sports
February 27, 2026
From Women's World Cup euphoria to Olympic despair: how did the Matildas get here?
The 2023 tournament was a defining moment in Australian football but there have been more troughs than peaks on the way to a home Asian Cup
TL;DR
- The 2023 Women's World Cup generated national excitement, but subsequent Olympic qualifiers and the Games themselves saw mixed results.
- Star player Sam Kerr suffered an ACL tear and faced legal charges, impacting her availability and the team's performance.
- The team went through coaching changes, with Tony Gustavsson departing and Joe Montemurro taking over ahead of the Asian Cup.
- Young star Mary Fowler also faced a significant ACL injury, impacting her season and preparation for tournaments.
- Despite a period of uncertainty and upheaval, the Matildas enter the home Asian Cup with renewed hope and a new coach.
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