Those close to Joe Montemurro often refer to him as Pepe or Pep. The Matildas head coach makes one thing clear though at the start of his chat with FIFA, and that is there should be no comparison drawn to a fellow coach of the same name that he holds in the highest regard.
“Don’t do that, don’t even put me in that stratosphere. He’s the greatest of the great!”
One thing that the Australian Pep is soon hoping to have over his Manchester-based namesake is the distinction of leading his nation into a global finals.
After a long and storied career at club level, the 56-year-old was appointed Matildas head coach in early June and is now fine-tuning preparations for next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup. For the final time, the continental showpiece doubles as the qualification tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and Montemurro is keenly aware of just what’s at stake – and what potential pitfalls await – with Australia hosting the 12-team competition.
“The danger for us is the expectation. That’s the clear danger. We need to show respect, remain humble and be clear that every moment and every situation against every team is going to be fundamental.”
Drawn in a group containing fellow 2023 Women’s World Cup participants Korea Republic and the Philippines, as well as IR Iran, Australia undoubtedly face a tough assignment. Add to that the fact that there is a trio of top-16 nations on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, in the shape of Japan (8), Korea DPR (10) and China PR (16), also vying for one of six direct berths, and it’s clear competition will be fierce to reach Brazil 2027.
As Montemurro noted, playing on home soil brings both positives and possible peril. With memories of the Matildas emotional run to the semi-finals of the co-hosted tournament two years ago still fresh, expectations are for nothing less than a triumphant qualification run next March.
“As I said, everything starts from being humble and being respectful of who we are and who the opposition is. That is really important to me.
“That’s the only way we’ll get out of the group and get to Brazil because we’re expected, with the names that we have and the team that we have, to be there.
“Expectation for me is only important if we work hard and are humble enough to realise that we have to be focused on what we need to do because getting to Brazil is very, very important.”
Along with those heightened expectations is the challenge of trying to usher in a new crop of younger talent to supplement what is widely regarded as the ‘golden generation’ that led the nation to that top four finish at Australia/New Zealand 2023.
Montemurro has taken the chance to continue that process ahead of two high-profile international matches this month against Wales, in Cardiff on 25 October and then the European champions England three days later in Derby.
The 24-player squad is highlighted by the return of Sam Kerr for the first time since November 2023 but also features more than half a dozen players who have 20 caps or less, including highly rated youngsters Jamilla Rankin and Holly McNamara.
“These are really important matches for us. On the one hand we want to solidify the way we want to play and see how it will go against high-end competition and on another we’re also looking to bring that belief that we are still a team that can compete with some of the better nations.
“We’re looking at the whole squad in terms of depth but if you undertake a transition you need to ask whether it’s a transition for transition’s sake or is it transition because we still believe that there’s a slow burn and we can still ascertain high-level performance and results by doing this transition.
“I’m a big one for transitioning but still ascertaining high levels. So if the bulk of the squad still stays on for a little bit longer and we start to add really important pieces into those areas, absolutely.”
One thing that the highly decorated Montemurro is adamant needs to happen is for a uniquely Australian style to emerge.
“I know it’s been spoken about quite a lot but I really want to see an Australian football identity. The first meeting that I had with the group was around looking at what the best teams in the world are doing and looking at what we do well and putting that together.
“That starting point is always around the football and for me that means that we have to have the ball. That’s the way it is at all the best teams in the world.
“We also have to appreciate the fact that we are a nation that plays a lot of sport and already we know the importance of decision-making.
“We have to drum that in as a footballing nation. For me, it’s about what high-performance football looks like from an Australian perspective and where we can be successful on the world stage as high performers.”
That cut-throat environment is one that is intimately familiar to Montemurro from his time at the helm of some of the biggest club sides in women’s football. A title winner with Arsenal, Lyon and Juventus as well as his hometown side, Melbourne City, he admits it has taken something of an adjustment from the day-in, day-out work at club level to his first international post.
“I think the biggest problem is I’ve got too much time to think,” he jokes.
“Do I miss the day-to-day? I do. Do I miss the pressure of a game every three days? Yeah, I do. I’m not going to lie about that.
“If I were to be really, really honest though it’s come at a good time in my career because 15 years of club football is really demanding. You do get mentally tired. I left Arsenal because I was mentally tired.
“It’s allowed me though to focus now on the Matildas, doing everything we can to be competitive and win.
“We want to bring together all levels of the game in Australia and develop a whole of football mentality in the women’s space. We want to dominate our region at all age groups and keep exposing players to international football.
“The key then is to develop an image of what women’s football looks like in Australia, an identity that moulds who we are culturally and also what it takes to be a top footballer.
“It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.”
