Switzerland 1-1 Australia
By Kieran Yap 26/10/24
Above: Mackenzie Arnold grabs the ball against Switzerland. Photo: Football Australia, Marcio Machado.
A Caitlin Foord penalty and a strong performance from Mackenzie Arnold saw Australia draw 1-1 with Switzerland, but some long standing questions still remain without obvious answers.
In Tom Sermanni’s first game back in charge of The Matildas, the team set out with a more pragmatic approach than has been used in friendlies in recent years. The side had more focus on defence, and counterattack, with captain Ellie Carpenter rarely running into the final third, and Caitlin Foord looking for the quick release as the lone striker.
Switzerland had the best of the early opportunities. Viola Calligaris and Smilla Vallatto were both denied by Arnold with close range saves that bordered on the miraculous, and when Australia took the lead, it was almost against the run of play.
Carpenter’s long curling pass sent Foord through behind the Swiss defence and she raced towards goal. Her last touch took her around Elvira Herzog, but the Switzerland goalkeeper fouled her as the passed and Foord picked herself up to score from the spot.
The lead would last until the 58th minute when Geraldine Reuteler capitalized on a poor defensive clearance to bounce the ball beyond Arnold. It took a lucky deflection, but a goal was no less than the hosts deserved after creating the better chances.
Australia turned to the bench in an effort to regain control of the match. Of the substitutes used, the most notable was Daniela Galic. The 18 year old made her debut in the senior side as cap number 299 for The Matildas. The most impactful was Clare Wheeler.
The Everton midfielder was immediately busy. She was mobile without the ball and proactive with it. Most of Wheeler’s passes went forward and she was constantly darting into pockets of space between the Swiss lines. Galic was not anonymous in her first cap, and immediately looked to involve herself. The Fc Twente midfielder showed no signs of stage fright, and more opportunities could see her really flourish at this level.
Sharn Freier was effective on the left after coming on for Kaitlyn Torpey. In the absence of Cortnee Vine and Hayley Raso, Freier was the only pure winger in the squad. She used her pace to run at the Swiss defenders at every opportunity and although her end product remains a work in progress, she is another recent cap that can make an impact in the Green and Gold.
Although the match ended in a disappointing stalemate, there were good signs. Arnold looks back to her best, Clare Hunt was canny and sturdy in defence, and Carpenter was excellent in a very defensive role.
The negatives, aside from the understandable rustiness are mostly questions without immediate answers.
Should Australia try to incorporate Wheeler into the lineup from the start?
Where is Mary Fowler’s best position? (Hint, whatever it is, its one closer to goal than in this match.)
Does the style and gameplay change too drastically without Steph Catley on the pitch?
It is early days in the new cycle, and Australia are traditionally rusty in the first game of an international window. But the tests do not come any easier, they face a free-scoring Germany on Tuesday morning and every player and coach will be looking for an improvement on their last meeting at the Paris Olympics.
Lineups:
Switzerland: Herzog, Maritz, Buhler, Calligaris, Luet, Riesen, Valotto, Walti, Reuteler, Bachmann, Crnogorcevic. Substitutes: Baumann, Schertenleib, Mauron, Beney, Lehmann, Bohi, Stierli, Marti, Sow, Peng, Andrade, Terchoun.
Scorer: Reuteler 58’
Australia: Arnold, Nevin, Kennedy, Hunt, Carpenter, Fowler, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Yallop, Foord, Torpey. Substitutes: Wheeler, Catley, van Egmond, Freier, Galic, Heyman, Heatley, Polkinghorne, Whyman, Grant, Lincoln.
Scorer: Foord 43’
Attendance: 14,370.
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