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Matildas players ‘completely focused’ despite Marty Sheargold comments
In a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Sermanni said his players were “completely focused on the game” amid backlash over Triple M radio host Marty Sheargold’s comments about the Matildas on Monday, which led to him parting ways with the station.
During his show on Monday, Sheargold said he would rather “hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch” women’s soccer, before asking: “Got any men’s sport?”
Sermanni joined a chorus of others, including federal minister for sport Anika Wells, in condemning Sheargold’s comments as “completely unnecessary and generally outrageous”.
“As sporting teams, we’re used to criticisms,” Sermanni said, “but sometimes the comments cross the line and that one certainly did cross the line.
“It was firstly completely unnecessary and generally outrageous. And you know, it’s something that just from a behavioural perspective is really, very, very disappointing.
“Our team is obviously a very high-profile team, and being a very high-profile team you do take criticism, and you do create criticism sometimes very near the edge. But sometimes that just goes over the edge, and those comments did that.”
Recap of Colombia’s run in the SheBelieves Cup
If you’ve only been following the Matildas games in the SheBelieves Cup, here’s an update on what you missed from Colombia’s first two games.
Their first match against the US on Friday (AEDT) ended in a 2-0 loss to Colombia, with Catarina Macario scoring against the side in the 33rd minute and newbie Ally Sentnor scoring at the hour mark. Colombia was awarded three yellow cards for their efforts.
Colombia’s second match against Japan also ended in a loss, this time 4-1, with the team also suffering at the feet of Mina Tanaka twice and Maika Hamano, just as Australia did on Friday. Momoko Tanikawa also scored against Colombia inside two minutes of the match.
Linda Caicedo earned one back against the punishing Japanese side in additional time in the game’s first half.
Linda Caicedo was Colombia’s only goal scorer in their 4-1 loss against Japan on Monday (AEDT).Credit: Getty Images
Matildas players ‘completely focused’ despite Marty Sheargold comments
In a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Sermanni said his players were “completely focused on the game” amid backlash over Triple M radio host Marty Sheargold’s comments about the Matildas on Monday, which led to him parting ways with the station.
During his show on Monday, Sheargold said he would rather “hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch” women’s soccer, before asking: “Got any men’s sport?”
Sermanni joined a chorus of others, including federal minister for sport Anika Wells, in condemning Sheargold’s comments as “completely unnecessary and generally outrageous”.
“As sporting teams, we’re used to criticisms,” Sermanni said, “but sometimes the comments cross the line and that one certainly did cross the line.
“It was firstly completely unnecessary and generally outrageous. And you know, it’s something that just from a behavioural perspective is really, very, very disappointing.
“Our team is obviously a very high-profile team, and being a very high-profile team you do take criticism, and you do create criticism sometimes very near the edge. But sometimes that just goes over the edge, and those comments did that.”
Colombia’s starting XI
Here is Colombia’s starting XI.
Watch out for 20-year-old Linda Caicedo, who is Colombia’s only goal scorer of the SheBelieves Cup so far. In 2023, she was the first player in history to play at three Women’s World Cups in the same year (the under 17s, under 20 and senior level) and scored against Germany and Korea, knocking both out of the tournament.
Matildas’ starting XI
After the game against the US on Monday, Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni said there wasn’t a clear first-choice goalie for the Australian side despite Mackenzie Arnold’s long run of games in the position.
Tegan Micah, who has 19 international caps to Mackenzie Arnold’s 58, starts again in this morning’s match against Colombia. She is joined by Michelle Heyman – Australia’s sole goalscorer in this tournament so far.
Van Egmond, Yallop, Gorry and Hunt have also all found their way back to the starting XI after time on the bench, leaving regular backline feature Alana Kennedy out of the starting lineup.
Mary Fowler is also making a rare start on the bench for the Matildas, joining a list of young players despite Sermanni saying he wanted new players to get game time.
Hello and welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Matildas final game in the SheBelieves Cup against Colombia in what has been a largely disappointing campaign for the Australians. My name is Frances Howe, and I will be here with you throughout today’s match.
Australia and Colombia are currently on equal points (and equal goal difference) at the bottom of the tournament table, and this game will decide third and fourth place. Japan is leading the group with a goal difference of seven compared to the US’ three. The tournament winner, which has been won by host nation, the US, for the last five years, will be decided when the US play Japan at 2.30 pm today (AEDT).
Australia had a tough game against Japan on Friday, losing 4-0 and suffered a little less against the US on Monday, despite conceding a goal in the opening minute of the game.
Colombia are currently ranked 21st in the FIFA world rankings. Australia is ranked 15, meaning this should be the most opportunistic of all the games the Matildas will play in this tournament. Though Colombia’s star forwards Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez will test the Matildas imperfect backline.
The game will kick-off at 11:30 am and is available to watch in Australia on Paramount+.
Team news coming shortly.
