Sermanni: "I'm happy with the squad we've selected" for SheBelieves Cup
CommBank Matildas Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni said that selecting a 23-player squad ahead of the SheBelieves Cup was “challenging,” but he was ultimately “happy” with his squad.
He was speaking to media on Tuesday morning after the squad was announced.
“[It was] probably a little bit more challenging than the squad that we had to select last year, in the sense that it’s been a while since we’ve been together,” he explained.
“We have players that are starting preseason. We’ve got players that are just coming off winter break, and we’ve got players that aren’t playing regularly in their club teams.
“Putting it all together with the amount of names that we have, there were some difficult decisions in the selection, but I’m happy with the squad that we’ve selected.”
The squad included the return of Holly McNamara for the first time since her recovery from back-to-back ACL injuries. Katrina Gorry, Mary Fowler, Kaitlyn Torpey and Clare Wheeler also returned after missing the previous international window.
“You know, I haven’t seen a lot of Holly [McNamara], because she’s had a horrific time with injuries,” Sermanni said.
“When you look at the qualities that Holly brings, and she’s brought by going straight into the A-League Women, that’s the kind of qualities that I want to see from players in the A-League Women.
“I want players in the local competition to make me stand up and select them. That’s what I want to see when they play. Holly’s just come straight back in, and she’s already showing those signs.
“She’s been dynamic, she’s been aggressive, she makes great forward runs, and she’s a winner. I want to see more of that from A-League Women players.”
23-year-old Laini Freier has been called up to the squad for the first time on the back of scoring seven goals in the A-League Women, while her twin sister Sharn Freier misses out due to an ankle injury.
“What made me pick her [Laini Freier] for this squad is that, again, she’s showing qualities in the A-League Women that’s excited me,” he said.
“She’s scored goals, she’s got involved in games, she’s created chances, and she’s showing the kind of form that makes you say that you think she can probably step up to international level.
“Although she hasn’t had a lot of experience at club level, it’s a great chance to see if somebody can go from that level and step straight into international football.”
Sermanni explained that the SheBelieves Cup – against Colombia, Japan, and home side USA – will be an enormous test for the squad, but one that they were looking forward to.
“We’re in everything to win it,” he began.
“We’re an international football team, so there are different times in the cycle where games have different levels of importance. This is a tournament against three high-quality teams, and it’s a tournament that will be a real test for us, both ability-wise and character-wise.
“The one thing we want to get back to with our Australian team is that whenever we go out on the football field, regardless of who we’re playing against, we want to win the game.”
He said that games would be three very different challenges for the team to take on.
“The Japanese are coming into this tournament with a new coach and a European coach, so it will be interesting to see if that changes any of the dynamics around their team,” he mused.
“Very different game to the US, which will be much more physical, a physical type of game, faster and so on.
“And then a Colombia, which will be a mix of that South American football, along with some tasty physical challenges.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | SHEBELIEVES CUP | 17 – 27 FEBRUARY 2025
Japan v CommBank Matildas
Date: Thursday, 20 February 2025 (local) / Friday, 21 February (AEDT)
Kick-off: 4.03pm CT (local) / 9.03am (AEDT)
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston (TX)
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: ussoccer.com/shebelieves/cup
United States v CommBank Matildas
Date: Sunday, 23 February 2025 (local) / Monday, 24 February (AEDT)
Kick-off: 3.05pm MST (local) / 9.05am (AEDT)
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale (AZ)
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: ussoccer.com/shebelieves/cup
CommBank Matildas v Colombia
Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2025 (local) / Thursday, 27 February (AEDT)
Kick-off: 4.37pm PST (local) / 11.37am (AEDT)
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego (CA)
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: ussoccer.com/shebelieves/cup