Matildas downplay Japan fears in hunt for Asian glory

Ellie Carpenter has called connected the Matildas to conscionable occurrence with occurrence arsenic Australia’s aureate procreation looks to topple Asian heavyweights Japan and assertion an elusive large trophy.

Joe Montemurro’s broadside will conscionable Japan successful Saturday’s Women’s Asian Cup last astatine Sydney’s Accor Stadium successful a crippled that offers the Matildas their champion changeable astatine silverware since an inspired tally to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

The likes of Chelsea star Carpenter, chap defender Steph Catley, Emily van Egmond, Caitilin Foord and skipper Sam Kerr person formed the backbone of the Matildas squad implicit the past decade, where large tournaments person ever ended successful heartache.

Of Montemurro’s existent squad, lone Kerr has won the Asian Cup when the now-superstar striker was a fresh-faced teen successful the 2010 triumph implicit North Korea.

“When tin I accidental that I’ll person different last successful Australia to win a large tournament? Never, probably,” said 25-year-old Carpenter connected Friday.

“So this is simply a once-in-a-lifetime accidental for us and astir of the girls … I’ve been successful this team for 10 years and haven’t lifted a trophy.”

Japan – ranked No.8 successful the world – are apt to person a large accidental arsenic to whether Carpenter, Kerr and co are holding silverware aloft travel fulltime connected Saturday night.

The Japanese person pulverised their opponents with a ruthlessness seldom seen astatine planetary level, scoring 28 goals, conceding conscionable 1 and warming up for the last with a 4-1 hammering of South Korea successful the semis.

But vice-captain Carpenter appears unfazed, insisting Australia – who are ranked 15th successful the world by FIFA – person the firepower to lucifer Japan.

“We person world-class players playing astatine the champion clubs successful the world,” Carpenter said.

“I don’t think we should disrespect that and spell into this crippled frightened whatsoever.

“Japan is simply a large team, a world-class side, but I think for us we tin lucifer that. We’re acceptable to beryllium retired there and to combat and to judge and to get the occupation done.”

Japan thrashed Australia 4-0 successful their astir caller gathering successful past February’s SheBelieves Cup.

Interim manager Tom Sermanni astatine the clip branded the show “un-Australian” but Carpenter is adamant there will beryllium nary repeat.

“We’ve grown so overmuch since then,” the close backmost said.

“We evidently didn’t spell down the way we wanted (by finishing 2nd successful the group) but successful the extremity it’s the amended way for us where we’ve had some tough games against North Korea, China.

“That’s acceptable us up well and we truly person that momentum and that never-say-die attitude.

“I think we needed to spot that combat again within the team.”

Carpenter was asked to be Friday’s pre-match property league successful spot of Kerr.

The lack of Australia’s talismanic skipper and starring all-time goalscorer raised eyebrows fixed Kerr missed ample chunks of the 2023 World Cup run with injury.

But Montemurro insisted there was nary concerns arsenic Kerr looks to pb Australia to a archetypal Asian Cup crown successful 16 years.

“Sam’s done a batch of property and we similar to stock the emotion with each of that,” Montemurro said.

“Sam’s fine. Everything’s good and we’re each acceptable to go.

“I’m so blessed for her and arrogant of her due to the fact that she has truly shown why she’s such a world-class subordinate astatine this tournament.”

Source: AAP