The Matildas are gearing up to take on Brazil once again in a highly anticipated international friendly on the Gold-Coast. With interim coach Tom Sermanni promising a fierce response to Brazil’s physical playing style. Following a tough 3-1 loss at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, the Australian team has resolved to fight back with intensity while maintaining their own style of play.
Brazil’s aggressive approach in first-match saw them commit 17-fouls, have a player sent off, and dominate in terms of physicality. While Australia stood firm, Sermanni emphasized the importance of meeting Brazil’s tough tactics head-on in the upcoming clash.
“We need to fight fire with fire,” Sermanni said. “Brazil have adopted a very different style of football to what we usually expect from them, and it’s a style we don’t often see from top teams. To compete, we have to match that intensity but also recognize where we can exploit weaknesses. Getting the ball forward quickly and creating one-on-one match-ups with their defenders is key.”
The match in Brisbane saw Brazil capitalize on their opportunities more effectively than Australia. They took a 2-0 lead within the first 13 minutes, while the Matildas had several chances but could only convert one, with Caitlin Foord finding the back of the net. Sermanni acknowledged the need for improvement in converting chances and better handling Brazil’s early offensive runs.
“It’s crucial we improve our timing with the passes and deal better with their forward movements,” he said. “We showed glimpses of creating space and getting behind their defense, but we were either a bit off with the final pass or they fouled us. Hopefully, we can execute that part of our game more effectively in the second match.”
Sermanni also expressed hope for a more balanced officiating approach this time, suggesting that Brazil’s physical play went unchecked in the previous match. “I felt the referees were either intimidated or bullied the other night. If they’d taken control earlier, it could have been a very different game,” he commented. “Our forwards didn’t get enough protection, and it reminded me of the old-days when there was little protection for players. Let’s hope for a more even approach this time.”
Despite the bruising encounter, Sermanni confirmed there were no significant injury concerns for the Matildas following Saturday’s training session. In a promising development, he also hinted at the possibility of giving at least one player their debut in the upcoming match.
As both teams prepare to clash again on Sunday, the Matildas aim to take the field with greater strength. With Sermanni confident that lessons learned from first encounter will help them perform better and turn tide in their favor.
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