Opinion

Home switch helps Australia get to Tokyo and the world come to Australia

There may be bigger issues at stake but there is no doubt that switching the venue for 2020 Olympic women’s qualification from China to Australia can’t do the Matildas’ chances of heading to Tokyo any harm.

Matildas

Source: AAP

The growing threat of the coronavirus that started in China and is slowly spreading led to the decision to move the group from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, to the eastern city of Nanjing and then all the way down to Sydney.

FFA may have scrambled around to find venues to host the four-team group that also contains Taiwan, Thailand and China but for coach Ante Milicic, it makes everything that little bit easier.

All Australia need to do is to finish in the top two and then progress to a two-legged playoff in March.

The opening game against Taiwan should be a comfortable three points even if Asia’s eighth-ranked team are improving.

The islanders are the only team that started in the first round of qualification back in November 2018 to reach this stage.

There is an increasing solidity and cohesion around a team that is becoming harder to beat, with just three goals conceded in seven qualifiers so far, and only lost 1-0 to China in the East Asian Cup in December.

Taiwan will sit back in Sydney and defend in numbers.

The other opener between Thailand and China, two teams that went to the World Cup last year in France, is more intriguing.

China, who qualified along with Australia for Rio 2016, are the biggest threat but have been weakened by recent events.

The Steel Roses had a somewhat disappointing 2019. They got out of their group at the World Cup but only scored one goal in the three games before being eliminated by  Italy.

The East Asian Cup in December was worse. There was a 3-0 loss to Japan, a goalless draw with South Korea and a 1-0 victory over Taiwan.

China has had a problem scoring goals. The big question has been how to use the talented Wang Shuang. In midfield, the former PSG star can control the tempo and help keep possession but given China’s weakness in attack, she can be better employed further up the pitch.

Yet that question has already been answered, according to the Chinese media, as Wang, along with another cog, Yao Wei, will not travel to Australia as they were training in Wuhan. Safest, say the authorities, to leave them at home.

Not only that, the other members of the team have been placed in virtual quarantine. Training has been taking place but the atmosphere is surreal to say the least.

The other big news is that Wang Shanshan has been recalled to the national team.

The veteran striker who scored nine goals against Tajikistan at the 2018 Asian Games, was dropped after a disappointing World Cup but bosses feel she can score goals against Asian opposition.

It remains to be seen, given the absences, if she gets the ammunition.

China will settle for second above Thailand. Southeast Asia's number one team have appeared at the past two World Cups and while they made headlines for the 13-0 defeat at the hands of eventual champions United States last year in France, there is talent in a team that finished fourth in the 2018 Asian Cup.

The Thailand FA holding elections for a new president in February has helped, the team has been given time and facilities as poor results will not look good for the incumbent.

A training camp in Myanmar and a win over the host has the Chaba Kaew, looking in decent form.

There are concerns about the defence and with the injury to legendary striker Pitsamai Sornsai, who has scored over 70 international goals, some worries about the attack too. There is still, however, a lot of experience in the team.  

It is Australia’s to lose however.

Off the pitch too, it can’t hurt the country’s bid to co-host the 2023 Women’s World Cup with New Zealand.

Australia is already seen as a safe pair of hands by FIFA and assuming everything goes smoothly, as it should, then that reputation will only increase ahead of the big vote in March.


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4 min read
Published 30 January 2020 8:07am
By John Duerden

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