Summer Paris 2024 - The Matildas Thread

[giggler99]

Our Matildas Olympic thread all match commentary, discussion and analysis in relation to the Olympics to be posted in this thread.

The Groups:



The Matildas Schedule:


All Matildas matches to be broadcast across the 9 Network, Channel 9 9HD or 9Gem subject to scheduling.
Matches will also be Streaming on 9Now

The Matildas Squad:
​

Name	Position	Age	Olympic Games	Suburb	State	Post code
Mackenzie Arnold	Goalkeeper	30	3rd (2016, 2020)	Mermaid Beach	QLD	4218
Ellie Carpenter (VC)	Defender	24	3rd (2016, 2020)	Wamberal	NSW	2260
Steph Catley (C)	Defender	30	3rd (2016, 2020)	Seaford	VIC	3198
Kyra Cooney-Cross	Midfielder	22	2nd (2020)	Torquay	VIC	3228
Caitlin Foord	Midfielder/Forward	29	3rd (2016, 2020)	Lake Illawarra	NSW	2528
Mary Fowler	Midfielder/Forward	21	2nd (2020)	Bankstown	NSW	2200
Katrina Gorry	Midfielder	31	2nd (2016)	Carindale	QLD	4152
Michelle Heyman	Forward	35	2nd (2016)	Lawson	ACT	2617
Clare Hunt	Defender	25	Debut	Camperdown	NSW	2050
Alanna Kennedy	Defender	29	3rd (2016, 2020)	Rosemeadow	NSW	2560
Teagan Micah	Goalkeeper	26	2nd (2020)	Redcliffe	QLD	4020
Clare Polkinghorne	Defender	35	3rd (2016, 2020)	Tingalpa	QLD	4173
Hayley Raso	Midfielder/Forward	29	2nd (2020)	Broadbeach	QLD	4218
Kaitlyn Torpey	Defender	24	Debut	Yeronga	QLD	4104
Emily van Egmond (VC)	Midfielder/Forward	30	3rd (2016, 2020)	Warners Bay	NSW	2282
Cortnee Vine	Midfielder	26	Debut	Epping	NSW	2121
Clare Wheeler	Midfielder	26	Debut	Dee Why	NSW	2099
Tameka Yallop	Midfielder	32	3rd (2016, 2020)	Upper Coomera	QLD	4200

The women’s football competition will be held in seven cities, however, with the draw complete, Australia can only play in four cities - Paris, Nantes, Lyon or Marseille. The women’s tournament starts before the opening ceremony on July 25 and concludes on August 10 2024.

Good luck to our girls hopefully we come home with some medals gold is preferred.

​

 

[Satan]

Our Matildas Olympic thread all match commentary, discussion and analysts in relation to the Olympics to be posted in this thread.

The Groups:

View attachment 2056077

The Matildas Schedule:

View attachment 2056071

The Matildas Squad:
​

Name	Position	Age	Olympic Games	Suburb	State	Post code
Mackenzie Arnold	Goalkeeper	30	3rd (2016, 2020)	Mermaid Beach	QLD	4218
Ellie Carpenter (VC)	Defender	24	3rd (2016, 2020)	Wamberal	NSW	2260
Steph Catley (C)	Defender	30	3rd (2016, 2020)	Seaford	VIC	3198
Kyra Cooney-Cross	Midfielder	22	2nd (2020)	Torquay	VIC	3228
Caitlin Foord	Midfielder/Forward	29	3rd (2016, 2020)	Lake Illawarra	NSW	2528
Mary Fowler	Midfielder/Forward	21	2nd (2020)	Bankstown	NSW	2200
Katrina Gorry	Midfielder	31	2nd (2016)	Carindale	QLD	4152
Michelle Heyman	Forward	35*	2nd (2016)	Lawson	ACT	2617
Clare Hunt	Defender	25	Debut	Camperdown	NSW	2050
Alanna Kennedy	Defender	29	3rd (2016, 2020)	Rosemeadow	NSW	2560
Teagan Micah	Goalkeeper	26	2nd (2020)	Redcliffe	QLD	4020
Clare Polkinghorne	Defender	35	3rd (2016, 2020)	Tingalpa	QLD	4173
Hayley Raso	Midfielder/Forward	29	2nd (2020)	Broadbeach	QLD	4218
Kaitlyn Torpey	Defender	24	Debut	Yeronga	QLD	4104
Emily van Egmond (VC)	Midfielder/Forward	30*	3rd (2016, 2020)	Warners Bay	NSW	2282
Cortnee Vine	Midfielder	26	Debut	Epping	NSW	2121
Clare Wheeler	Midfielder	26	Debut	Dee Why	NSW	2099
Tameka Yallop	Midfielder	32*	3rd (2016, 2020)	Upper Coomera	QLD	4200

The women’s football competition will be held in seven cities, however, with the draw complete, Australia can only play in four cities - Paris, Nantes, Lyon or Marseille. The women’s tournament starts before the opening ceremony on July 25 and concludes on August 10 2024. Good luck to our girls hopefully we come home with some medals

Mascot Harper

 

[stax on the mull]

What is the situation with Catley's injury? I read last week that she would miss the first game, but I saw she was in the training photos.

 

[juss]

Gonna be hard without Kerr to medal IMO. Matildas tournament record isn't great.

 

[banzai]

What are the expectations here? I see the betting has us rated the 7th fav of the 12 teams. I think we just need to get out of the group and avoid Spain or France in the quarters. Germany/USA dont seem in great form, but would obviously start favs against us.

 

[banzai]

Surely Womens football at the Olympics needs to be expanded if it wants to remain close to the World Cup in prestige. Far too many good teams miss out now, 12 team format with 8 making it out of the groups isnt great. Atleast go to 16 like the mens.

 

[AJ_2000]

Surely Womens football at the Olympics needs to be expanded if it wants to remain close to the World Cup in prestige. Far too many good teams miss out now, 12 team format with 8 making it out of the groups isnt great. Atleast go to 16 like the mens.

100% My biggest gripe about many of the Olympic team sports is this strange approach to group sizes and 2 x 3rd best teams make the knockout. 16 is an absolute no brainer

 

[juss]

They're probably limited with availability with so many sports competing for time in the schedule

 

[giggler99]

Gonna be hard without Kerr to medal IMO. Matildas tournament record isn't great.

Get out of the group stage and anything can happen, Canada won gold in Tokyo by only winning two games!

 

[stax on the mull]

What is the situation with Catley's injury? I read last week that she would miss the first game, but I saw she was in the training photos.

Guess I should respond to my own question here. Given the recent history with injury secrecy I think we will have to wait until the team to play Germany is named on game day, although Catley says she is ready to play. Torpey who would seem to be the most logical replacement has also been under an injury cloud - while the other two defenders who could play left back - Grant and Nevin, are only part of the back-up squad.

This is from the SMH article. July 22nd.

Catley’s biggest learning heading into the Olympics – with Kerr absent once more, this time with a ruptured ACL – was the need for an “immediate layer” of leadership underneath her. During the World Cup, in a bid to keep the pressure off Kerr as the striker completed her rehab, she shouldered a lot of the load internally and “could have leaned on people more than I did”. For these Games that has been rectified, with Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond appointed vice captains, and she is already feeling the benefits.

Whether it is her or one of those two leading the team in game one remains to be seen, with coach Tony Gustavsson giving nothing away about the nature or severity of Catley’s mystery injury, which ruled her out of the warm-up loss to Canada. But Catley herself says, “At this stage I’ll be good for the first game.

“I’m doing really well, just ticking a few boxes,” she says. “Obviously it’s annoying timing because I’ve been feeling fit and ready to go, and then something small just pops up. It’s a little bump in the road, but it definitely hasn’t taken me out of any part of the tournament at this stage. I’m looking forward to the first game and just getting ready for that.”

‘I was just cooked’: The four weeks that shaped Catley’s Matildas captaincy

The team’s mature thinker and eloquent speaker will take some key lessons into Paris 2024, and is adamant that, at this point, she will play in their opening match.

www.smh.com.au

 

[stax on the mull]

Starting side named for the first game vs Germany. Freier has been brought into the main squad of 18 replacing Yallop.

Apparently it's 35C.

 

[jhong]

Lucky to not have conceded there .

 

[stax on the mull]

Whoah. Too easy for Germany.

 

[jhong]

We concede from a corner 0-1 to the Germans

 

[Fabab]

1-0 terrible defending.

 

[jhong]

Can see us conceding more here .

 

[jhong]

So much coughing up of possession.

 

[stax on the mull]

That tall striker moved so easily around our defenders when she had her turn to attack the goal. Even the long direct ball is worry for our defenders. Only Gorry getting back a couple of times prevented some clear shots at goal.

We haven't been locked into our half but haven't created anything when we've pushed forward.

 

[jhong]

Brand is all class . We look so disjointed so far .

 

[stax on the mull]

Ouch. Set pieces a weakness. We were just starting to look a bit better for 5 minutes.

 

[jhong]

Another corner , another goal conceded . Some very ordinary defending by the Matildas .

 

[jhong]

3-0 down now . No comeback tonite .

 

[stax on the mull]

Was only a couple of minutes between the 2nd and 3rd goal.

 

[FreoRicci]

Another out of his depth Masterclass by Gustavsson. Useless

 

[Whiskers]

That was horrendous, very disappointing.