Matildas vs Korea Republic: Fowler Benched, Key Injuries and Major Line-Up Changes
Tom Sermanni Names New-Look Starting XI Amid Injury Crisis and Load Management
Interim coach Tom Sermanni has revealed a significantly reshuffled Matildas starting XI for tonight’s international friendly against Korea Republic, driven by injury setbacks and load management considerations.
Mary Fowler and Clare Hunt have both been named on the bench, while big-name stars Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, and Mackenzie Arnold have been ruled out of the clash entirely due to injuries.
Rising star Jamilla Rankin will make her starting debut, while in-form A-League Women’s striker Holly McNamara returns to the starting line-up.
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Why Mary Fowler Will Not Start Against Korea Republic
By Erin Smith – 12 minutes ago
A demanding schedule in the lead-up to the international break is the key reason behind Mary Fowler being benched for tonight’s friendly.
Fowler, who plays for Manchester City, clocked a massive 542 minutes over eight matches in March alone. By comparison, Caitlin Foord — also playing in England with Arsenal — featured for just 254 minutes over four games during the same period.
The decision forms part of a broader selection challenge for Sermanni, who is without several core players due to injury:
- Sam Kerr (knee)
- Katrina Gorry (ankle)
- Sharn Freier (ankle)
- Hayley Raso (thigh)
- Ellie Carpenter (ankle)
- Mackenzie Arnold (arm)
These injuries have forced the coaching team to look deeper into the squad depth, and manage workloads to avoid further setbacks.
Major Line-Up Changes Confirmed by Sermanni
By Erin Smith – 30 minutes ago
Tom Sermanni has made significant changes to the Matildas starting XI, with load management playing a key role in tonight’s selections.
Fowler and Clare Hunt will start from the bench, as the squad continues to deal with injuries to Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, and Mackenzie Arnold.
Making headlines:
- Jamilla Rankin earns her first senior start.
- Holly McNamara, currently in excellent domestic form, returns to the starting line-up.
Matildas Starting XI:
Teagan Micah (GK), Winonah Heatley, Steph Catley, Charli Grant, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, Tameka Yallop, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Holly McNamara, Caitlin Foord, Jamilla Rankin.
Montemurro Has What It Takes to Lead Matildas, Says Kennedy
By Erin Smith – 42 minutes ago
Veteran defender Alanna Kennedy hinted that Joe Montemurro could be the ideal candidate to lead the Matildas, as the search for a permanent head coach continues.
Montemurro, currently managing powerhouse French club Lyon, reportedly meets the squad’s expectations, including having a “winning mentality” and top-level experience in women’s football.
However, complications remain — Montemurro is under contract with Lyon until 2027, and negotiations are reportedly stalled due to contractual obligations.
Kennedy stopped short of officially endorsing him but emphasized the need for leadership that understands the women’s game and brings proven success.