CommBank Matildas forward Caitlin Foord said that the flow against Switzerland was “pretty good” as the team begins its adjustment to a new system under Interm Head Coach Tom Sermanni.
“It’s always tough when you haven’t played together for a while to come back in,” she said after the team’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
“It takes some time, but I think the flow was pretty good. We created chances, I just don’t think they were as clear-cut as we would have liked.
“We’ll take the draw, and move on to Germany.”
Foord’s performance against Switzerland was eye-catching. She won and converted a penalty while being seemingly ever-present at the pointy end of Australia’s attack.
She talked through the process of winning the penalty that gave the CommBank Matildas the lead in the first half.
“I tried to go around her [the Swiss goalkeeper], and it kind of closed the space, and she took my feet,” Foord recalled.
“So yeah, got the pen, and then I was pleased to put it in the back of the net. It’s something that I’ve been really working on in the last few years to be confident on the spot. So, happy to see it go in.”
Foord is more aware than most about what it takes to create fluid attacking football, having been a part of dynamic front lines for both club and country for several years.
She explained that numbers in the box will be the key to creating more chances in the future.
“It’s just about building those relationships,” she said.
“At times we didn’t have enough numbers in the box. That’s probably just not being around each other for a while, but obviously it will come.
“Hopefully, then, we score some more goals.”
The game on Saturday morning (AEDT) was the team’s first under Tom Sermanni since his return as Interim Head Coach.
“To have him back in, he knows what our culture is about, and he knows us in general,” she said.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to do a job on the field, no matter who’s in charge. It doesn’t change anything for us.”
The next game in this international window will be against Germany on Tuesday morning (AEDT).
Foord said that Germany will be a challenge, but one that they are up for.
“The Germans are always a powerhouse, as we’ve seen in the Olympics,” she said.
“They’re going to be tough to beat, obviously on home soil as well.
“We are up for the challenge, and we want to get one back at them after our last game, so hopefully we go away and get the [metaphorical] three points from them.”
Germany v CommBank Matildas
Date: Monday, 28 October 2024 (local) / Tuesday, 29 October (AEDT)
Kick-off: 6.10pm CET (local) / 4.10am (AEDT)
Venue: Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: DFB Ticket Portal
