“We had domestic league in Australia start to kick off, which was called the W-League back then and now the A-League Women. Football in Australia has come such a long way, and it’s given a lot of the girls who are currently still in this team a pathway to be in the national team, to be successful, and have a pretty prominent career abroad.”
This is interspersed with remarks about how the more important goal is for Australia to defeat China at Optus Stadium and progress to Saturday night’s final, against either Japan or South Korea. In the end, it took coach Joe Montemurro to properly express just how significant a contribution van Egmond has made and why, having played four World Cups, three Olympics and now four Asian Cups, her longevity continues.
“She really doesn’t like to talk about herself, so I’m more than happy to talk about her,” Montemurro said. “I said to her the other day, ‘I think you’re one of Australia’s most talented footballers’, and I still believe her football intelligence – her reading of the game, her technique – she’s one of the best footballers that we’ve produced.
Van Egmond fires up the Perth crowd on Friday night after Sam Kerr scores against North Korea.Credit: Getty Images
“That’s the reason why she’s been here for so long, and is still an important part of the national team. But the biggest thing is her humility, her ability to understand that the group is more important than the individual. Obviously she doesn’t like it when she doesn’t start, but that’s normal.
“There are a few players I’ve had the honour of coaching who I can have a really good technical conversation with … that’s unique.”
Monday was also a good news day for Catley and Raso, who have recovered from concussions and been given the green light to return to the field against Ante Milicic’s China.
“They’ve cleared all the relative protocols and are in the squad for tomorrow,” Montemurro said, but would not reveal their chances of actually playing.
What he did make clear is that he expects the team to return to his possession-based philosophy against defending champions China, having lost the capacity to dictate the previous two fixtures, against South Korea and North Korea.
While the Matildas prevailed 2-1 in Friday’s quarter-final with the latter, they had less than 40 per cent possession and a measly four shots to North Korea’s 21.
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“It’s probably been the emotion and the moments … that we haven’t been probably brave enough to control the ball,” he said. “And as you all know, my way of thinking is with the ball.
“We feel that we’re probably playing a team that is very, very well-structured and organised, so it’s going to be really us understanding the moments with the ball and making the right decisions. That’s been the message going into this game. I’m looking forward to it because the last two games have been … interesting.
