Analysis: Matildas’ hopes renewed for World Cup campaign as fresh goal threats stand up

The Matildas have corrected course after wins against South Africa and Denmark in the past week. Two teams of varying quality but equal chance of landing in Australia’s group for next year’s World Cup.

A 4-1 victory over the Africa Cup of Nations champions half filled the Matildas cup, but this morning’s 3-1 win over the European qualifiers will leave it overflowing with confidence.

It’s taken four years for the Matildas to beat a European side, with the inability to turn chances into goals so often their downfall.

Not so this time, and the key takeaway from the matches is that Sam Kerr wasn’t the focus.

The Caitlin Foord of old pleased everyone in a Matildas tracksuit. The Arsenal attacker, down on form by her lofty standards over the past year, appears to be firing again.

Foord looks to have been quietly brewing at Arsenal, who sit top of the WSL and appear to have aided the forward in refinding her confidence on the ball.

Her physicality and eye for goal was the biggest headache for both Danish and South African defenders. Her persistence helped the Australians find their breakthrough after 65 minutes of goal peppering against Denmark, before a moment of individual beauty helped her collect a brace just 10 minutes later.

Her class across the Matildas final third was clear, especially vital after Kyah Simon’s horrifically timed ACL injury, which leaves a huge void in creativity.

Injuries to Simon, Emily van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy, Tameka Yallop and Ellie Carpenter meant depth was again tested in these two games.

Happily for Tony Gustavsson and his staff, players new to international football who would usually start in a substitute’s vest stepped up across the park in both matches, with necessity once again proving the mother of invention.

Rapid final-third threat Cortnee Vine is one such example.

Vine started against both South Africa and Denmark. Assistant coach Melissa Andreatta believes Vine’s new standing is the culmination of 18 months’ worth of depth-building undertaken by the coaching staff.

“Because of that depth-building and players that have been through Talent ID camps, our A-League Women‘s competition, NPL competitions through to AFF, we’ve been able to draw on a wider pool of players to build our squad and have a competitive team for this window,” Andreatta said.

Testing Vine in the role of ‘Kerr understudy’ has never been more important. Simon’s ACL injury highlights the fragility of the Matildas’ heavy dependence on Kerr; the strategy has to shift in an instant if Kerr is hurt.

Vine was eager for the chance to step into the striking shoes when the call-up came and went in with only one intent.

“I did want to score,” she said following the game against South Africa.

“It’s an interesting role playing through that middle; you don’t touch the ball very often. I said to Sam after the game, I think I only touched the ball twice and they were my two goals. Easy goals are what you’re looking for as a No.9.”

Back hidden on the flank she prefers, casting the spotlight on her teammates through the middle, Vine didn’t find the net against Denmark but showed she is a ready solution should she need to step up at either position.

“Obviously it hits the team pretty hard losing such quality players,” Vine says.

“Injuries happen and we need to adjust to new players coming in to fill their spots.”

Vine played her part perfectly.

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Other key Matildas played their part in the two wins.

Katrina Gorry’s performances in the No.6 role continue to inspire. Aided by a more assertive Kyra Cooney-Cross in midfield, Gorry had a stranglehold on the middle third, delivering her forwards some of their best chances in both games, before being rewarded for her workrate with a worldie against Denmark.

Steph Catley again left little to chance at left back, playing a far more defensive role in the second match than the roving position against South Africa, and showing immense character after the Matildas conceded a Danish goal, created down Catley’s side, within the first 50 seconds.

Yet it was the right side of the pitch – usually occupied by Carpenter, whose comeback from an ACL injury is gathering steam – where the Australians focused their attack across both games.

Charlotte Grant played in the Carpenter right-back role and her opportunistic link-ups with Vine, who was pushed wider against Denmark with Kerr playing through the middle, showed encouraging signs. It wasn’t perfect, illustrated in the game against Denmark by a Vine pass to the penalty spot that was a second too late for Kerr, but Vine believes her on-field rapport with Grant is growing.

“I think the more time we get to train and play together will help us build that on field connection,” Vine says.

“Charli really stood up filling in Ellie’s boots while she recovers.

“She had a great couple of games (last month) against Canada and continues to grow the more time she gets to play.”

So does Vine.

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Vine’s form in the two games, highlighted by two goals against South Africa, is especially encouraging for players based in Australia, who start their season next month in the A-League Women’s (ALW).

Vine was one of just two Australian-based call-ups for this window and the Sydney FC striker has become the league’s poster child; named captain of the A-League Women’s Team of the Season less than a year after tearing her MCL.

Most of the squad for this international window had between three and 23 top-flight matches under their belts coming into the South Africa and Denmark games. Vine had none.

England’s Women’s Super League has started, the NWSL in the US is nearing its end and Sweden’s Damallsvenskan, where almost half of the Matildas now operate, is approaching the pointy end of its season.

So for Vine to play the way she did with Sydney FC’s first ALW game nearly six weeks away is encouraging, and points to an all-encompassing national team set-up.

“Coming into camp, it’s so nice to be with the girls that have spread themselves overseas and test myself against them. Always enjoy coming into camp and play catch-up with them,” Vine says.

“I’ve been really well looked after by the Matildas staff and physio team. They’ve monitored me to make sure I’m getting the right amount of load to be able to come into camp and keep up with the intensity.”

With two spells against quality opposition now under her belt, Vine should be the A-League’s most threatening attacker.

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Playing these games in Europe helped. With minimal travel for the bulk of the squad, the Matildas’ three-goal spell in 10 minutes late in the Denmark game was testament to the fitness levels of players.

Such a luxury won’t be a factor in the next duo of games, as next month the Matildas host

Sweden (Melbourne, November 12) and Thailand (Gosford, November 15).

Sweden, one of the best chances to win the 2023 World Cup, is the real litmus test. It will be interesting to see what role Vine plays after her performances this last week.

Through a wider lens, the Matildas can take satisfaction from their ability to keep quiet one of the world’s best strikers in Denmark’s Pernille Harder.

Sweden has many attacking threats. Satisfaction will grow should they keep a serious World Cup contender quiet in front of goal. At the other end, seven goals in two games against South Africa and Denmark leaves a good feeling.

Nine months to go. Two steps forward. And maybe, in Vine, a forward who could be on her way to bigger things come the World Cup.