Despised by club coaches as season interrupters, endured by bone-weary players, and met with something often scarcely warmer than indifference by fans, international friendlies, and by association friendly tournaments, have long been maligned in the men’s football calendar.
But given the paucity of official internationals in the women’s game, friendlies hold significantly more value. And in the context of what has recently transpired within the Australian game, this Cup of Nations tournament could not be more welcome – or more important.
In the month since the shock sacking of Alen Stajcic the lack of clarity surrounding the process that informed that decision has given rise to a torrent of negativity, suspicion, shadowy accusations and general “brand damage” for one of Australia’s most beloved sporting teams.
While many around the team environment – journalists, administrators, former players and staff – have had plenty to say, those at the centre of what has made the Matildas so highly respected – the players themselves – have been largely silent.
On Thursday, for the first time in this whole sorry charade the players themselves will finally do their talking. On the pitch.
South Korea, New Zealand and Argentina may not be massive names in women’s football, but as pre-World Cup invitational tournaments go, this is a well-considered schedule – and as such praise should go to organisers and the governing body for committing the time and funds to such a competition.
All three opponents are bound for France in June. Instead of squads of players thrown together last minute with nigh on nothing to play for, the Matildas will face three sides scrapping for every inch of match fitness, and every potential advantage over teammates-cum-rivals vying for World Cup spots. The matches will be as close to non-friendlies football as you can find.
In styles and brands of football the three opponents will also offer unique challenges. The technical quality of South Korea, the physical style of New Zealand, the street-smart and tactical approach of Argentina. If you’re looking for potential blueprints for the challenges of Italy, Brazil or Jamaica – Australia’s Group C opponents in France – they’re all there.
More than that, gaining a close familiarity with three World Cup attendees also gives the Matildas’ technical analysts a base for comparison against potential knockout stage opponents. How Argentina fare against England or Japan, how New Zealand compete with Canada or the Netherlands, or how South Korea hold up against hosts France during the group stages in July will be tested against a wealth of performance data gleaned during this tournament. If even just one weakness in a cup-challenging rival is identified through this process, the Matildas are ahead.
In the context of all the negativity of the past few months, the tournament provides a reset for fans and players to enjoy each other once again. The Matildas played on home soil just three times last year; four the year before, and just twice in 2016. For legions of young girls and boys, families and supporters of women’s football, the Cup of Nations is a great opportunity to watch and support these tremendous athletes, up close and personal, before they depart for France.
Necessarily, there will be huge interest as well in how the Matildas will look in their first competitive games under new coach Ante Milicic and his staff.
In his first squad, Milicic has suggested a preference for continuity rather than wholesale change – with the 23 named in camp almost to a player the squad likely to have been selected by Stajcic. It tells us one thing straight away – that Milicic is prioritising rebuilding group harmony and team spirit among his squad over blooding new faces.
In Brisbane this past week, Milicic will have impressed upon his chargers the broad outlines of his footballing vision – his preferred tactic systems, key philosophies, and perhaps even basic rotations or patterned movements.
With limited time on the training ground before the first match, however, the performance of the Matildas against New Zealand on Thursday will likely tell us more about the players than the new coach.
Of course they’ll look to impress – after all, potential World Cup spots are on the line. But it’s also a chance to exorcise some frustrations – to show the public that the Matildas themselves are as focused, committed and united among themselves, in spite of the whispers of factions and divides exacerbated by the public playing-out of the Stajcic sacking.
Playing group leaders such as Sam Kerr and Lydia Williams have spoken publicly about the strength of resolve and the mentality of the group to play for themselves and each other. And while all and sundry have passed judgement from the outside on this incredible crop of players, at last, on the grass of Leichhardt Oval, Suncorp Stadium and AAMI Park, the players themselves will have their say.
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