Matildas want polish, response after Mexican surprise

Murray Wenzel | June 8, 2026

Matildas coach Joe Montemurro admits Mexico’s strategic curveball has left them with plenty of homework ahead of their Sydney rematch.

The visitors won 1-0 thanks to an injury-time goal in Newcastle on Saturday, despite Australia having 19 shots on goal.

Ahead of her 150th national appearance in Sydney on Tuesday, Caitlin Foord admitted there was a need for polish ahead of next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

“As a front-line, when we dominate as much as we did in the game with possession, you want end product,” she said.

“It’s about finding those passes and getting those shots off.

“It did feel good those first 15 minutes (controlling possession) … the stats showed that. 

“It’s good to keep the ball, but we want to create and score goals.”

But the coach has focused more on their ability to cope with a high-pressing Mexican opponent that threw the Matildas off their game.

“They went more direct and long and we struggled to go with it,” he said.

“I put it all in context because this is what these games are all about. Different styles, different ideas.

“In my whole career I’ve only seen two teams that lift their fullbacks so high … I haven’t seen a team do that for a long, long time.

“We had to study it, analyse it and not get emotional about it.”

Foord, who scored on debut as a 16-year-old in 2011, wants a result in her milestone game.

But she admits the bigger picture remains the focus after their gutting loss in the Asian Cup final to Japan in March.

“It’s always stayed the same; we want to do something special, win something,” she said.

“We’ve come close a few times and that goal’s still there.”