{"id":322097,"date":"2023-08-07T22:17:11","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T22:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=322097"},"modified":"2023-08-08T02:58:59","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T02:58:59","slug":"fosters-warning-to-matildas-as-world-cup-epic-awaits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=322097","title":{"rendered":"Foster's warning to Matildas as World Cup epic awaits"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the Matildas<\/a> were "brilliant" in their 2-0 round of 16 win over Denmark<\/a>, it's only going to get harder from here, Socceroos legend Craig Foster<\/a> warns.<\/p>\n

Foster says coach Tony Gustavsson nailed the tactical changes from the group stage into the knockouts, resulting in Monday's victory in front of 75,000 people in Sydney.<\/p>\n

"It was a brilliant performance in many respects (and) different from the previous games," he said on Nine's Today<\/em>.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Great coincidence': Matilda denies tactic that turned game<\/strong><\/a>\ufeff<\/strong><\/p>\n

PLAYER RATINGS: \ufeff<\/strong>'Sloppy' Matilda who still put World Cup on notice<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> The magical moment Kerr made World Cup entry<\/strong><\/a>\ufeff<\/strong><\/p>\n

"I thought Tony Gustavsson got it right last night. It was a big, big challenge as to whether we kind of learnt from the first games in the tournament, and we had.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Hayley<\/p>\n

"They sat a little bit deeper, let Denmark have a little more of the ball, defended really well, and (used) the counterattack."<\/p>\n

The Matildas now prepare for a Saturday quarter final, which will be against either France or Morocco.<\/p>\n

If they get through that, world heavyweights England loom as potential opponents.\ufeff<\/p>\n

"Last night was very much about defence \u2026 there is three games ahead now that are more difficult than last night," Foster said.<\/p>\n

"You are talking about big, big opponents now.<\/p>\n

"Last night was a little bit different \u2013 it was a more tactical game than you normally see from the Matildas and they should be proud of that. It was perfectly managed, beautifully done by Tony Gustavsson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Foord<\/p>\n

"The defence was under more pressure last night and in the next game, that's going to be similar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"Clare Hunt has been unbelievable. Allana Kennedy, she's been outstanding. The two central midfielders \u2013 everyone has been lauding Katrina (Gorry) and Kyra (Cooney-Cross), (and) they've been magnificent, but it is the back four and the two in front who, in quarter finals and beyond, are absolutely key."<\/p>\n

The Sydney crowd was also brought to their feet by a late cameo from Sam Kerr, playing her first minutes of the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Foster said Kerr's 10-minute cameo was "inspirational", and enough to prove her fitness, and she would likely start in the Matildas next game.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Matildas were elevated into the quarters off the back of a sensational first half goal from Caitlin Foord \u2013 set up by an even better aerial ball from Mary Fowler \u2013 and then a second half goal to Hayley Raso.<\/p>\n

Foster said Fowler's ball was "one of the most beautiful, precise, astounding passes you are ever going to see".<\/p>\n

"That pass graces any football field anywhere in the world. To produce it then in this game, shows you what an amazing competitor and phenomenal talent she is."<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While the Matildas were "brilliant" in their 2-0 round of 16 win over Denmark, it's only going to get harder from here, Socceroos legend Craig […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":322101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322097"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=322097"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":322106,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322097\/revisions\/322106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/322101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=322097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=322097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=322097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}