Montemurro: It was the perfect game to test us
CommBank Matildas Head Coach Joe Montemurro explained that Australia’s 3-0 victory over Slovenia in Perth on Thursday evening was an “important exercise” in establishing patterns and behaviours to improve the team going forward.
He was speaking at the post-match press conference after goals from Emily Gielnik, Holly McNamara and Hayley Raso sealed the result.
Montemurro said that while the execution wasn’t perfect, he was pleased with how the team set out to achieve the instructions that they were given.
“We have to put ourselves in positions - especially against a team that played player on player - to be comfortable receiving the ball under pressure,” he said.
“We made three or four big errors in that. But I'm not concerned, because it's the process going forward. For me, it was the perfect game. It was the perfect game against a team that pressured all over the pitch, and we have to be comfortable under that pressure.
“So, for me, it was an important exercise.”
He explained that one of the pillars of his teams are inverted full-backs, which means that the likes of Ellie Carpenter and Jamilla Rankin at right and left-back will tuck in centrally to create overloads against the opposition.
“We've only done over two and a half hours of work - now it's about it's about continuity,” he said.
“When you want to play a game where you're breaking lines and preparing to break lines, and you're playing under pressure, you know you are going to make mistakes. You are going to make errors. I'm demanding this, because for us to be at the top level, we have to be comfortable doing this.”
He was pleased with the way that the team created opportunities, even though Slovenia had plenty of their own.
“That sends good signals, because they're trying to, at all costs, solve the problems with the ball,” he said.
“It's probably going to take a little bit more time. But there were some very, very good actions that we created. We created a lot of good opportunities.
“The positive thing is, a lot of their chances came from our errors trying to play. That's positive. If we just polish that stuff up, we'll be able to play against the top teams.”
22-year-old Holly McNamara scored her first national team goal in this game, in what was a fantastic moment for the striker.
Montemurro expanded on her strengths and how they could be harnessed throughout the team.
“She’s a player that's very, very smart at arriving in space,” he said.
“She makes her runs very late, which is very hard to mark. There were two occasions in the first half where we've just played a ball underneath the line, and she's come underneath and arrived very, very late, and it's hard to mark.
“That’s a feeling. You can't coach that. The more we put players in these situations, the more they can feel and make the right decision, and be proactive and brave. I think we will be better for it.”
He said that there was plenty to work on during this window, but it was a pleasing start.
“[The game] was a nice little test to see how we go after three sessions,” he said.
“I've never been in this situation where I've had three sessions with a team, and having to play a game.
“So, again, it was a perfect game for us to really learn and grow and take a lot out of. It was a good start.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | JUNE/JULY 2025 | MATCH SCHEDULE
Series One
CommBank Matildas 3 v Slovenia 0
CommBank Matildas v Slovenia
Date: Sunday, 29 June 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
Series Two
CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Saturday, 5 July 2025
Kick-off: 2.30pm WST / 4.30pm AEST
Venue: Hands Oval, Bunbury
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets