Star playmaker Mary Fowler has no plans of underestimating German efficiency when the Matildas kick off their search for an Olympic medal against the women’s football powerhouse.
Australia play the world’s No.4 team in Marseille on Thursday night (3am Friday AEST), then face Zambia and the US three and six days later respectively.
Getting a strong start is crucial in a unique 12-team tournament where eight teams reach the knockouts from three groups of four teams – the group winners, runners up and two best third-place finishers.
Two-time Women’s World Cup winners Germany won Olympic gold in 2016 – when they drew 2-2 with Australia in the group stage – after three consecutive bronze medals.
The last time Australia played Germany, in Tony Gustavsson’s coaching debut with the team, and their first match since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disjointed Matildas suffered a 5-2 defeat.
But since then the Germans made a Women’s World Cup group stage exit and have had mixed performances in Euro 2025 qualifying.
Germany lost 3-0 to Iceland earlier this month before thrashing Austria 4-0 in a telling response.
“They’re a really good side and I don’t think you can underestimate them, just from a couple of games where they didn’t perform as well,” Fowler told AAP.
“They have so many good players.
“So we just treat it like any other team, any other game, where we just prepare as best as we can.
“Because every game is pretty much like a final when you’re in a tournament.”
Gun Germany midfielder Lena Oberdorf has been ruled out of Paris after suffering an ACL tear.
It should create an opportunity for Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross and potentially Fowler, when she drifts into central spaces, to attempt to control the midfield.
A creative fulcrum for Australia, Fowler often starts on the left wing but also spends time in attacking midfield.
“You’re not always going to get the ball heaps in every game,” she said.
“Because depending on how the opposition plays, maybe the No.10 gets the ball more in that game, and then you play No.10 next game and the winger gets the ball more in that game.
“So sometimes it’s just hard and it’s just unlucky in that sense.
“But it’s been nice speaking to Tony and just having that kind of freedom to be able to move around a bit more and play in different positions and look for the ball.
“I’m just really excited to see where that goes.”
Attacker Caitlin Foord has already declared herself fit after pulling out of the Canada friendly following quad tightness in the warm-up in Marbella.
“I’ll be fine,” Foord told the ABC.
“If it was an Olympic game, I would have played.
“But there was just no reason to really take any risks this close to the opening game.”
Injury doubts remains over Steph Catley, Kaitlyn Torpey and Tameka Yallop’s respective involvements – though both Catley and Torpey have also indicated they will be fit to face Germany.
Source Agencies
