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Opinion
After a telephone conversation with Roar contributor Texi Smith last week and a disagreement as to the Matildas’ realistic chances, I suggested he pen his rather hopeful belief that the Aussies can win the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
He is delusional, and I countered with the reasons why the team will fall well short of greatness. Here are our thoughts.
PlayUp currently has the Matildas on the sixth line of betting for the World Cup at $11.00. Frankly, I’d suggest that is somewhere around the mark, perhaps even verging on unders.
As much as all Australians hope Tony Gustavsson’s team do the unthinkable and win Australia’s first-ever World Cup, the chances of it actually happening are far from in line with the passion of the fans and the building atmosphere around the tournament.
Navigating the group stage is not even a fait accompli, with the game against Republic of Ireland simply a must-win and Olympic champions Canada hoping to top the group. There is a rather simple scenario that sees the Matildas ousted from the tournament in the Round of 16, after losing to the Canadians and qualifying in second place in the group.
England’s Lionesses then loom as the probable opponent, a team certain to be better than the last time they faced the Matildas and one littered with star quality.
Australia’s best chance of advancing beyond that stage of the knockout play is to top the group – something I simply cannot see them doing.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
If the cards do fall the Matildas’ way during the group stage, the talented French team will be eyeing them off in the quarters, along with Spain, Germany, USA, Sweden, Netherlands, and Brazil who will be competing for the right to have the next shots at them.
I simply cannot see the Australians beating that calibre of opposition five matches in a row, a run that would also need to include a win against Canada in their final group match.
No doubt Texi will label me a party-pooper and a killjoy, and he would not be a first. The Matildas will give all they have and may be able to scrape into a quarter or semi-final, however, the 2023 World Cup trophy will not be staying in Australia once the tournament is over.
Tony Gustavsson has selected his final squad for the Women’s World Cup. It is now time to speculate with conviction about who will go deep into the tournament and which teams will crash out unexpectedly in the group stages.
The bandwagoning Australian public will have high expectations of our national team. After all, in the space of nine months, the Matildas have demolished highly-fancied Sweden, won in London against the almighty Lionesses, dispatched the silky Spaniards and reached a level of performance that seemed unlikely soon after the coach’s arrival.
What do the Aussies have to fear?
The Matildas have shown they can match it with the big names in women’s football. If they can finally manage to get one over on Canada in the key group game and finish in top spot in Group B, and England put aside their pre-tournament injury woes, the passage through the round of 16 becomes that much easier.
France would then be the opponent in a quarter-final that would be a significant test for Australia. France have a master technician at the helm, a host of big name stars and the benefit of having played just days before the tournament. Yet Australia will have the unwavering support of the home crowd to get them over the line.
A win against the French would set up a potential semi-final against Brazil, with memories of that famous win that put Australia back on track in Montpellier four years ago still vivid for both teams and their supporters. All things going well, a win against the Brazilians would set up a likely final against USA back at Stadium Australia.
There is no doubt the Australians can qualify for it, yet beating the best in the business is going to be the challenge of their lives.
For what it is worth, the most memorable evening of women’s football ever seen in Australia will see the Matildas come from a goal down to storm home and win the World Cup for the first time. The streets come alive, the party goes through the next day as Anthony Albanese’s promise comes true, and Australia fetes our most successful football team ever.
There are a few questioning the Matildas’ chances, like Captain Naysayer above. However, the team has shown it has the class, the impact players and the poise to complete the task. The Matildas can indeed win the World Cup.