Australian insiders in China’s ranks threaten Matildas’ Women’s Asian Cup dream | Jack Snape | OneFootball

Facing a formidable opponent supercharged by Australian insiders, the Matildas’ Women’s Asian Cup ambitions meet their toughest test so far as they prepare for Tuesday night’s semi-final against China at Perth Stadium.

The Chinese are defending champions, and have won the trophy nine times. On their bench is former Matildas’ head coach Ante Milicic, who has promised he is now a better operator than when he led the Australians – including many of the current team – at the 2019 World Cup.

With Australia at full strength, together with the possibility of Emily van Egmond setting a new record as the most capped Australian footballer ever, Tuesday promises the grand occasion the tournament has been slowly building towards.

Matildas coach Joe Montemurro warned that Milicic “is going to throw some things at us”, using knowledge gained from seven years with Football Australia’s national teams, including more than a year coaching the Matildas.

“We could talk about the football on the pitch,” Montemurro said on Tuesday. “But there’s also going to be a tactical battle that I need to be prepared for, off the pitch.”

To build the suspense – and to keep Milicic guessing – Montemurro refused to confirm whether defender Steph Catley and winger Hayley Raso would take part, after both cleared concussion protocols following head injuries in earlier matches.

Even with Van Egmond seated beside him, Montemurro was cryptic when discussing the possibility of the midfielder starting, as she did against North Korea. Her selection would mean she wins her 170th cap and eclipses Clare Polkinghorne as the country’s most capped player. “She doesn’t like it when she doesn’t start, but that’s normal,” Montemurro quipped.

“I said to her the other day, I think you’re one of Australia’s most talented footballers, and I still believe that. Her football intelligence, her reading of the game, her technique. But the biggest thing is her humility, her ability to understand that the group is more important than the individual.”

Montemurro’s evasiveness when discussing the lineup underscores the seriousness of the threat of Milicic, a man he called one of Australia’s “special coaches”. It is not just Milicic plotting the Matildas’ downfall.

The former Socceroo and NSL stalwart also has three other Australians on his staff, led by assistant Ivan Jolic. “To be able to lead China tomorrow night against Australia at home in a semi final – that’s a dream not only for myself,” Milicic said. “We’ll have a crack tomorrow night for sure.”

Milicic coached the Matildas at the 2019 World Cup, where they escaped a tough group thanks to a 3-2 comeback win over Brazil, before losing on penalties to Norway in a shootout where Kerr missed a spotkick. He was also part of Ange Postecoglou’s staff when the Socceroos won the Men’s Asian Cup at home in 2015.

“I’m honoured that I’ve had the opportunity to coach both national teams and, of course. I’ll always follow the Matildas from afar, not only them with the national team, but their players at their clubs,” the 51-year-old said.

“I had great memories from my time there, but ultimately I’m enjoying this journey now with China. I’m a better coach, better person and I’m just really looking forward to the occasion more than anything.”

Just as the Matildas have survived a pair of nail-biting matches, China’s players enter the match battle-hardened, after two tense tussles in their own lead-up. Milicic’s side came back to defeat North Korea 2-1 to top their group, then found a way to overcome Taiwan in extra-time in the quarter-final.

As the traditional powers in this tournament, China were expected to win each time, but the nature of their victories – let alone the geopolitical complexities – suggest they are a resilient team. In an extraordinary protest, North Korea refused to play after a controversial goal was awarded by VAR, but China’s players were not distracted and shut out an opponent that went on to give the Matildas grief last Friday.

The Taiwan clash was an exercise in patience. China struggled to break down their opponents despite having more than 70% ball possession. A disallowed goal and a crossbar hit frustrated the Steel Roses before Shao Ziqin broke through for the opener in extra-time.

Montemurro’s side managed to score a late equaliser against South Korea, then held out the North Korean onslaught in the quarter-final. The coach admitted his side haven’t yet proved able to dictate a contest against elite opponents.

“We haven’t been probably brave enough to control the ball,” he said.

“We feel that we’re probably playing a team that is very, very well structured, very, very well organised, so it’s going to be really us – in understanding the moments with the ball – and making the right decisions.”

The Matildas play China in the Women’s Asian Cup semi-final in perth, kicking off at 6pm local time (9pm AEDT).

Header image: [Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images]