It would have been nice to see Mary Fowler get a start there somewhere. Mary’s weekend game for Man City should have given her first player picked status. A very, very special talent only being held back by the mercurial Bunny Shaw this season.

Do you think Circati or Robertson would not be having second thoughts when a third tear Welshman or a has been Scotsman, disowned by his own country, get the nod to major tournaments before them. Try giving Robertson a ring and see if he takes the call. Arnold is a hypocrite. He talks passionately about young Australians needing the opportunity and experience that only tournaments can provide, then rejects them for foreign players with scant connection or passion for our flag. Volpato had pen in hand ready to sign on the dotted line but was spooked. Do you think Arnold didn’t have a say in the burning non selection of Arankunda, going for Tilio instead was just ridiculous. Arankunda needs to be around men at the top of their game, not pushed away to clear his head. SS has mentioned on numerous occasions about talented young Australians turn their back on the country of birth. Meanwhile Arnold is scouring the lower divisions looking for gold nuggets with his faulty metal detector. That’s the joke.

This situation has Graham Arnold’s fingerprints all over it. He has too much to say regarding football in this country. His complaining what the governments have and haven’t done for the game when it is itself the games problem. What player fits or doesn’t fit into the national teams culture, mate. The list of quality young Australian players rejecting the national shirt is growing.

Bangladesh were not too concerned with selecting a 19yo to play between the sticks vs Australia WC qualifier. From memory he did a mighty fine job. We have to start putting faith in our best young players. Gauci has done well in the local league as has Thomas. Select those two as well as Ryan to be used later in the tournament if fit. While we are at it get Nestory in the squad and start him, it would be the making of the lad.

Technical analysis: Ex Australian captain Paul Wade couldn’t juggle to save himself. Maradona would have been impressed.

Muscat is still on the nose in the UK. His grubby playing career is well remembered there.

I am feed up with the constant sports code mud slinging that takes place online and in print before that. Unfortunately, our game seems to be the worst at it. At grassroots I’m forever telling committees to leave the other codes alone, stop the comparisons, the rubbishing and belittling. I know, I know, we have been copping it forever from these blokes and guess what, to their surprise we are somehow still here. What is important to me is that we take care of our own house, you know, the one we somehow manage to trash for all to see more often than not. All the head injuries, the drunken domestic violence, the drug taking, does not stack up against images of Brazil vs Argentina the other morning. It had nothing to do with the game itself, though our MSM made sure that it was seen as the game itself. Victory vs City anyone. Can we hold it all together when the NST is introduced? It’s such a wonderful step in the right direction but a risky one at that. It shouldn’t be, but that’s the baggage we constantly drag around with us. Positive perceptions are nuggets of gold for football, throw in a single negative and those valuable nuggets are washed away. Ange recently spoke of how our small local game cannot afford to be divided and he is dead right. FA has to get control of the game and suffer no dickheads. Set a course that cannot be derailed by self interested state bodies. Rid them if necessary. Our underperforming ALM has little traction and in bad health. This is where we need to heed Dr Ange’s advice and present the game as Australian play and view their sport. It needs to be seen as dynamic, it needs to be fluid, it needs to be of high risk and skill. Most Australian are not seeing that at present. It’s all about perception.

Three aspects of the game that are worthy of mention.
King needs to referee from the background
Chapman should be ashamed of himself
Vic crowds seem to like to boo coloured players

Being under skilled we tend to play a coded style of football where the opposition must do what we want them to do otherwise we find it hard to compete. Spain on the other hand are a highly skilled first touch passing team that use tight 4v4, 4v3, 3v2 at any given time across the entire park. Their third sometimes forth player passing movements out of defence was at times just exquisite. Because of this England’s physicality was negated for much of the contest.

I disagree. The referees were quiet consistent throughout the WWC. They missed a few tackles that’s for sure, but the players quickly realised that rolling around the ground looking for an academy award nomination, would buy them nothing. Much prefer the refs let the game flow than blowing the whistle for every suspect tap that you would see in the men’s game. All up I believe the high standard of refereeing help make the WWC the spectacle that it was.

Have we all forgotten Sports Rorts. Now we are being naive.

Maybe similar federal funding of $300 million for the Tasmanian stadiums build and upgrade would be nice. Maybe similar government funding of 2.5 billion for NSW stadium rebuilds or the $50 million funding of 7 NRL clubs centres of excellence.
That funding mate!!!

In this WWC the Matildas haven’t played to their potential. In fact with this team, we still don’t know where their full potential lay. Though we did see clues of what this mystical measurement could look like in the quarters v France. A 10 minute period, shortly after the Kerr substitution, France looked beaten. The Australian’s look dynamic to a point of disbelief. The passes were crisp and of quality, players timing their run to perfection. It was simplicity at its finest. A Matilda goal then and there would have finished the French off. It wasn’t sustainable but it was enough to give a glimpse of this team’s possibilities. Knock England’s game of kilter ever so slightly and it will be ours for the taking. I read that if a team can perform to near its potential, it presents the individuals within the team a platform to achieve greater heights. We have a wonderfully balanced team with each player capable and unique. This is our time Matilda’s.

24hrs out and shockwaves rattle the core of the Matildas. Before the first match in a home world cup your global icon is brought down with an debilitating injury, possibly for the competition. Cool calm heads gather behind closed doors. The team script is thrown and a search begins, the outside world must not know to what extent. Must not know. The situation calls for a mask of dense smoke and deflecting mirrors. With best laid plans when all has turned to mire, is it possible to not make life easier for your foes without offending you friends. Understand what type of player this is, they will win your team matches, they will win your nation world cups. The others have plan A, B and C to contain and hopefully stop her. Watching from the stands in their first match, it was easy to tell the Matilda’s were in chaos. There was no focal point, no spiritual leader. They played overwhelmed. They were unsure and without courage. They sprayed wayward passes, looking for balance, seeking a target. It could not be found. Six days passed, playing Nigeria and it was different. There was cohesion with a late first half goal proof. Mentally they missed the moment conceding a costly reply just minutes after. The coach blundered, the chaos continued. Against Canada there was light. Some tinkering, a semblance of physical and mental balance. We were here to believe. There can be no blame laid. Life throws situations where you either duck or stand up. Tony and our Matildas are standing up.

Tim Cahill, excellent in front of goal, great Australian footballer. That should be the end of it.

Don’t forget to add the full size football pitch, fully enclosed facility to be used as a 24/7 training and coaching mecca made available to the football community. We have to somehow come up with the finances to fund such a facility so complete ownership is secured. The goodwill currently at play needs to be maximised at a corporate level that would guarantee our independence. Interesting interview piece on 7:30 Report last night with James Johnston. The FA CEO portraying a positive image of the current and future Australian football landscape.

One point being overlooked about this ground shaking football euphoria presently evolving in the cities and towns of Australia. The fact that it’s being played out in the dead of winter. ALM and ALW change of seasons anyone.

Well deserved win. That was a very well balanced team out there last night. Speed and threat on both wings. Wide defenders Carpenter and Catley always looking to unlock that threat, especially from deep. Hunt is developing into a world class centre half with another assured performance. Her defensive instincts, passing range and game awareness has helped lift this team to another level. Fowler is still very young, especially for the responsibility her position requires. As with all young players, Mary needs to build strength into her frame to battle the world class defensive opponents she is facing, her potential is enormous though. Cooney-Cross is another special player. Her ability to keep contesting in the midfield hothouse is remarkable. The long range shot showed her mindset and intent. These young footballers may not be household name yet but the local and international game are about to discover a few of our secrets. We are lucky to have three quality keepers. Arnold must only just be holding the other two at bay. With all players injury free, our depth really is outstanding. At 3 nil up Tony needed to put these youngsters on the park, the contest was over. The younger players on the bench need the assurance that they their football is good enough. Why select them otherwise. Maybe Tony has a few insecurity issues.

It seems to me that the Australian football media and public has lost their focus. Too much has been made of the Fowler and Luik injuries and the badgering of Kerr’s situation has bordered on harassment. What do people want to hear, that she has broken down and may never kick a football again. It’s ridiculous. What I’ve gleaned out of the Nigerian match is of the final 15 to 20 minutes and the way that was handled. Considering the time remaining, Gustavsson should be embarrassed with his decision making at that moment. It was really dark ages coaching, part of the Australian game long gone. Putting that behind us and with Canada now having our attention, I feel this is a game we can win. Canada is not the bogey team some people are suggesting. Sure, they are tagged the Olympic champions but the WWC is a vastly different creature to what was played out last year. We have the players to compete if we play somewhere near our potential for the 90 plus minutes. After watching the Germany v Colombia game last night, they both showed they are a notch above. I can now understand why the Irish team walked away from their friendly game v Colombia. Wow, Colombia are just not your friendly sort of team. They were devastating. Throw USA and France in that mix and the rest, including Canada, are some way further back. England and the Netherlands and maybe Spain would have something to say about that summation, but their play hasn’t been at the top tier as yet. Yes, we can play with confidence tonight without fear knowing it’s all about our game and how we manage it. Fear will be something that awaits us around the dark corners yet to be encountered.

There is no problem. We still have the depth to cover the unfortunate injuries that have so far occurred. Mind you, we can’t afford too may more. Similar at any level, coaches take risks when selecting teams or squads. Because of injuries happening throughout the past domestic season, our most experienced players have had to spend many hours in the treatment rooms doing rehab. This gave Gustavsson real reason to tinker with his squad. The inexperienced squad members got invaluable game time while also bringing in uncapped players to fill the void, all against quality opposition. He really had little to lose by doing so with Australia being automatic qualifiers as co host of the World Cup. We have to have faith in the process. This evening’s game against the Nigerians is a monumental test for the Aussies, and an even bigger test for Gustavsson. Get his team selection right and win, in my mind under the circumstances, it would equal any the Matilda’s have had in there history. We have such a vibrant squad of steely eyed experience and exuberant youth. Those players that missed selection are not world beaters and probably would have offered little value. There should be little regret from the coach.

Ireland were playing for a draw from the toss of the coin making for a very poor spectacle. Their time wasting was constant. Gustavsson’s game management and substitutions should be questioned if that was supposed to be the team’s Tournament Mode. That alone nearly cost the team 3 points. It looked like a kid’s game at times. Disappointed.

Gustavsson has done so well. We have a very good squad of players. Some emerging talent beautiful balanced with world class experience. The proof of this is in our so called bench players. Grant, Fowler, Wheeler, Nevin and Chidiac aren’t bit part players. These young stars are our future, ready to go now. Sitting right beside them is the internationally tried and tested Van Egmond, Yallop, Simon, Williams, Luik and Polkinhorne. I don’t see any of the above mentioned a risky selection. Any of the above could be thrown on with the game in the balance, needs shoring up, or as witnessed with Fowler, a goal is needed. I’ll be sitting up in the nose bleed section of Stadium Australia, binoculars in hand as it was in 2015’s Asian Cup Final, with a smile on my face knowing I’m experiencing a once in a life time adventure. Go Matildas.

It’s called insecure paranoia

There were several instances in the match Garang had made a run out wide, usually covered by two or three defenders, twisting, turning, bustling looking to get in a cross or to find space for a possible shot. On the times he lost the ball, all I could hear was Vidmar yelling to Garang to get back and work harder. It’s as if the national team is trying conform any natural technical ability this gifted player has, out of him.

Yes you are right, though the criteria must have allowed the selection. I knew a couple of security boys not dissimilar to Kaltek and Marcelo. One was a lovely bloke and would give 100% but did slip up sometimes. The other had that little bit on nastiness who didn’t mind grabbing someone by the throat if he thought the situation warranted. Kept the place safe though.