Matildas coach happy with emerging talent
Montemurro's Matildas' tenure officially started on Monday after his appointment as coach was announced earlier this month during Australia's two game-series against Argentina.
The matches were the final games on Tom Sermanni's interim coaching stint, with an Australian squad minus a host of its star players – including Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso – winning 2-0 and 4-1 in Melbourne and Canberra respectively.
A host of fringe players – including Kahli Johnson, Amy Sayer, Jamilla Rankin, Leah Davidson and Bryleeh Henry – were given chances to prove themselves, with Montemurro happy with what he saw.
'The reality is there is a generational change,' the former coach of the female teams at Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon said.
'What we saw over the last few games is that there is an exciting group coming through.
'Part of my role is to make sure we have a level of sustainability through all the age groups.
'We have the opportunity to give players the opportunity to be part of the Matildas and give them every chance to ply their trade at the right level and at the highest level … (but) we need to find balance. It's not something we can do overnight.'
A blend of experience and youth is expected in Montemurro's maiden Matildas squad for the upcoming games in Western Australia against Slovenia (June 26 and June 29), and Panama (July 5 and July 8).
Montemurro promised a Matildas 'environment' that was 'safe, humble and honest'.
'That's the best starting point,' he said.
'It's a collective humility, it's a collective honesty and it's a collective selflessness.'
However, any hopes that teenage midfielder Indiana Dos Santos had of being part of Montemurro's first squad have been dashed after the Sydney FC star ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her keen during a Future Matildas program last week.
Dos Santos, 17, was awarded the A-League women's young footballer of the year prize.
'I believe in God's plan, even when I don't understand it,' Dos Santos wrote in a social media post.
'This journey won't be easy, but with the love and support I have around me I can accomplish anything.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Can't believe it': Fans in awe of triple Aussie stunner on global stage
Oscar Piastri and the country's men's and women's 4x100m swimming relay teams have produced a stunning night for Australia on the global stage. And it could get even better, with Alex de Minaur in the final of the Citi Open in Washington. Piastri was triumphant in a rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix, while Australia won gold in both relays at the swimming world championships. Piastri extended his lead in the F1 world championship to 16 points after overtaking pole-sitter and teammate Lando Norris to win. The race eventually started after four laps behind the safety car following a delay of nearly an hour and a half due to rain and poor visibility at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. After an initial formation lap behind the safety car, a red flag was shown, and the cars were brought back into the pit lane and the starting procedure halted. Once the race began, the decisive moment came just seconds after the start. Piastri charged through the spray and straight past his teammate Norris, using his slip-stream through the daunting Eau Rouge. Piastri was then largely untroubled for the rest of the race as he powered on to finish 3.415 seconds clear of his arch-rival. "I knew Lap 1 (after the safety car) would probably be my best chance of winning the race," the Aussie said after his sixth win of the season and eighth of his career. "I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared and yeah, we had it mostly under control." It was McLaren's sixth 1-2 finish of the season, and third in a row. Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen was fourth in his first full race under a new Red Bull chief following the departure of Christian Horner. Aussies win double relay gold at swimming world championships While Piastri's win wasn't a total shock, the performance of Australia's two 4x100m relay teams were. The Aussies ended the opening night of the swimming world championships with double gold after the country's men and women both prevailed in the 4x100m freestyle events. Olivia Wunsch produced a stunning late comeback to fire Australia to an upset victory over the vaunted US in the women's event. And then it was Kyle Chalmers who reeled in a sizeable lead from the Americans in the men's event. Chalmers produced a stunning anchor swim as the Aussie quartet including Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor and Maximillian Giuliani posting a world championship-record time of 3:08.97 to defeat Italy (3:09.58) and the fading US (3:09.64). "I've kind of lost my voice already from cheering so hard," Southam said. "I'm just so happy to be here, and we all swam out of our skin, and we did it for the country, and we're so proud of ourselves." Ian Thorpe blown away by Aussie women's victory The Aussies were complete underdogs in the women's race with a new-look team of Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Milla Jansen and Wunsch. The US were the hot favourites to win, but even without the retired Emma McKeon, the Australians produced something special. Torri Huske had the lead for the US with 50m remaining, before Wunsch came storming home to snatch victory. Australia finished in a time of 3:30.60, with the US (3:31.04) in second. "I definitely can't believe it," Jansen told Channel 9. "This is something that I wanted growing up. I was feeling very nervous coming into this, but it's just a dream come true." Ian Thorpe said in commentary: "It is really difficult to be able to find someone to match our most successful Olympian we've ever seen - Emma McKeon. She's not there. Cate Campbell's not there. Bronte Campbell's not there. "But what we do have in Australia is the consistency in this race, that it's tough to make this team. And what I'm most impressed with is ... how they could lift for the entire team in this race. Amazing stuff." HOW DID AUSTRALIA WIN BOTH RELAYS!? I was in the room watching it and I couldn't believe insane night of swimming — Slaylee Goatkeown (@SwimFanAus) July 27, 2025 KYLE CHALMERS IS THE GREATEST ANCHOR SWIMMER IN you can't change my mind.#AQUASingapore2025 — John Dean (@JohnDean_) July 27, 2025 ANCHOR KING KYLE 👑Kyle Chalmers closes the Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay with an insane 46.53 split, sealing the record-breaking victory for Australia! 🔥 #Swimming #AQUASingapore25 — World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) July 27, 2025 And the lads! 🥇 Just as good if not better. Aussies with a one-two punch on the USA. Kyle Chalmers. Superstar. — Tom Decent (@tomdecent) July 27, 2025 Kyle Chalmers 👑 Just insane, another anchor leg for the ages. #AQUASingapore25 — Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 27, 2025 with AAP
Boston Globe
31 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
England repeats as Women's Euro champions, battling back to beat world champ Spain in penalties
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmatí, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide of goal. The defending champion won the only way it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025. England fell behind in the first half, fought back in the second, and relied on its superb substitutes — including Kelly – just as it did against Italy and Sweden previously in the knockout rounds. England leveled the score in the 57th on Alessia Russo's header from a cross by Kelly after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain the lead in the 25th finishing Ona Battle's cross. Advertisement Every penalty from the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final between England and Spain 🔴🟢 A thrilling penalty shootout that saw England win back-to-back European titles 🏴👏 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) Spain trailed for only four minutes in the entire tournament — and not for one second against England — yet the reigning World Cup winner could not seal its first European title. 'I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,' Spain coach Montse Tomé said in translated comments. Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England at Wembley three years ago to beat Germany, 2-1. In extra time, Spain had good possession in the England penalty area so many times, yet did not force a decisive goal. Advertisement 'It was cruel,' Bonmatí told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named best player of the tournament. 'We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that's not enough.' Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the first by Beth Mead. Related : It was appropriate in England's memorable tournament that Mead's penalty had to be retaken under a new soccer rule that allows a second chance when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It did not matter after Hampton's saves. Spain took the lead Sunday with a very English goal — a fullback's cross from the byline finding the head of an Arsenal player to score, on a rain-slicked field on an overcast, cloudy day. The strong Spanish flavor leading to Caldentey's opener was in the neat passing to find Athenea del Castillo in the penalty area and her vision to see Ona Batlle's direct run into space. Caldentey was in the Arsenal team that won the Women's Champions League final in May beating a Barcelona side with six starters who also lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three more Barcelona players as substitutes. The Arsenal forward line in that final, Russo and Kelly, combined to tie the Euro 2025 final. Kelly's right-foot cross from the left was floated toward the head of Russo who guided the ball back toward the top corner of the Spain net. Iconic 🖼️ — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) England coach Sarina Wiegman has still never before been eliminated from a Women's Euros tournament. Despite how close she came three times this month. Advertisement The top female national-team coach of her generation has a Euros hat trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title. Both those titles were won as the host nation team and no England senior team, men or women, had previously won a world or continental title abroad. Wiegman also extended the run of title-winning women coaches to eight Women's Euros editions across 28 years. Women were outnumbered by male coaches each time.
Fox Sports
31 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Chloe Kelly's Heroics And Spain's Bitter Loss: England's Euro Victory Had It All
England are back-to-back European champions and once again it was Chloe Kelly who provided the perfect conclusion. The Arsenal star walked up to the penalty spot with confidence and poise, rolled the ball backward a couple of times, and then did her signature hop before firing a shot into the upper left corner past Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll. It was a fitting moment to an epic final between the two best teams in the world, one that saw England manage yet another comeback at this tournament. Two goals scored from headers – Mariona Caldentay's opener in the 25th minute and Alessia Russo's equalizer in the 57th minute – set up a dramatic finish in Sunday's final. Neither team was able to find the back of the net again in extra time, meaning the game would have to be decided by a penalty shootout. England's 24-year-old goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made three saves, including one against two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí. It was then Kelly's time, who scored the game-winner as the Lionesses prevailed. Here's what stood out from the match: Kelly's legend keeps growing Kelly etched her name into women's football lore three years ago when she scored the game-winning goal for England against Germany to win the 2022 Euros. She tore off her shirt in celebration like Brandi Chastain, and the moment forever changed the sport in England. Earlier this year, she made a permanent transfer to Arsenal and proceeded to help the club win the Champions League title. And then this summer, she played a major role for England as a game-changer off the bench, tallying two assists and two game-winning goals in the knockout round. Kelly could have been sour about not being a starter, but she clearly trusted manager Sarina Wiegman's strategy and was an important solution off the bench. It always worked in England's favor, especially when it was Kelly who also scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal vs. Italy that sent the Lionesses to the final, and then stepped up as the fifth PK shooter in the final. England is now the first nation to win consecutive European championships since Germany in 2013. And Wiegman has now won three straight Euro titles: 2017 with the Netherlands and 2022 and '25 with England. England's resilience prevails There's no doubt this victory was especially sweet for England, which lost to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final. Widely considered to be the No. 1 team in the world – despite technically being ranked No. 2 behind the United States in FIFA's rankings – Spain was a more formidable opponent than the German squad England faced in the Euro final three years ago. And the way England had to come together and defeat the Spanish was probably the most impressive part. Throughout this tournament, the Lionesses didn't always look like the best team. They lost their first match against France before needing to create their own luck to come from behind and beat Sweden and Italy in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively. That was the recipe Wiegman's team used against La Roja on Sunday. When Spain took the lead or controlled the tempo or just looked like the more talented team, England didn't get flustered. Down 1-0 at halftime, the group came out of the break smiling and loose. They faced adversity head on and found a way to win. "For those that don't think mentality and resiliency matter, they matter," U.S. women's national team legend and FOX Sports analyst Carli Lloyd said on the broadcast after the match. "You can have all the tactics in the world, you can have some of the best players in the world on the field playing the most beautiful football. "But at the end of the day, the adversity, the resiliency, the togetherness is what you need." Disappointment for Spain Even with the loss, Spain has arguably the most talented squad in the world. They will be back and now have even more ammunition as they prepare to defend their World Cup title in less than two years' time. The reigning World Cup champions were an overwhelming favorite to win the Euros. While England was tested throughout each round with adversity, Spain mostly dominated opponents. Sure, La Roja was challenged by hosts Switzerland (buoyed by their home crowds) and perennial powerhouse Germany, but they were always the stronger side. After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime in Sunday's game, the overall feeling was that Spain needed to score again early in the second half to take England out of the match. Instead, the Lionesses equalized early in the second half. Bonmatí, whose beautiful goal vs. Germany in extra time Spain to the final, wasn't as involved as she could have been. Alexia Putellas also had a quiet night as she was subbed off in the second half. Penalties were off to a solid start for Spain when Coll stopped shots from Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, but misses by Caldentay, Bonmatí and Salma Paralluelo ultimately set up the dramatic game-winner from Kelly. And despite the loss, Bonmatí was awarded the player of the tournament – the first time a player from a losing side had been awarded the trophy. The women's game keeps growing This tournament has been yet another shining example of how women's soccer is growing around the world. If the colorful and passionate scenes of the pre-match fan walks throughout Switzerland during the tournament weren't enough, these Euros registered record-breaking attendance numbers. UEFA reported a record 657,291 spectators attended the tournament, surpassing the previous record of 574,875 fans who attended the 2022 Euros in England. "UEFA Women's EURO 2025 has marked a major milestone in the evolution of women's football," UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement. "With record-breaking attendance, exceptional media coverage and unprecedented global interest, the tournament has captured the world's attention. "The success of the tournament also showcases our continued, significant investment in the women's game, reflecting our long-term commitment to its growth. We are proud of the remarkable progress made in the women's game – yet this is just the beginning." Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . Get more from the UEFA Euro Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
