Matildas Set to Fly Higher as Montemurro Calls for Courage Against Slovenia
The Matildas are heading into their second clash against Slovenia in Perth with a renewed sense of purpose, guided by the fearless philosophy of new coach Joe Montemurro. After a 3-0 win on Thursday night at HBF Park that looked more polished on the scoreboard than on the pitch, Montemurro is pushing his players to be bolder, more decisive, and most of all—braver.
In his post-match reflections, Montemurro acknowledged the positives from the win but also made it clear that there's plenty of room to grow. His vision for the Matildas is centered around a fluid, possession-based style of football, but game one showed just how much work lies ahead. The team held onto the ball well enough but often defaulted to safe back passes instead of exploiting attacking spaces. This cautiousness led to some dangerous turnovers and gave Slovenia a surprising 20 shots on goal. Only the brilliance of goalkeeper Teagan Micah kept the clean sheet intact.
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What Montemurro is really asking for now is courage. Not just to keep the ball, but to use it wisely—to break lines, to move forward with intent, and to trust the process. He sees this upcoming second game not just as a match, but as a stepping stone in what will be a long-term transformation of the Matildas’ playing identity. As he puts it, "It was a perfect game to learn and a perfect game to grow off."
Sunday’s fixture is also more than just a rematch. It’s another opportunity to refine tactics ahead of next year’s Asian Cup on home soil, which kicks off in March. With several key players missing—including Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, and Tameka Yallop due to injury—the current squad is being tested not just physically, but mentally. Montemurro knows his team is a work in progress, but he's encouraged by the players’ willingness to adapt, even as many are returning from injury or out of match fitness.
Fans can expect a few changes in the lineup, though the coach confirmed most players pulled up well after game one. Montemurro isn’t focused on the opponent as much as he is on building a strong internal structure within the team. “With no disrespect to any opposition we play, it’s really about us,” he said. “Let’s create the foundations, have the security, and the insurance policies to know that if we do our principles right, we’ll be fine.”
So as the Matildas prepare to take the field again on Sunday, the message is clear: keep the ball, but don’t fear losing it. The real growth comes from daring to play forward, from making the tough passes, and from trusting each other to make brave decisions under pressure. This is not just a test of tactics—it’s a test of belief. And with Montemurro at the helm, the Matildas are being asked not just to play, but to fly.
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