Five things to watch: Matildas v Jamaica

The Matildas play Jamaica in their final 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage match against Jamaica. Can the Australians maintain momentum after the Brazil win, or will the Reggae Girlz collect their first points of the tournament? Here are five things to keep an eye on at the Stade des Alpes.

Kerr, Shaw

Sam Kerr (L) and Khadija Shaw Source: Getty Images

WATCH  Jamaica v Australia LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS from 4:30am (AEST) Wednesday morning or stream live via The World Game website / app.

First, the good news. 

After the Matildas’ remarkable win against Brazil last week – the miracle in Montpellier – the Australians are virtually guaranteed to progress to the round of 16 in France. 

It would take a loss to Jamaica and some extraordinary results in other groups to see the Aussies exit the tournament in Grenoble. 

The bad news is that the exact manner of their progression remains unclear and dependent on the result in the other Group C match, Italy’s clash with Brazil. 

Here’s what we will be watching out for in the Jamaica match, while keeping an eye on the parallel proceedings in Valenciennes.

1. Complex mathematics

If Australia beat Jamaica, there are two possible outcomes.

Firstly, Brazil might defeat Italy, in which case all three teams are locked on six points and the tie-breaker rules kick in. 

These dictate that firstly goal difference is applied to separate the teams. Failing that, goals scored, points obtained between the teams in question and goal difference between the teams in question become fall-back mechanisms to determine ranking. 

Alternatively, Italy might beat or draw with Brazil. Either outcome would see the Italians finish atop Group C, while the Matildas would place second – securing a round of 16 clash in Nice on Saturday (5am AEST Sunday). 

If, on the other hand, Australia draw with Jamaica, the Matildas will still finish second provided Italy beat Brazil. If Brazil win, Australia will finish third. If there is a stalemate in the other match, Australia and Brazil will be on equal points. 

In the unlikely event Australia lose, a third-place finish is almost certain – but progression would remain likely, given the four best-ranked third placed teams still qualify.

2. Goals, goals, goals?

The Australians' only hope of reaching the Group C summit, and in doing so securing an easier run towards the final, is if Brazil beat Italy. 

Goal difference will then come into play. 

After two match-days, Italy are on plus six, Brazil are plus two and Australia are zero. 

Accordingly, the Matildas need goals – and lots of them. 

If Brazil beat Italy by a one goal margin, the Australians need to win by five goals or more to advance atop Group C. 

After Jamaica conceded three to Brazil and five to Italy, such a scoreline does not seem improbable. 

Jamaica’s manager Hue Menzies was under no apprehension about the challenges his side’s defence faced. 

“I voted for Sam Kerr as the best player in the world,” he said. “I have lots of respect for her.”

3. Does Ante shuffle the deck?

It has been a busy few weeks for the Matildas, and the physical strain is beginning to show. 

“3 games in 10 days is quite the ask,” coach Ante Milicic admitted on Monday.

“We have to look at the players’ load – both in the tournament and over the past few months.” 

Milicic advised that Clare Polkinghorne was not available for selection, and that Tameka Yallop was doubtful. 

On the other hand, Mary Fowler is fit after missing the first two matches, and Elise Kellond-Knight has backed up from the Brazil clash without difficulty. 

Although Milicic wasn’t giving too much away during the pre-match press conference, expect to see a number of changes to the Matildas’ starting line-up in Grenoble.

4. Will the Jamaican attacking threat finally emerge?

Despite considerable pre-tournament hype surrounding the Jamaican forward-line, and particularly new Bordeaux signing Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, the Reggae Girlz have failed to score so far in France. 

With their World Cup campaign almost certainly over after Wednesday’s (AEST) clash, the Jamaicans will be desperate to get on the scoresheet. 

The pre-tournament friendly against Holland and the opening defeat to Italy exposed frailties in the Australian defence, that Shaw and colleagues may be able to exploit. 

“We’ve struggled in the final third, but we have been working on that,” Jamaica coach Menzies said on Tuesday. 

“Today’s session was all final third stuff. Hopefully we can redeem ourselves – I thought we had early chances against Italy, but we squandered them.” 

Asked how his team might target Australia’s back-line, Menzies was coy. 

“I don’t want to give our game plan away,” Menzies laughed.

“But we feel like our front-line should be doing better. We have the talent.”

5. Will Fowler make her World Cup debut?

16-year-old prodigy Fowler was the name on everyone’s lips ahead of the World Cup, not least because her call-up secured her national team allegiances despite her siblings playing for Ireland at youth level. 

With pace, ability with both feet and an eye for space, Fowler has been hailed as the next big thing in Australian football. 

But Fowler was ruled out of the opening match after tweaking a hamstring in training, and did not appear against Brazil either. 

If Australia have a healthy lead after half-time, Fowler may well be called off the bench to provide some added attacking spark. 

“It would be good at some stage if the opportunity presents if [Mary] can show her quality,” Milicic said. 

“We’ll see how the game unfolds. She’s more than likely to start as a substitute, but we’ll see.” 

If Fowler takes to the field, she will become the fifth youngest player in Women’s World Cup history. 

“She has a lot of potential,” Milicic mused. 

Kieran Pender is covering the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup for The World Game. Follow him on Twitter:


Share
Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service. Read more about Sport
Have a story or comment? Contact Us

Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Sport
5 min read
Published 18 June 2019 10:59am
By Kieran Pender in Grenoble


Share this with family and friends