Matildas: The World at Our Feet (2023): Season 1, Episode 4 - Win a Player - full transcript
With many senior players rested, it's time for a new generation of Matildas to step up.
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Well, it's Lyon who get us underway
in the 2022
Women's Champions League Final.
Carpenter is down.
She's in some pain.
When I fell down
on the pitch, I just...
I can't get that image out of my head.
I was in a lot of pain
and couldn't really walk.
That is
Ellie Carpenter's evening over
and you can
feel the disappointment for her
because this must be such a huge occasion,
having not even played 15 minutes.
I had my MRI yesterday.
I kinda knew what already it would be.
So after the match,
the surgeon actually
came into the change room
with me and checked my knee
and he confirmed that it was the ACL.
Hello.
- Good job, you're doing the Compex.
Yeah.
I need my muscles to be good for tomorrow.
Yeah.
- How was training?
- Yeah, was good.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
I can talk you through...
Yeah.
- ...how it's gonna go again.
- Like you did before?
- You've never had surgery before.
No.
So you don't know
what's gonna happen.
Never had surgery before,
so I'm a little bit scared.
Dan will be able to help me
a little bit and then she has to go
play the Euros.
On the other side,
I'll be working my ass off
every day, to try and get back
and get back to what I was.
Mentally, this injury,
it's gonna be the hardest for me.
Who knows what's gonna happen?
Maybe I'm not the player I was.
Maybe I'm not back for the World Cup.
- Hey, hey.
Hello.
So, I was a playing coach
for three years,
here at Hammarby.
At the time, I was the youngest coach
ever to coach in the Swedish top league.
Hey!
How's it going?
Will we get a win or what?
I'm really happy
to be back home.
Aaah! Ian!
Do you come here often?
And fortunate enough
to see my local club play.
Daniel!
Nice to see you.
Sorry, I came late, for a minute.
How's the team then?
It's a very different team.
Yes, very different team.
I'm worried about Carpenter.
Can you find a new Carpenter?
We can't find a new Carpenter,
everyone knows that.
There's just one Ellie Carpenter.
Same as you can't find a new Sam Kerr.
Yeah.
So we still have hopes
that she will make the World Cup.
Question is, if she makes it back,
- what form is she gonna be in?
- Yeah.
We're playing Spain,
who could be a dark horse
to actually win the Euros, right?
So, it's gonna be challenge.
Eight to 10 core players
not joining us
for different reasons,
everything's individualized.
The exciting thing is
we're not far away
from seeing the Matildas out in action
again against Spain.
This will be a different squad.
A lot of the senior players will be away.
They're taking
a mental and physical break.
So a lot of the players
that you identify with the Matildas
won't be there.
One thing we're noticing
with the female game
is that injury rates
are starting to increase, more and more.
That's why it's important for us
to give them an opportunity
to rest and recover
to go to the World Cup.
The year after that,
into the Paris Olympics.
So, if we didn't, we'd be
in a horrible situation in a year.
You look very nice.
You look nice, too.
You get in.
- After you, darling.
Oh, God.
All right, belts on.
Belts on.
I've just come off, like,
a crazy season at Chelsea.
We've won two trophies.
That's really rewarding
to go into an off-season.
When you feel like
you've done everything you can.
And so, it's nice to just
turn off from everyone.
My agent probably hates me now
'cause I'm not
replying to anyone, but that's life.
The lighting at this time is so pretty.
How pretty was the lighting yesterday?
If you say that one more time...
- You don't mean that.
- Every time at night,
-"How pretty is the lighting on the..."
I say it 'cause
you won't say anything about it
and I'm waiting for you to say something.
Yes, it's so pretty.
It's best for myself and the Matildas
that for me to continue playing
how I've been playing, I have time off.
You can look at any one of our players,
they've always
come back stronger and better.
Hi, babe.
You look great.
I know, I know.
Wow! Beautiful.
You never know what's gonna happen
in the World Cup or leading up to it.
People can drop out like that.
It's important that everyone's ready.
I've never had oysters.
Are you doing it?
I'm not doing it.
Really?
- No.
No means no.
- Babe, even with lemon on it?
- No.
I can't do it.
Is it good?
I love it.
Sam, what'll you do
now that you're off-season?
- Party. No.
I haven't been home in two years.
So, that's the next stop.
Most people
that are having a break need it.
And we'll come back firing
and most people getting minutes,
they need it, too.
Now's the kind of crunch time.
It's about everyone having experience
against top teams and...
I'm sure...
I know some of the girls in the team
are so excited for this trip.
These were incredible,
thank you.
This is so good.
This is a great opportunity
for those younger players
to be able to stake their claim
for World Cup selection
and to show what they can do.
One, two...
Tony's gonna need
the experienced players
available to step up
and really take on
more leadership when on field,
especially given Spain
is one of the best teams in the world.
It's been nice,
I've been home for quite a little bit.
Didn't really play too much
this season at Arsenal,
so I am available for Spain and Portugal.
I, you know, technically have
got a good kind of base of
not feeling too burnt out
in terms of playing-wise and loading-wise.
Being a part of the Aboriginal culture
and Indigenous culture,
it's very important
to be connected to the country
and connected to the land.
And so, being from here, coming back here,
is just like a spiritual, cultural thing
that you don't really get anywhere else.
We haven't had an influx
of younger players in quite a long time.
They've all come within the last year.
I mean, all of us
at one stage had to be
thrown in the deep end.
It's so hard when it's your first camp.
I grew up in the bush and used to hunt.
We had pet kangaroos, we had dogs.
Totally different to the national team.
When I first started,
I was nervous.
Back then, it was still like,
semi-professional, we got paid per diem,
we still had to wash our own clothes
and there was no Wi-Fi or anything.
Everything was extra you had to pay for.
I've been around for so long now
and it's just so cool
seeing the young ones coming through.
They're going in
with such amazing support, resources.
With people like us that are kinda
still around, trying to build
the culture and nature of the team and...
It's really exciting seeing who's next.
The Matildas squad for
those games against Spain and Portugal,
it's a different-looking one.
It does open the door
for a lot of young players to come in.
I think there's as many
as five potential debutants.
The ideal result here,
even if there is no win,
is that some players put their hand up
and make themselves counted.
Yeah. Hundred percent.
About a year ago,
I moved to Sweden to play for Rosengård.
They're one of the top clubs in Sweden.
It is difficult
due to competition in the team
that makes it hard
to get lots of game time.
That just makes me work harder
and push for a spot.
- Hey.
Hello, again.
- How are you?
- Yeah, it was good.
My feet are on fire.
It's difficult to be on the side.
Of course it hurts.
Hey.
Head on.
- Heads up.
- Thanks.
- See you tomorrow.
- You did well. Great effort out there.
But my mom and dad,
they're a good balance, those two.
Charli,
focus on the right things.
They've been really helpful
in keeping my confidence.
If it weren't for them,
I wouldn't be where I am today.
Which park
do you wanna go to?
Slottsparken, is that
the one we usually go to?
Yeah, or Pil...
I don't know how to pronounce it.
- Next to the field.
We need to work
on our Swedish.
Yeah, it's not the best.
Ever since, like,
maybe I was about seven or eight,
when I knew
you could play for your country,
I set my goals on it.
My brother played
and I followed everything he did,
so I just jumped on board.
Charlotte Grant
to make her international debut,
just 20 years of age,
great moment for her.
So, when I first got
my call-up to Matildas,
it was a dream come true, yeah.
Perfect.
- Does that fit? That fits perfect.
- Right.
Teagan,
she's like an older sister to me.
She's been really great
coming to Rosengård.
Teamwork makes
the dream work.
It does.
It's nice having Aussies around.
It makes you feel at home.
- Perfect. Ready.
- All set.
Now we just need to wait
for this weather to pass.
Yeah.
Let's have a look at the squad list.
Spain and Portugal.
Yeah, check it out.
- I'm excited to see...
- Older girls missing.
- Yeah.
- That's for sure.
I was so sad for Ellie.
Yeah, gutted.
- And I felt sick...
- Everyone's gonna come back...
...watching her in the final,
but good opportunity for you, so.
Yeah, hopefully.
It's really unfortunate to see
Ellie go down with a knee injury,
but you also have to take
every opportunity that's given.
- I can't wait to see how...
- Yeah.
So, I've been playing as a fullback,
I've played right and left
for the Matildas.
Look at that.
Bit better weather now.
- Sun's out.
- Yeah.
With a right back
position opening,
I want to show that
I can play that position.
I've only started once with the Matildas.
So, it's exciting to know
that there's an opportunity for me
to really show what I'm about.
I want to prove to the coach
that I can start regular
and play as much minutes as I can
and hopefully, one day,
contribute to winning the World Cup.
- About here.
Yeah, nice.
Ah, beautiful.
Yeah.
- What a spot.
Oh...
Battery's dead.
I always wanted to represent Australia.
I always wanted
to be at the highest level.
I play at Sydney FC currently and... Yeah.
I am a full-time athlete
and a full-time student.
You need a new battery.
- I need a new battery?
- Yeah.
Even though I went
to the service guy a month ago?
Yeah.
- Great. Cool.
Hello.
Yeah, so I have to pay,
like, 165 for a new battery.
That's so annoying.
Hopefully that works.
This World Cup
is massive for Australian football.
A lot of us all have a common goal
to want to represent our country.
There's so much excitement,
there's so much pressure as well
to get these positions.
There's only a few hanging around.
Well, that was an experience.
Yeah, I think my ultimate goal
has always been
to be a consistent
starting player in Matildas,
and I've always wanted to be
the fastest player in the world.
I think that's... I think it's ambitious,
but I do think it's achievable for me.
And that comes down to
the training that you do for that.
I think having that edge
of being the fastest player in the world
might help with my selection.
That's why I'm in contact
with a strength and conditioning coach.
And now, working with Luke
makes that goal more achievable.
- Hello. How you going?
- Good morning.
- How are you? You good?
- I'm good.
- You good? Come on in.
- I'm good.
- Today, lower body focused and...
- Yeah.
...we'll throw in
a few accessories after the bigger lifts.
Six again.
Nice and tight.
Three.
Yep. Good, one more.
Six, good, take 30 seconds.
Beautiful. Then into your...
three more step backs.
Where is the next Matildas camp?
It's in Spain.
- In Spain?
- Yeah.
They set up some games against Spain.
Spain is meant to be
one of the best teams in the world.
Yeah.
- How do you feel?
It's an important friendly to have,
to see where we're at,
for the World Cup,
'cause they'll be there.
- Hundred percent.
- Um...
It's your chance, right?
- I know it's there.
- Cool.
- Hopefully.
- Absolutely.
Little bit lower.
That's better. Good.
The Spain and the Portugal games coming up
are massive.
For me,
for the next generation coming through.
I'm pushing for that starting 11 spot.
Feel like my right one's, like,
- stronger.
- You feel your right's stronger?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
The more time I get,
the more I can try and prove to Tony
that I want to be in that World Cup team
and why I should be
a part of that World Cup team.
One, two, three. Last one. You got it.
Yeah, it's...
It would mean
the world to me, yeah.
I really wanna be there.
Just think of this
being like the last
three to five minutes of the game.
Team needs ya.
All the way.
And rest. Well done.
Good. Perfect.
Gotta breathe.
Okay. Mics are hot.
You guys got sight as well as sound?
Yes.
- Fabulous.
As the media officer
for the Matildas,
one of the really interesting things
I've seen up and close
is how incredibly hard they work.
The girls are so in demand.
There's media, press conferences,
post-match press conferences,
and then that's my job,
is to make sure I manage that.
Australia will take on Spain
on Sunday morning, Australian time.
As always, to preview the match,
we have head coach Tony Gustavsson,
who is here to discuss the preparations.
Marco.
With so many new faces
against a tough team like Spain,
what's your expectation
of this first match?
I always expect us to step out
on the field and give it 100,
'cause that's what this group is about.
Also, we need to be humble and understand
that it's a big game, it's a big opponent.
We would love
to have all the best players here,
but actually look at it
as an opportunity now.
It's not about winning a game,
it might be lose a game but win a player.
Meaning, if we can find
even if it's one more player,
in the depth in the roster
going into World Cup 2023,
it's worth every minute in this camp.
Go, Charli.
Yes,
Tony, just on Lydia Williams.
I think she made her debut
17 years ago and she's still going.
What's the secret to her success,
do you think?
It's a privilege as a coach
to be part of celebrating her 100 caps.
Whoo! Up, up, up. Mix, mix, Emily.
All right, Cortnee, still you.
The unique thing with Lydia
is how she makes people around her better.
She's organizing the team,
communicating with the team.
Charli, turn your shoulder.
Whoo!
How much she means
for the other players.
That's fine, Crum, Crum,
block, block, you're good.
In here. One of you, check your shoulder.
To see how she integrates
with a lot of these new players.
Welcome them, taking care of them,
communicating with them
and Lydia is just
an amazing ambassador
for this team, for the game,
and how she carries herself
as a footballer and as a person.
Charli.
I know.
Stepping into Ellie.
- Yeah, it's pretty cool, isn't it?
- Yeah.
Tomorrow morning
you travel to Portugal, no?
Yes.
- You will need plain mineral water for...
We need more for now.
For now.
A little bit down.
And then, the ice.
We have ice for pitch side
but also for our ice baths.
Spain is a world-class side.
Something like six
of their starting 11 players
are ranked inside
the world's top 30 players.
They also have the world's best player,
Alexia Putellas, in their side.
This is going to be
a huge challenge for Australia.
These are the moments
where we really get to see
the glimmers of young players
taking their opportunities,
players who, if they're given that chance,
are able to take it with both hands
and reach the potential
that they've always believed they've had.
Right, that tempo,
that energy, that focus,
it starts now.
Every movement, do it at match pace.
Charlotte, change your pace.
Awesome.
This group of players is fantastic.
I love them. They are passionate,
professional, driven and hungry.
And for the younger players
to play against a top opponent
who's one of the best in Europe,
if not the world,
that experience is second to none.
The Matildas
believe in inspiring the next generation
and welcoming people into the team.
So they're all about
helping others get better.
That's because they want to see that
jersey keep moving forward and thriving.
Filling in for Ellie's spot,
yeah, it's gonna be a big challenge.
It's only my second start
with the Matildas
and against one of the top teams
in the world.
Finish that.
Getting selected
for that starting 11 was big.
It's a massive crowd
and to look at that is very daunting.
Little bit scared to verse them,
but, yeah, hopefully we can
show what we can do.
What's up?
First of all, a deep breath.
Shoulders down, chest up.
We're ready for this, all right?
Send some message, what you're about
and what this team about,
and it starts there.
'Cause if you add up
all the individual actions, as a team,
we will perform well.
You got this, let's go.
It's going to be a tough game,
but what an opportunity for these players.
Let's go, Mickey, let's go, let's go.
Let's go, Nevin. Let's go, Polk.
What I need to do is, number one,
show the belief.
Enjoy every second of it, all right?
If it's just one or two or three
that surprises us in a positive way,
wow, what a win,
for them and for the team.
Aussies!
I get nervous for all games.
Especially playing for my country.
You never want to let your country down.
Australia in
the green and gold to kick off.
Yeah, it's massive.
We're versing the best.
You always have a game plan,
but not sure how it's gonna pan out.
It's a lot of pressure.
I had to take a moment, take a step back
and hopefully show what I can do.
Katrina Gorry,
wheeling and dealing on the ball.
Knew exactly
where Cortnee Vine was going to run
and now Vine, what can she show us?
Straight line speed she's known for.
Good sequence!
Stay focused! Stay focused!
Cortnee Vine
showing us what she can do.
Vine! Brilliant!
Vine is gonna kill her
with speed every time.
I was very nervous.
But then once I got some self-confidence
and did a couple passes,
I tried to bring something to the game.
Vine at the edge of the box.
Perhaps Australia's best chance
for a shot on the goal.
No!
That would have been
a shock lead for Australia.
To play against
players like Alexia Putellas.
She's the number-one player in the world.
To be on the same pitch with her...
It's gonna be difficult.
Well...
Almost sliced through the left side there,
but Grant cleared away.
Yes, Charli!
It's gonna be a similar test
for Ouahabi's cross right here.
It tumbles through the six-yard box
and Charlotte Grant
is there again to clear it away.
Yes, Charli,
great defending in the goal zone!
There were moments I won the ball
off the best player in the world.
It just gave me confidence
that I can do it.
We Aussie girls
We'll beat the world
The Matildas
trying to hold out for this first half.
If they can go in at half-time
with a 0-0 score line,
that leads to
a really promising second 45 minutes.
Positive thought, get in their heads.
Get in their heads.
Two minutes of
regulation time to go in the first half.
Bonmatí.
Great goal!
- Aitana Bonmatí!
Australia fought and clawed,
but ultimately,
it is Spain that hold the lead.
Confidence, confidence.
Good support.
We're going to win this game.
We do nothing different.
We're just going to do
what we planned to do
but we're going to do it better.
Let's show pride
every single minute and enjoy it.
So, Spain to kick off.
Let's go, Aussies!
Let's go!
Now Putellas on the spin.
And blocked by Grant.
She's performed well tonight.
She's had
such a wealth of work to do
and has had to absorb
so much pressure herself.
Caldentey, whipping one,
- and scoring.
Mariona Caldentey
makes it Spain 2, Australia nil.
It falls on the far post,
Caldentey hooks it back,
González!
Spain 3, Australia nil.
Jens, I think we need
to do the sub a bit earlier.
We need fresh legs in there.
And it's four!
In international football,
the physical demands are quite different,
so for those young players coming through,
they might have every intention to keep
fighting and keep working for 90 minutes.
But if they don't have
that physical capacity to do that,
they break down.
García!
Five!
It was difficult to concede
one after the other.
Spain get their sixth.
Specially in a game where we did
have some really good defensive moments.
It's full-time.
And ultimately,
a score line tells its own story.
Let's get close in
as a team, all right?
Close circle, please, everyone.
The one thing I want
to remind everyone about in here is
we came here for a reason.
We came here to learn something
and taking experience from it, all right?
So, yes, we might have lost the game
but we win in experience.
And even if we win one player
to be a better depth and roster
going in to World Cup '23,
it was worth it.
Even though it feels
really painful right now
for every single one of you,
I promise you, it was worth it.
Good job, everyone, that's it.
When you have
a result like that against a top nation,
you can't, you know,
sit there on your hands
and feel sorry for yourself.
You've gotta take the learnings
and improve,
and get better for the next game,
and that's what we'll have to do.
That first half
was actually a solid performance.
And the fact that we came off feeling that
we could compete with Spain
actually gave them confidence.
Yeah, that was just
a frustrating game,
but Charli really stepped up
and proved that she can handle herself
and hold her own with
some of the best players in the world.
Vine.
- Great job, great job.
Thank you.
Things were created. Right, you had
that left back in your back pocket.
You needed to play more
defensively tonight than normally,
but that's also good experience
for you to learn that, okay?
Watching Cortnee Vine
and Charli Grant
take on a top nation
was exciting.
Young players, they just have this
innate fearlessness about them.
Charli, this is what we need.
That's how we need to look at it.
And hopefully,
that's all about winning a player.
And winning a player means
a player who is unearthed
or realizes their potential.
Hey. Midway here.
It's such an honor to play with you.
I'm so inspired
and just in awe of every single
one of you, over the years,
and seeing young ones come through and...
I hope that I can be
a role model to the Indigenous kids
and prove that you can come from anywhere
and make something of yourself.
Without you guys... I mean,
it's been my life for so long,
so it really has helped me
through my darkest moments
to my happiest times,
so I definitely wouldn't
be here today if it wasn't for you girls,
so I'm really appreciative. So, thank you.
Missing Spain camp,
that was difficult for us all,
but it really helped me
to just mentally switch off.
Since coming here, it's really something
that I've worked on, having a balance.
And figuring out that balance for myself.
Shay, I think your rice is ready.
It's sticky.
Sticky?
Put it on the wall?
It should stick.
Right now, I'm living with
my two brothers, Seamus and Quivi.
It's nice, it's like having
a little part of the family there.
Do you still
do cross eye when you sprint?
You make the weirdest faces
when you sprint, though.
It slows you down.
Use your cheek muscles too much.
You know? Like, use your leg muscles.
I think a day after I got here,
I turned 17.
I was young
and this is just like one big adventure.
In terms of Montpellier as a place,
I love it so much.
But, I mean,
I keep trying to find, you know,
find out other things about myself.
That's why you try new things, because...
I don't believe that
we stay who we are forever.
We're always changing, always evolving.
So, I think football-wise,
I would like to play
in the English League.
It's becoming one of the better leagues.
And so in terms of a challenge,
and, you know,
taking that next step in my career,
I think England
would be a good place for me.
Do you need help?
- Nah.
Very fast.
Feel good today, actually.
Maybe you don't need them now.
No, I don't.
Not after today.
I hope not.
If they say you have to wear this
another week I'm buying new ones.
Yep.
I want to buy one with a pattern.
After she done her ACL,
Ellie didn't really
want to speak to anyone,
also not her parents.
I've not really figured
this bit out about Ellie, to be fair.
She's bit of a stubborn person.
Excuse me.
Walking without your crutches.
- Hey, Ellie.
Hello.
- How you going?
Good.
I think she didn't
want to deal with emotion
and to see how real it really is.
So firstly, how's everything
going at home?
Yeah, good.
- Good?
Today, it probably feels the best.
I feel like I can walk normally.
Let's have a quick look
at you walking without crutches.
Yeah, I'm nervous.
I honestly think this injury is
one of the best things
that could have happened.
I haven't really
been rested since I started,
since I was 15.
Try and walk
normal speed if you can.
I think I needed this break
and I know I'm going
to come back stronger and,
you know, fitter and everything.
There was another
ACL injury in the team.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Matildas
have had three in 18 months?
Yeah.
- Yeah?
I think so.
- Okay.
Gender is one of the things
that we do think
may increase the risk
of ACL injury in particular.
Just this one's a bit how you going...
I'll have a look at that in a sec.
There are some
good studies recently
looking at Serie A players in Italy.
And we know that
the risk of ACL injury
across eight seasons was about
1-2% a year for a squad.
But actually what
we've seen particularly in the last year,
Olympique Lyonnais, the female
football team that Ellie plays for,
they've had
five ACL ruptures in one season.
Okay, this one?
And relax.
That's incredible.
Five, that's nearly half the team.
It feels the same as the other side,
so it's really stable, which is excellent.
We'll see you again
in three weeks at the six-week mark.
The main issue with ACL surgery
and particularly
with professional athletes is reinjury.
So the graft rupturing again.
And in some athletes,
this happens not twice,
three, even four or five times,
and for some, it's career-ending.
At six months,
if everything's feeling good,
what we do is, we will get you
to perform an isokinetic muscle test,
and that will give us
more of an objective measure
of what your muscle strength is.
And at that point,
we get a clearer understanding
of when you'll go back to sport.
In order for Ellie
to return for the World Cup,
she needs to pass
through a series of milestones
in her rehabilitation for her to be ready.
There's always a chance
that she won't make it back. Yeah.
For you, given your position in the team
and also, your strength and speed,
it's gonna be important
to continue working
on rehabbing the hamstring.
Yeah, I am kinda, like,
still in shock a little bit.
Reality has kind of hit, you know, like,
I've got a long road ahead.
I think I'm gonna learn
a lot about myself during these months.
But, yeah,
I am confident that I'll be back.
That is one of my main goals.
I'll be back, bigger and better,
which is nice.
---
Well, it's Lyon who get us underway
in the 2022
Women's Champions League Final.
Carpenter is down.
She's in some pain.
When I fell down
on the pitch, I just...
I can't get that image out of my head.
I was in a lot of pain
and couldn't really walk.
That is
Ellie Carpenter's evening over
and you can
feel the disappointment for her
because this must be such a huge occasion,
having not even played 15 minutes.
I had my MRI yesterday.
I kinda knew what already it would be.
So after the match,
the surgeon actually
came into the change room
with me and checked my knee
and he confirmed that it was the ACL.
Hello.
- Good job, you're doing the Compex.
Yeah.
I need my muscles to be good for tomorrow.
Yeah.
- How was training?
- Yeah, was good.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
I can talk you through...
Yeah.
- ...how it's gonna go again.
- Like you did before?
- You've never had surgery before.
No.
So you don't know
what's gonna happen.
Never had surgery before,
so I'm a little bit scared.
Dan will be able to help me
a little bit and then she has to go
play the Euros.
On the other side,
I'll be working my ass off
every day, to try and get back
and get back to what I was.
Mentally, this injury,
it's gonna be the hardest for me.
Who knows what's gonna happen?
Maybe I'm not the player I was.
Maybe I'm not back for the World Cup.
- Hey, hey.
Hello.
So, I was a playing coach
for three years,
here at Hammarby.
At the time, I was the youngest coach
ever to coach in the Swedish top league.
Hey!
How's it going?
Will we get a win or what?
I'm really happy
to be back home.
Aaah! Ian!
Do you come here often?
And fortunate enough
to see my local club play.
Daniel!
Nice to see you.
Sorry, I came late, for a minute.
How's the team then?
It's a very different team.
Yes, very different team.
I'm worried about Carpenter.
Can you find a new Carpenter?
We can't find a new Carpenter,
everyone knows that.
There's just one Ellie Carpenter.
Same as you can't find a new Sam Kerr.
Yeah.
So we still have hopes
that she will make the World Cup.
Question is, if she makes it back,
- what form is she gonna be in?
- Yeah.
We're playing Spain,
who could be a dark horse
to actually win the Euros, right?
So, it's gonna be challenge.
Eight to 10 core players
not joining us
for different reasons,
everything's individualized.
The exciting thing is
we're not far away
from seeing the Matildas out in action
again against Spain.
This will be a different squad.
A lot of the senior players will be away.
They're taking
a mental and physical break.
So a lot of the players
that you identify with the Matildas
won't be there.
One thing we're noticing
with the female game
is that injury rates
are starting to increase, more and more.
That's why it's important for us
to give them an opportunity
to rest and recover
to go to the World Cup.
The year after that,
into the Paris Olympics.
So, if we didn't, we'd be
in a horrible situation in a year.
You look very nice.
You look nice, too.
You get in.
- After you, darling.
Oh, God.
All right, belts on.
Belts on.
I've just come off, like,
a crazy season at Chelsea.
We've won two trophies.
That's really rewarding
to go into an off-season.
When you feel like
you've done everything you can.
And so, it's nice to just
turn off from everyone.
My agent probably hates me now
'cause I'm not
replying to anyone, but that's life.
The lighting at this time is so pretty.
How pretty was the lighting yesterday?
If you say that one more time...
- You don't mean that.
- Every time at night,
-"How pretty is the lighting on the..."
I say it 'cause
you won't say anything about it
and I'm waiting for you to say something.
Yes, it's so pretty.
It's best for myself and the Matildas
that for me to continue playing
how I've been playing, I have time off.
You can look at any one of our players,
they've always
come back stronger and better.
Hi, babe.
You look great.
I know, I know.
Wow! Beautiful.
You never know what's gonna happen
in the World Cup or leading up to it.
People can drop out like that.
It's important that everyone's ready.
I've never had oysters.
Are you doing it?
I'm not doing it.
Really?
- No.
No means no.
- Babe, even with lemon on it?
- No.
I can't do it.
Is it good?
I love it.
Sam, what'll you do
now that you're off-season?
- Party. No.
I haven't been home in two years.
So, that's the next stop.
Most people
that are having a break need it.
And we'll come back firing
and most people getting minutes,
they need it, too.
Now's the kind of crunch time.
It's about everyone having experience
against top teams and...
I'm sure...
I know some of the girls in the team
are so excited for this trip.
These were incredible,
thank you.
This is so good.
This is a great opportunity
for those younger players
to be able to stake their claim
for World Cup selection
and to show what they can do.
One, two...
Tony's gonna need
the experienced players
available to step up
and really take on
more leadership when on field,
especially given Spain
is one of the best teams in the world.
It's been nice,
I've been home for quite a little bit.
Didn't really play too much
this season at Arsenal,
so I am available for Spain and Portugal.
I, you know, technically have
got a good kind of base of
not feeling too burnt out
in terms of playing-wise and loading-wise.
Being a part of the Aboriginal culture
and Indigenous culture,
it's very important
to be connected to the country
and connected to the land.
And so, being from here, coming back here,
is just like a spiritual, cultural thing
that you don't really get anywhere else.
We haven't had an influx
of younger players in quite a long time.
They've all come within the last year.
I mean, all of us
at one stage had to be
thrown in the deep end.
It's so hard when it's your first camp.
I grew up in the bush and used to hunt.
We had pet kangaroos, we had dogs.
Totally different to the national team.
When I first started,
I was nervous.
Back then, it was still like,
semi-professional, we got paid per diem,
we still had to wash our own clothes
and there was no Wi-Fi or anything.
Everything was extra you had to pay for.
I've been around for so long now
and it's just so cool
seeing the young ones coming through.
They're going in
with such amazing support, resources.
With people like us that are kinda
still around, trying to build
the culture and nature of the team and...
It's really exciting seeing who's next.
The Matildas squad for
those games against Spain and Portugal,
it's a different-looking one.
It does open the door
for a lot of young players to come in.
I think there's as many
as five potential debutants.
The ideal result here,
even if there is no win,
is that some players put their hand up
and make themselves counted.
Yeah. Hundred percent.
About a year ago,
I moved to Sweden to play for Rosengård.
They're one of the top clubs in Sweden.
It is difficult
due to competition in the team
that makes it hard
to get lots of game time.
That just makes me work harder
and push for a spot.
- Hey.
Hello, again.
- How are you?
- Yeah, it was good.
My feet are on fire.
It's difficult to be on the side.
Of course it hurts.
Hey.
Head on.
- Heads up.
- Thanks.
- See you tomorrow.
- You did well. Great effort out there.
But my mom and dad,
they're a good balance, those two.
Charli,
focus on the right things.
They've been really helpful
in keeping my confidence.
If it weren't for them,
I wouldn't be where I am today.
Which park
do you wanna go to?
Slottsparken, is that
the one we usually go to?
Yeah, or Pil...
I don't know how to pronounce it.
- Next to the field.
We need to work
on our Swedish.
Yeah, it's not the best.
Ever since, like,
maybe I was about seven or eight,
when I knew
you could play for your country,
I set my goals on it.
My brother played
and I followed everything he did,
so I just jumped on board.
Charlotte Grant
to make her international debut,
just 20 years of age,
great moment for her.
So, when I first got
my call-up to Matildas,
it was a dream come true, yeah.
Perfect.
- Does that fit? That fits perfect.
- Right.
Teagan,
she's like an older sister to me.
She's been really great
coming to Rosengård.
Teamwork makes
the dream work.
It does.
It's nice having Aussies around.
It makes you feel at home.
- Perfect. Ready.
- All set.
Now we just need to wait
for this weather to pass.
Yeah.
Let's have a look at the squad list.
Spain and Portugal.
Yeah, check it out.
- I'm excited to see...
- Older girls missing.
- Yeah.
- That's for sure.
I was so sad for Ellie.
Yeah, gutted.
- And I felt sick...
- Everyone's gonna come back...
...watching her in the final,
but good opportunity for you, so.
Yeah, hopefully.
It's really unfortunate to see
Ellie go down with a knee injury,
but you also have to take
every opportunity that's given.
- I can't wait to see how...
- Yeah.
So, I've been playing as a fullback,
I've played right and left
for the Matildas.
Look at that.
Bit better weather now.
- Sun's out.
- Yeah.
With a right back
position opening,
I want to show that
I can play that position.
I've only started once with the Matildas.
So, it's exciting to know
that there's an opportunity for me
to really show what I'm about.
I want to prove to the coach
that I can start regular
and play as much minutes as I can
and hopefully, one day,
contribute to winning the World Cup.
- About here.
Yeah, nice.
Ah, beautiful.
Yeah.
- What a spot.
Oh...
Battery's dead.
I always wanted to represent Australia.
I always wanted
to be at the highest level.
I play at Sydney FC currently and... Yeah.
I am a full-time athlete
and a full-time student.
You need a new battery.
- I need a new battery?
- Yeah.
Even though I went
to the service guy a month ago?
Yeah.
- Great. Cool.
Hello.
Yeah, so I have to pay,
like, 165 for a new battery.
That's so annoying.
Hopefully that works.
This World Cup
is massive for Australian football.
A lot of us all have a common goal
to want to represent our country.
There's so much excitement,
there's so much pressure as well
to get these positions.
There's only a few hanging around.
Well, that was an experience.
Yeah, I think my ultimate goal
has always been
to be a consistent
starting player in Matildas,
and I've always wanted to be
the fastest player in the world.
I think that's... I think it's ambitious,
but I do think it's achievable for me.
And that comes down to
the training that you do for that.
I think having that edge
of being the fastest player in the world
might help with my selection.
That's why I'm in contact
with a strength and conditioning coach.
And now, working with Luke
makes that goal more achievable.
- Hello. How you going?
- Good morning.
- How are you? You good?
- I'm good.
- You good? Come on in.
- I'm good.
- Today, lower body focused and...
- Yeah.
...we'll throw in
a few accessories after the bigger lifts.
Six again.
Nice and tight.
Three.
Yep. Good, one more.
Six, good, take 30 seconds.
Beautiful. Then into your...
three more step backs.
Where is the next Matildas camp?
It's in Spain.
- In Spain?
- Yeah.
They set up some games against Spain.
Spain is meant to be
one of the best teams in the world.
Yeah.
- How do you feel?
It's an important friendly to have,
to see where we're at,
for the World Cup,
'cause they'll be there.
- Hundred percent.
- Um...
It's your chance, right?
- I know it's there.
- Cool.
- Hopefully.
- Absolutely.
Little bit lower.
That's better. Good.
The Spain and the Portugal games coming up
are massive.
For me,
for the next generation coming through.
I'm pushing for that starting 11 spot.
Feel like my right one's, like,
- stronger.
- You feel your right's stronger?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
The more time I get,
the more I can try and prove to Tony
that I want to be in that World Cup team
and why I should be
a part of that World Cup team.
One, two, three. Last one. You got it.
Yeah, it's...
It would mean
the world to me, yeah.
I really wanna be there.
Just think of this
being like the last
three to five minutes of the game.
Team needs ya.
All the way.
And rest. Well done.
Good. Perfect.
Gotta breathe.
Okay. Mics are hot.
You guys got sight as well as sound?
Yes.
- Fabulous.
As the media officer
for the Matildas,
one of the really interesting things
I've seen up and close
is how incredibly hard they work.
The girls are so in demand.
There's media, press conferences,
post-match press conferences,
and then that's my job,
is to make sure I manage that.
Australia will take on Spain
on Sunday morning, Australian time.
As always, to preview the match,
we have head coach Tony Gustavsson,
who is here to discuss the preparations.
Marco.
With so many new faces
against a tough team like Spain,
what's your expectation
of this first match?
I always expect us to step out
on the field and give it 100,
'cause that's what this group is about.
Also, we need to be humble and understand
that it's a big game, it's a big opponent.
We would love
to have all the best players here,
but actually look at it
as an opportunity now.
It's not about winning a game,
it might be lose a game but win a player.
Meaning, if we can find
even if it's one more player,
in the depth in the roster
going into World Cup 2023,
it's worth every minute in this camp.
Go, Charli.
Yes,
Tony, just on Lydia Williams.
I think she made her debut
17 years ago and she's still going.
What's the secret to her success,
do you think?
It's a privilege as a coach
to be part of celebrating her 100 caps.
Whoo! Up, up, up. Mix, mix, Emily.
All right, Cortnee, still you.
The unique thing with Lydia
is how she makes people around her better.
She's organizing the team,
communicating with the team.
Charli, turn your shoulder.
Whoo!
How much she means
for the other players.
That's fine, Crum, Crum,
block, block, you're good.
In here. One of you, check your shoulder.
To see how she integrates
with a lot of these new players.
Welcome them, taking care of them,
communicating with them
and Lydia is just
an amazing ambassador
for this team, for the game,
and how she carries herself
as a footballer and as a person.
Charli.
I know.
Stepping into Ellie.
- Yeah, it's pretty cool, isn't it?
- Yeah.
Tomorrow morning
you travel to Portugal, no?
Yes.
- You will need plain mineral water for...
We need more for now.
For now.
A little bit down.
And then, the ice.
We have ice for pitch side
but also for our ice baths.
Spain is a world-class side.
Something like six
of their starting 11 players
are ranked inside
the world's top 30 players.
They also have the world's best player,
Alexia Putellas, in their side.
This is going to be
a huge challenge for Australia.
These are the moments
where we really get to see
the glimmers of young players
taking their opportunities,
players who, if they're given that chance,
are able to take it with both hands
and reach the potential
that they've always believed they've had.
Right, that tempo,
that energy, that focus,
it starts now.
Every movement, do it at match pace.
Charlotte, change your pace.
Awesome.
This group of players is fantastic.
I love them. They are passionate,
professional, driven and hungry.
And for the younger players
to play against a top opponent
who's one of the best in Europe,
if not the world,
that experience is second to none.
The Matildas
believe in inspiring the next generation
and welcoming people into the team.
So they're all about
helping others get better.
That's because they want to see that
jersey keep moving forward and thriving.
Filling in for Ellie's spot,
yeah, it's gonna be a big challenge.
It's only my second start
with the Matildas
and against one of the top teams
in the world.
Finish that.
Getting selected
for that starting 11 was big.
It's a massive crowd
and to look at that is very daunting.
Little bit scared to verse them,
but, yeah, hopefully we can
show what we can do.
What's up?
First of all, a deep breath.
Shoulders down, chest up.
We're ready for this, all right?
Send some message, what you're about
and what this team about,
and it starts there.
'Cause if you add up
all the individual actions, as a team,
we will perform well.
You got this, let's go.
It's going to be a tough game,
but what an opportunity for these players.
Let's go, Mickey, let's go, let's go.
Let's go, Nevin. Let's go, Polk.
What I need to do is, number one,
show the belief.
Enjoy every second of it, all right?
If it's just one or two or three
that surprises us in a positive way,
wow, what a win,
for them and for the team.
Aussies!
I get nervous for all games.
Especially playing for my country.
You never want to let your country down.
Australia in
the green and gold to kick off.
Yeah, it's massive.
We're versing the best.
You always have a game plan,
but not sure how it's gonna pan out.
It's a lot of pressure.
I had to take a moment, take a step back
and hopefully show what I can do.
Katrina Gorry,
wheeling and dealing on the ball.
Knew exactly
where Cortnee Vine was going to run
and now Vine, what can she show us?
Straight line speed she's known for.
Good sequence!
Stay focused! Stay focused!
Cortnee Vine
showing us what she can do.
Vine! Brilliant!
Vine is gonna kill her
with speed every time.
I was very nervous.
But then once I got some self-confidence
and did a couple passes,
I tried to bring something to the game.
Vine at the edge of the box.
Perhaps Australia's best chance
for a shot on the goal.
No!
That would have been
a shock lead for Australia.
To play against
players like Alexia Putellas.
She's the number-one player in the world.
To be on the same pitch with her...
It's gonna be difficult.
Well...
Almost sliced through the left side there,
but Grant cleared away.
Yes, Charli!
It's gonna be a similar test
for Ouahabi's cross right here.
It tumbles through the six-yard box
and Charlotte Grant
is there again to clear it away.
Yes, Charli,
great defending in the goal zone!
There were moments I won the ball
off the best player in the world.
It just gave me confidence
that I can do it.
We Aussie girls
We'll beat the world
The Matildas
trying to hold out for this first half.
If they can go in at half-time
with a 0-0 score line,
that leads to
a really promising second 45 minutes.
Positive thought, get in their heads.
Get in their heads.
Two minutes of
regulation time to go in the first half.
Bonmatí.
Great goal!
- Aitana Bonmatí!
Australia fought and clawed,
but ultimately,
it is Spain that hold the lead.
Confidence, confidence.
Good support.
We're going to win this game.
We do nothing different.
We're just going to do
what we planned to do
but we're going to do it better.
Let's show pride
every single minute and enjoy it.
So, Spain to kick off.
Let's go, Aussies!
Let's go!
Now Putellas on the spin.
And blocked by Grant.
She's performed well tonight.
She's had
such a wealth of work to do
and has had to absorb
so much pressure herself.
Caldentey, whipping one,
- and scoring.
Mariona Caldentey
makes it Spain 2, Australia nil.
It falls on the far post,
Caldentey hooks it back,
González!
Spain 3, Australia nil.
Jens, I think we need
to do the sub a bit earlier.
We need fresh legs in there.
And it's four!
In international football,
the physical demands are quite different,
so for those young players coming through,
they might have every intention to keep
fighting and keep working for 90 minutes.
But if they don't have
that physical capacity to do that,
they break down.
García!
Five!
It was difficult to concede
one after the other.
Spain get their sixth.
Specially in a game where we did
have some really good defensive moments.
It's full-time.
And ultimately,
a score line tells its own story.
Let's get close in
as a team, all right?
Close circle, please, everyone.
The one thing I want
to remind everyone about in here is
we came here for a reason.
We came here to learn something
and taking experience from it, all right?
So, yes, we might have lost the game
but we win in experience.
And even if we win one player
to be a better depth and roster
going in to World Cup '23,
it was worth it.
Even though it feels
really painful right now
for every single one of you,
I promise you, it was worth it.
Good job, everyone, that's it.
When you have
a result like that against a top nation,
you can't, you know,
sit there on your hands
and feel sorry for yourself.
You've gotta take the learnings
and improve,
and get better for the next game,
and that's what we'll have to do.
That first half
was actually a solid performance.
And the fact that we came off feeling that
we could compete with Spain
actually gave them confidence.
Yeah, that was just
a frustrating game,
but Charli really stepped up
and proved that she can handle herself
and hold her own with
some of the best players in the world.
Vine.
- Great job, great job.
Thank you.
Things were created. Right, you had
that left back in your back pocket.
You needed to play more
defensively tonight than normally,
but that's also good experience
for you to learn that, okay?
Watching Cortnee Vine
and Charli Grant
take on a top nation
was exciting.
Young players, they just have this
innate fearlessness about them.
Charli, this is what we need.
That's how we need to look at it.
And hopefully,
that's all about winning a player.
And winning a player means
a player who is unearthed
or realizes their potential.
Hey. Midway here.
It's such an honor to play with you.
I'm so inspired
and just in awe of every single
one of you, over the years,
and seeing young ones come through and...
I hope that I can be
a role model to the Indigenous kids
and prove that you can come from anywhere
and make something of yourself.
Without you guys... I mean,
it's been my life for so long,
so it really has helped me
through my darkest moments
to my happiest times,
so I definitely wouldn't
be here today if it wasn't for you girls,
so I'm really appreciative. So, thank you.
Missing Spain camp,
that was difficult for us all,
but it really helped me
to just mentally switch off.
Since coming here, it's really something
that I've worked on, having a balance.
And figuring out that balance for myself.
Shay, I think your rice is ready.
It's sticky.
Sticky?
Put it on the wall?
It should stick.
Right now, I'm living with
my two brothers, Seamus and Quivi.
It's nice, it's like having
a little part of the family there.
Do you still
do cross eye when you sprint?
You make the weirdest faces
when you sprint, though.
It slows you down.
Use your cheek muscles too much.
You know? Like, use your leg muscles.
I think a day after I got here,
I turned 17.
I was young
and this is just like one big adventure.
In terms of Montpellier as a place,
I love it so much.
But, I mean,
I keep trying to find, you know,
find out other things about myself.
That's why you try new things, because...
I don't believe that
we stay who we are forever.
We're always changing, always evolving.
So, I think football-wise,
I would like to play
in the English League.
It's becoming one of the better leagues.
And so in terms of a challenge,
and, you know,
taking that next step in my career,
I think England
would be a good place for me.
Do you need help?
- Nah.
Very fast.
Feel good today, actually.
Maybe you don't need them now.
No, I don't.
Not after today.
I hope not.
If they say you have to wear this
another week I'm buying new ones.
Yep.
I want to buy one with a pattern.
After she done her ACL,
Ellie didn't really
want to speak to anyone,
also not her parents.
I've not really figured
this bit out about Ellie, to be fair.
She's bit of a stubborn person.
Excuse me.
Walking without your crutches.
- Hey, Ellie.
Hello.
- How you going?
Good.
I think she didn't
want to deal with emotion
and to see how real it really is.
So firstly, how's everything
going at home?
Yeah, good.
- Good?
Today, it probably feels the best.
I feel like I can walk normally.
Let's have a quick look
at you walking without crutches.
Yeah, I'm nervous.
I honestly think this injury is
one of the best things
that could have happened.
I haven't really
been rested since I started,
since I was 15.
Try and walk
normal speed if you can.
I think I needed this break
and I know I'm going
to come back stronger and,
you know, fitter and everything.
There was another
ACL injury in the team.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Matildas
have had three in 18 months?
Yeah.
- Yeah?
I think so.
- Okay.
Gender is one of the things
that we do think
may increase the risk
of ACL injury in particular.
Just this one's a bit how you going...
I'll have a look at that in a sec.
There are some
good studies recently
looking at Serie A players in Italy.
And we know that
the risk of ACL injury
across eight seasons was about
1-2% a year for a squad.
But actually what
we've seen particularly in the last year,
Olympique Lyonnais, the female
football team that Ellie plays for,
they've had
five ACL ruptures in one season.
Okay, this one?
And relax.
That's incredible.
Five, that's nearly half the team.
It feels the same as the other side,
so it's really stable, which is excellent.
We'll see you again
in three weeks at the six-week mark.
The main issue with ACL surgery
and particularly
with professional athletes is reinjury.
So the graft rupturing again.
And in some athletes,
this happens not twice,
three, even four or five times,
and for some, it's career-ending.
At six months,
if everything's feeling good,
what we do is, we will get you
to perform an isokinetic muscle test,
and that will give us
more of an objective measure
of what your muscle strength is.
And at that point,
we get a clearer understanding
of when you'll go back to sport.
In order for Ellie
to return for the World Cup,
she needs to pass
through a series of milestones
in her rehabilitation for her to be ready.
There's always a chance
that she won't make it back. Yeah.
For you, given your position in the team
and also, your strength and speed,
it's gonna be important
to continue working
on rehabbing the hamstring.
Yeah, I am kinda, like,
still in shock a little bit.
Reality has kind of hit, you know, like,
I've got a long road ahead.
I think I'm gonna learn
a lot about myself during these months.
But, yeah,
I am confident that I'll be back.
That is one of my main goals.
I'll be back, bigger and better,
which is nice.