Matildas coach Ante Milicic has played down expectations of Australia winning next month’s Women’s World Cup – but insisted: ” I am sick of being an underdog.”
Talking to Optus Sport, he acknowledged many were tipping the Matildas to go all the way in France when the competition kicks off on June 7.
And while Milicic – who was only drafted in to take the Matildas to the World Cup at the last minute after the shock dismissal of Alen Stajcic earlier this year – hailed the quality of his team, he was keeping ambitions grounded.
“Make no mistake this is a very good squad here,” said Milicic. “It has the potential to do well in the tournament. At the same time, people are talking about winning this World Cup.
“In the short time that I’ve been involved in women’s football, there’s quite a few teams that would like claim to winning a World Cup.”
But he insisted the hopes of holding up the trophy were realistic.
“They should be and we set ourselves those targets,” he added. “But at the same time we can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
“It’s good knowing, as an Australian team that we have expectations because that was probably a different mindset in years gone by.”
“Being involved in Australian football, I’m pretty much sick of being an underdog. We don’t get the credit we deserve, both in terms of players and coaches as well.”
“We’ve got a lot of players, even for example in the Socceroos, who, if they had different passports, they could be at different clubs.”
For Milicic, just getting acknowledgement on the world stage is almost equal to any silverware the World Cup might bring.
“Just get some respect in world football,” he said. “I think that’s a big one.
“As a footballing nation – and I say that as players, coaches and staff – we do a lot of good things in Australia and at times, I think there is a lot of negativity around the game.”
The former Socceroos, Melbourne Heart and Western Sydney Wanderers assistant coach has grabbed this head coach opportunity with both hands and delighted by the standards he’s inherited.
Now he sees a chance for the Matildas to etch their name in the record books.
“Good opportunities for our girls to create a bit of history,” he said. “The depth in the side – there’s a lot of experience in there. There’s a lot of individual quality, a lot of speed.
“To me the atmosphere is very good, the girls get along really well and I think again that’s part of the Australian way as well.
“This is another major tournament where it’s an opportunity for us to make an impact and to get noticed – and what better way to do it than in Europe on a big stage.”
