A thrilling 3-2 win over Panama at HBF Park in Perth on Tuesday brought Joe Montemurro’s first international window as Matildas head coach to a close, leaving us a chance to reflect on where Australia’s women’s national team is headed with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon.
This four-game series marked the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with ambition, transition, and experimentation. Played in front of a combined crowd of 42,722 fans (including a historic first outing in Bunbury), the window gave supporters plenty to talk about, both positive and negative.
Mixed Bag on the Scoreboard
From a results perspective, the series was underwhelming. Two wins, one draw, and a loss weren’t what most expected from the Matildas, as based solely on reputation and rankings, they should have walked away with four wins against Slovenia (ranked 38th) and Panama (56th).
Of course, there’s more to this story than numbers. Several key players were missing — Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Katrina Gorry, and Cortnee Vine all sat this one out, while Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler remain in rehab following serious ACL injuries. Add in the fact that this was Montemurro’s first time working with the group, and the picture becomes more nuanced.
Still, expectations are high in the post-World Cup era, and Montemurro now faces the challenge of building belief and cohesion quickly.
A Tale of Two Halves (And Four Games)
The Matildas’ performances were as inconsistent as the final results. Game one against Slovenia produced a flattering 3-0 win, but the game was largely uninspired and disjointed, especially in the opening half. Game two, also against Slovenia, was much improved. The Matildas looked sharper, more connected, and finally gave fans a glimpse of the up-tempo, possession-based football Montemurro is aiming to implement. Nagging questions remained though as the team was unable to close the game out and eventually coughed up a last-minute equaliser.
The Panama matches told a similar story. In the first game, Australia was physically bullied and tactically unsettled as they lost 1-0. In the second, they rebounded with greater intent and attacking verve, securing a late 3-2 win that sent the crowd home smiling but perhaps slightly concerned about the way Panama seemed to be able to open them up with relative ease.
These ups and downs show just how much work lies ahead. Consistency, rhythm, and a shared understanding of Montemurro’s tactical demands remain a work in progress.
Emerging Stars and Standout Veterans
Despite the mixed performances, there were bright spots that will encourage fans and coaching staff alike.
Ellie Carpenter once again demonstrated why she’s one of the most dynamic fullbacks in world football. Her relentless runs and never-say-die attitude were a constant source of energy. Meanwhile, Amy Sayer may have played herself into serious Asian Cup contention. Deployed in multiple roles, she was composed, clever, and decisive, particularly as a No.10 in the second Slovenia clash, where her understanding with Kyra Cooney-Cross stood out.
Veteran striker Michelle Heyman also deserves special mention. She scored three goals in the series and brought physicality, presence, and a striker’s instinct that the team sorely needed. Her post-match praise after the fourth game from Montemurro was glowing:
“When you need her to lift the level, when you need her to work for the team, she’s always there. I’ve worked with world-class strikers like Ada Hegerberg and Vivianne Miedema, but the character that is Michelle Heyman… we should all be proud of.”
Other notable performances came from Clare Hunt, Holly McNamara, Hayley Raso, Tegan Micah, and youngster Alana Murphy. But perhaps the biggest surprise was Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (currently without a club), who made the most of her minutes, showcasing flair and vision.
A New Identity Taking Shape
One thing became clear during the series: Montemurro wants to build a team that dominates possession, controls tempo, and plays on the front foot. It’s a philosophy that served him well at Melbourne City, Arsenal, Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, but implementing it at the international level — where preparation windows are short and opponents are varied — is no easy task.
“There’s a direction now,” he said post-match after the second Panama game. “We’ve built a base to become a team capable of winning major tournaments.”
But he also acknowledged the scale of the challenge, highlighting problems during the fourth game;
“We fell into the trap of wanting to rush the play when we needed to slow it down, and slowing it down when we needed to go quick. That caused a lot of technical errors, because people weren’t in position. Every time we turned the ball over, Panama looked like they could hurt us.”
These tactical teething issues are understandable (Montemurro has only had 20 days with the team), but with the Asian Cup fast approaching, he has little time to fix these faults.
The Road Ahead: October and Beyond
The next international window in October will be critical, and Montemurro is hoping to hold it in Europe, where many of his players are currently based.
“I want to play against some different styles. Then, in the lead-up to the Asian Cup, come back home, closer to the tournament, and base ourselves here.”
The benefit of having players in-season for the next camp is crucial. Fatigue and rhythm were big issues during this window, and Montemurro is confident they’ll be better prepared next time around.
“All of them had to be managed physically. We won’t have that problem next time.”
But tactical clarity and execution remain the biggest challenges. As the coach himself noted, some technical errors in the final game were “disappointing,” especially since they were issues that had supposedly been addressed earlier in the camp.
What Have We Learned?
This wasn’t a triumphant start, but neither was it a disaster. The window gave Montemurro and his staff the chance to assess 29 players, test new combinations, and introduce his vision for the future. Four new players earned their debuts — Alexia Apostolakis, Grace Kuilamu, Adriana Taranto, and Galabadaarachchi, while a handful of established stars reasserted their value.
Perhaps more importantly, the games served as a reminder that reputation means little in modern international football. Slovenia and Panama may be ranked lower, but they came prepared, organised, and fearless and presented the Matildas with significant problems in all four games.
With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup fast approaching, the honeymoon period is officially over and it’s now down to serious business for Joe Montemurro and the Matildas. The blueprint is clear: if Montemurro can fine-tune his tactical system, get his key players fit and firing, and instil his possession-based style, this team has the potential to go deep in the tournament. But big questions still hang in the air, especially around the squad’s technical depth. The World Cup in 2023 showed that the first-choice XI is more than capable of matching it with the best in the world, but what about the remainder of the squad?
Across all four matches, both Slovenia and Panama looked technically assured, and often more so than the home team. They played out from the back with confidence, kept their composure under pressure, and moved the ball with intent. In contrast, the Matildas often looked rushed when pressed high, particularly in transition and in the build-up phase — a worrying sign for a team trying to adopt a more controlled, possession-heavy style.
The truth is, Montemurro simply doesn’t have the luxury of time to fix what are deep-rooted technical inconsistencies. What he does have is an elite coaching pedigree with titles in Australia, England, Italy and France, at some of the biggest clubs in world football. He’s the most accomplished head coach the Matildas have ever had, and if anyone can squeeze the best out of this squad in a short time frame, it’s him. His experience, tactical clarity, and attention to detail could make all the difference, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
