Sermanni to go full strength against Canada
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni will name his strongest possible team for the match against Canada, despite the magnificent performance of the team that took the park against Norway in Hangzhou Dragon Stadium last night.
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni will name his strongest possible team for the match against Canada, despite the magnificent performance of the team that took the park against Norway in Hangzhou Dragon Stadium last night.
Sermanni made six changes to the starting side and while the first half belonged to the Norwegians, the second half was all Australia-s and deservedly shared the spoils with their more decorated opponents.
It was a classic contest of David versus Goliath, with the underdogs Australia, almost grabbing a win against the world ranked number 3 team in the world.
However with the final group game also deciding who will finish in the top two, Sermanni is taking no chances and will put his top side on the park.
“We feel we have good ability throughout the squad,” Sermanni told the official FIFA Women-s World Cup site. “We are quite happy to make changes from game to game but in our next match we will put out our strongest XI, to make sure we get the result we need.”
However who his strongest team is, will be a mystery, given how well the squad as a whole, has performed in the first two games. Sermanni-s biggest concern is the weather conditions and the toll it takes on the players during the match and how they recover after.
Thea Slatyer and Lauren Colthorpe were superb at the back against Norway and will have given Sermanni a tough selection. Sally Shipard and Jo Peters both missed the match through injury, but with four days till the Canada game, they are both looking to be back for that game and one would suspect they will be brought straight back in if they are fit.
However the biggest selection headache is who his starting strikers will be. Lisa De Vanna has scored three goals coming off the bench in the opening two games and has been sensational when on the park. Sermanni though likes to let her loose on tiring defenders and while the temptation to start her would be great; her value off the bench has proved invaluable so far. All five strikers have seen game time and no doubt each has their advantages depending on the circumstances in the match.
Sermanni was obviously delighted with the result and praised the attitude of both teams, who were both content on winning the game.
“I thought it was an absolutely sensational game,” Sermanni enthused. “Both teams tried to go out and win it and there was a lot of good, positive football.
“Norway played very well in the first half but we found a way back into the game after the break and I'm really pleased with my players.”
Sarah Walsh, who came off the bench in this match, said the team was happy with the result, although three points was the objective.
“Of course we want to win but under the circumstances we have to be happy with the result,” she said.
“Lisa (De Vanna) is special. She is quick, a great impact player, and a very important member of our team.”
Both Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen and star striker Ragnhild Gulbrandsen were full of praise for Australia and said they in the end they were happy with a point, a good indication of how far the Australian team has come.
“It was a very good game,” said Berntsen. “From our point of view, it was especially good in the first half but in the second half, it was much more difficult.
“Considering the whole 90 minutes, we have to be pleased with the point and we still feel we are in a very good situation with one game to go.
“I can't say that Australia didn't deserve a point,” said Gulbrandsen, who had put her team in front after just five minutes, with an excellent strike. “The first half belonged to us, but the second was all theirs.”