โWe had domestic league in Australia start to kick off, which was called the W-League back then and now the A-League Women. Football in Australia has come such a long way, and itโs given a lot of the girls who are currently still in this team a pathway to be in the national team, to be successful, and have a pretty prominent career abroad.โ
This is interspersed with remarks about how the more important goal is for Australia to defeat China at Optus Stadium and progress to Saturday nightโs final, against either Japan or South Korea. In the end, it took coach Joe Montemurro to properly express just how significant a contribution van Egmond has made and why, having played four World Cups, three Olympics and now four Asian Cups, her longevity continues.
โShe really doesnโt like to talk about herself, so Iโm more than happy to talk about her,โ Montemurro said. โI said to her the other day, โI think youโre one of Australiaโs most talented footballersโ, and I still believe her football intelligence โ her reading of the game, her technique โ sheโs one of the best footballers that weโve produced.
Van Egmond fires up the Perth crowd on Friday night after Sam Kerr scores against North Korea.Credit: Getty Images
โThatโs the reason why sheโs been here for so long, and is still an important part of the national team. But the biggest thing is her humility, her ability to understand that the group is more important than the individual. Obviously she doesnโt like it when she doesnโt start, but thatโs normal.
โThere are a few players Iโve had the honour of coaching who I can have a really good technical conversation with โฆ thatโs unique.โ
Monday was also a good news day for Catley and Raso, who have recovered from concussions and been given the green light to return to the field against Ante Milicicโs China.
โTheyโve cleared all the relative protocols and are in the squad for tomorrow,โ Montemurro said, but would not reveal their chances of actually playing.
What he did make clear is that he expects the team to return to his possession-based philosophy against defending champions China, having lost the capacity to dictate the previous two fixtures, against South Korea and North Korea.
While the Matildas prevailed 2-1 in Fridayโs quarter-final with the latter, they had less than 40 per cent possession and a measly four shots to North Koreaโs 21.
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โItโs probably been the emotion and the moments … that we havenโt been probably brave enough to control the ball,โ he said. โAnd as you all know, my way of thinking is with the ball.
โWe feel that weโre probably playing a team that is very, very well-structured and organised, so itโs going to be really us understanding the moments with the ball and making the right decisions. Thatโs been the message going into this game. Iโm looking forward to it because the last two games have been โฆ interesting.
