Australia women's national association football team

Australia

Nickname(s)	Matildas
Association	Football Federation Australia
Head coach	Tom Sermanni
Most caps	Cheryl Salisbury (151)
Top scorer	Cheryl Salisbury (38)
FIFA ranking	10
Highest FIFA ranking	9 (September 2010)
Lowest FIFA ranking	16 (October 2006)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Australia 2 – 2 New Zealand  Sutherland, Australia; 6 October 1979
Biggest win
Australia 21 – 0 American Samoa  Auckland, New Zealand; 9 October 1998
Biggest defeat
United States 9 – 1 Australia  Ambler, United States; 5 June 1997
World Cup
Appearances	4 (First in 1995)
Best result	Quarterfinal (2007) 2011
AFC Women's Asian Cup (since 1975) and OFC Women's Championship (1983–2003)
Appearances	AFC – 5 (First in 1975), OFC – 7 (First in 1983)
Best result	AFC – Winners (2010), OFC – Winners (1995, 1998, 2003)

The Australia women's national association football team, nicknamed the Matildas (from the song Waltzing Matilda), represents Australia in international women's association football and is governed by Football Federation Australia (FFA). The team has regularly qualified for both the Women's World Cup and the Olympics although has won neither. It has had success at the continental level, being a triple Oceania Cup winner, as well as winning the Asia Cup once.

History

Matildas before a game against Italy in 2009

The first Australian women's national team was formed in 1978, four years after the Australian Women’s Soccer Association, to play in the inaugural World Women’s Invitational Tournament, in Taipei, Taiwan. The team was made up primarily of players from New South Wales and Western Australia. Australia was the only national team at the tournament, thus none of the matches were counted as official caps. Coached by Jim Selby, the players that year were: Sandra Brentnall (WA), Connie Byrnes (captain, NSW), Julie Clayton (WA), Kim Coates (NSW), Julie Dolan (NSW), Cindy Heydon (NSW), Barbara Kozak (WA), Sharon Loveless (WA), Toni McMahon (NSW), Sue Monteath (QLD), Sharon Pearson (NSW), Judy Pettitt (WA), Anna Senjuschenko (WA), Teresa Varadi (WA), Leigh Wardell (NSW), Monika Werner (VIC).

Early matches for the team were generally against New Zealand as one of the better organised nations in the region. Australia played in the first Oceania Cup in 1983, losing the final to New Zealand in extra time. The 1986 tournament in New Zealand was only three teams: Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, Australia again losing in the final.

The 1980s

During 1987 and 1988 the Matildas played tournaments in Taiwan and China encountering the American and European teams for the first time. Hosting the 1989 Oceania Cup, Australia stumbled to finish third. The 1991 tournament doubled as qualifiers for the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, and the winner was determined by the best results from a group. Australia finished level on points with New Zealand, but had scored fewer goals and so New Zealand progressed to the World Cup as OFC representative. Between 1991 and 1994, the Matildas played internationally only during a tour of Russia in 1994. The Oceania tournament in 1995 again doubled as World Cup qualifiers in the same round-robin format. Again, Australia finished even with New Zealand on points but this time had a superior goal difference, and qualified for their first FIFA Women's World Cup.

The 1990s

At the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, Australia were grouped with USA, China and Denmark. The Matildas inexperience showed in the opening match to Denmark, losing 5–0. The second match was a 4–2 loss to China, Angela Iannotta scoring Australia's first goal at a World Cup. In the final group match against cup holders USA, Australia scored first but went on to lose 4–1.

The Matildas would assert their Continental strength at the 1998 Oceania Cup, which doubled as a World Cup qualifying tournament. Australia thrashed their Pacific island opposition in their group games and semi-final, before defeating hosts New Zealand in the final 3–1 (the only goal conceded for the tournament), and qualifying for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in USA. At the tournament, Australia was grouped with Sweden, China and Ghana. In their opening match, they secured their first non-loss in a World Cup match with a 1–1 draw against the Ghanaians. Their following group matches were both 3–1 losses, finishing third in the group, but showing improvement on previous tournaments.

In 1998, the team sought to raise the profile of women's football in Australia, and raise badly needed funds for the team, by posing nude for a calendar. The Matildas – A New Fashion in Football calendar was published, making 'cover-girl' Amy Taylor the face of the team, and included players Tracie McGovern, Sunni Hughes, Kim Revell, Alison Forman, Sharon Black, Cheryl Salisbury, Alicia Ferguson, Katrina Boyd, Sarah Cooper, Cas Ambrose, Traci Bartlett and Bridgett Starr. Although there was some backlash at the concept, the 'tastefully presented' calendar sold well in Australia and was largely considered a success at the time. However, it has ultimately been considered by many commentators as a step backwards for the game by preventing the sport from being viewed on its competitive merits.

The 2000s

The profile built for the sport carried into the 2000 Olympics in Australia, with the Matildas qualifying as hosts. Much anticipation surrounded the team's performance on home soil, but a 3–0 loss to Germany in their opening game brought those hopes down. A draw with Sweden and a final loss to Brazil ended their tournament in the first round. While the on-field performance was disappointing, attendances at matches were high for women's football in Australia, raising the profile of the game.

In 2003, they won the Oceania Cup and qualified for the World Cup, where they finished in the first round.

The team made the quarter final stage at the 2004 Olympics.

In 2006, Australia moved from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation, and the country was given hosting rights to the AFC Women's Asian Cup that same year. The opening game for the Matildas was against South Korea. An early own goal by South Korea put the Matilda's up, finishing with 3 goals in the second half to give them a 4–0 win. The second match against Myanmar was also a win to the Matildas, who finished with 2 goals, with Sally Shipard and Lisa De Vanna scoring one a piece. The Matildas went on to reach the final, being defeated 4–2 on penalties by China after having a two goal half time lead.

2007 World Cup

Australia qualified for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and drawn into Group C. They defeated Ghana 4–1 on 12 September in Hangzhou,^[1] followed by a 1–1 draw against Norway at the same venue on 15 September. Thanks to a late goal from Cheryl Salisbury, they drew against Canada 2–2 on 20 September in Chengdu to advance to the knockout round for the first time in team history. Australia came up against Brazil in their elimination match, losing to Brazil 3–2 to end their 2007 World Cup run at the quarter-final stage.

2008 tournaments

The Matildas failed to get through qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics held in 2007, where they lost to Korea DPR both home and away in the final round.

In 2008, the Matildas competed in the 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup. They were drawn in Group B, placing second in the group with relative ease behind Japan, who they would eventually face in the third place playoff. With the Matildas progressing from the group stage to the semi-finals, they were paired up against Korea DPR. Korea DPR won the match 3–0 and went on to win the tournament. This led them on to the third place playoff, facing Japan for a second time in the tournament and losing again, leaving the Matildas in fourth place.

The 2010s

In 2010 the Matildas won the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup in China, beating at the finals the team of Korea DPR in the penalties, 5-4, after a regular time score of 1-1 (Australia's gol being scored by Samantha Kerr). The title gave the Matildas a berth at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

The following year the team disputed the World Cup, being sorted into Group D. Despite losing 1-0 to Brazil in the opening game, victories of 3-2 and 2-1 over Equatorial Guinea and Norway respectively qualified the Matildas to the quarterfinals. At the knockout stage, the team lost 3-1 to Sweden. Caitlin Foord was awarded Best Young Player of the tournament, and defender Elise Kellond-Knight was chosen for the All-Star Team.

Olympic Games record

• 1996 – Did not qualify
• 2000 – Round 1
• 2004 – Quarter-finals
• 2008 – Did not qualify
• 2012 – Did not qualify

World Cup record

Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1991	Did Not Qualify
1995	Group Stage	3	0	0	3	3	13
1999	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	3	7
2003	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	3	5
2007	Quarterfinals	4	1	2	1	9	7
2011	Quarterfinals	4	2	0	2	6	7
Total	5/6	17	3	4	10	24	39

AFC Women's Asian Cup record

Women's Asian Cup
Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
1975	Third Place	4	2	0	2	12	6	+6
1977	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1979	Fourth Place	6	2	0	4	0	5	−5
1981	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1983	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1986	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1989	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1991	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1993	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1995	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1997	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1999	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2001	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2003	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2006	Second Place	6	4	2	0	15	2	+13
2008	Fourth Place	5	2	0	3	7	9	−2
2010	Champions	5	4	0	1	7	3	+4
Total	5/17	26	14	2	10	41	25	+16

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

OFC Women's Championship

Oceania Women's Cup
Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
1983	Runners Up	4	2	1	1	20	3	+17
1986	Runners Up	4	2	0	2	4	6	−2
1989	Third Place	4	1	1	2	7	6	+1
1991	Runners Up	4	3	0	1	21	1	+20
1995	Champions	4	3	0	1	13	2	+11
1998	Champions	4	4	0	0	49	1	+48
2003	Champions	4	4	0	0	45	0	+45
2007	Did Not Enter	Transferred from OFC to AFC
Total	7/7	28	19	2	7	159	19	+140

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club 1 GK Melissa Barbieri (C) 20 January 1980 (age 31) 69 0 Melbourne Victory 18 GK Lydia Williams 13 May 1988 (age 23) 25 0 Canberra United 21 GK Casey Dumont 25 January 1992 (age 19) 0 0 Brisbane Roar 2 DF Teigen Allen 12 February 1994 (age 17) 3 0 Sydney FC 3 DF Kim Carroll 2 September 1987 (age 23) 30 1 Brisbane Roar 4 DF Clare Polkinghorne 2 January 1989 (age 22) 39 2 Brisbane Roar 5 DF Laura Alleway 28 November 1989 (age 21) 1 0 Brisbane Roar 6 DF Ellyse Perry 3 November 1990 (age 20) 11 2 Canberra United 7 MF Heather Garriock 21 December 1982 (age 28) 113 19 LdB Malmo 8 MF Elise Kellond-Knight 10 August 1990 (age 20) 14 0 Brisbane Roar 10 MF Servet Uzunlar 8 March 1989 (age 22) 14 1 Sydney FC 12 MF Emily van Egmond 12 July 1993 (age 17) 1 0 Canberra United 13 MF Tameka Butt 16 June 1991 (age 20) 16 1 Brisbane Roar 14 MF Collette McCallum 26 March 1986 (age 25) 58 9 Perth Glory 15 MF Sally Shipard 20 October 1987 (age 23) 43 2 Brisbane Roar 16 MF Lauren Colthorpe 25 October 1985 (age 25) 45 6 Brisbane Roar 9 FW Caitlin Foord 11 November 1994 (age 16) 1 1 Sydney FC 11 FW Lisa De Vanna 14 November 1984 (age 26) 62 23 MagicJack 17 FW Kyah Simon 25 June 1991 (age 20) 18 2 Sydney FC 19 FW Leena Khamis 19 June 1986 (age 25) 11 3 Sydney FC 20 FW Samantha Kerr 10 September 1993 (age 17) 9 2 Perth Glory

See also

Women's sport portal

• Women's association football in Australia
• W-League (Australia) – Current Australian women's national league
• Women’s National Soccer League (WNSL) – defunct Australian women's national league

References

1. ^ "Women kick off World Cup campaign in style". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 September 2007. http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/women-kick-off-world-cup-campaign-in-style/2007/09/12/1189276809227.html. Retrieved 2008-04-22. 

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by 2008 North Korea	Asian Cup Champions 2010 (First title)	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by 1991 New Zealand	OFC Women's Champions 1995 (First title) 1998 (Second title) 2003 (Third title)	Succeeded by 2007 New Zealand

• Football Australia – Matildas
• Australian Women's Football – unofficial
• Special Feature – Cheryl Salisbury, retrieved 2 May 2006]
• All A International results (up to 2004)