed at a World Cup.
The case for the defence was perhaps best summed up by Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri. “These young players come in there, they don’t really know who they are up against, and they just go out there and try their best. And then they get told ‘You know you just played the best player in the world?’”
While this might be a simplification (I can’t imagine Caitlin Foord not knowing what Marta or Birgit Prinz looks like), the main point is that younger players may be able to play with a greater freedom from expectations that may weigh down older players.
As Tom Sermanni said, “They haven’t reached the age of fear yet.”
So which viewpoint will win out?
I’ve read articles which say the younger players won’t be able to cope with their older, craftier opponents. I’ve read others which say that due to the different rates at which girls mature, there won’t be as big a difference in terms of physicality between younger and older players as there would be with men.
so it will come down to how well the squad plays together, the ability for individuals to turn on the magic when required, and stamina, which would presumably favour younger players with better recovery rates.
That’s the beauty of World Cups. Before a ball is kicked, the only thing that is certain is uncertainty.
Just like the Socceroos, the Matildas have been going through a transition period, one probably more dramatic than their male counterparts.
On the young shoulders of the Matildas rests the chance to build on their Asian Cup success.
Women’s football in Australia has tended to fly under the radar just like much of women’s sport in this country. However, at this World Cup, there are more expectations than previously.
This team is expected to compete, not just take part, and the whole nation will get the opportunity to watch their efforts on German soil thanks to SBS.
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni said that he sees the team’s aim being “to still be in the frame leading into the last [group] game.”
If the team can get past the group stage, then it would be fair to say that the kids are alright.
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What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
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