Matildas Coach Backs Squad Depth Amidst Star Player's Absence

Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro has stated that the national team fully supports Mary Fowler's decision to withdraw from upcoming friendlies against Germany and Haiti due to personal circumstances. Montemurro confirmed that discussions were held with Fowler, her club Manchester City, and relevant parties before the decision was made.

"It's really important that we create an environment that is important for the player, and as the circumstances are private I'm not going to elaborate," Montemurro said. "But yes, absolutely, discussions were had with Mary, with the club... and with the relative people, and we believe that we've made the right decision and I think everyone's in support of the situation."

There has been speculation that Fowler, 23, has returned to Australia to support her partner, rugby league player Nathan Cleary, who underwent emergency surgery for a broken leg in late September. However, Football Australia has not confirmed the reason for Fowler's absence.

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold acknowledged reaching out to both Fowler and Cleary after his injury. "I messaged both her and Nathan when it happened just to say, 'I hope you guys are doing OK'," Arnold said. "But yeah, I'm not really sure the actual reason that she's headed home."

Arnold also commented on the human aspect of professional athletes' lives, noting that players sometimes need to step away from intense schedules for personal reasons. "At the end of the day, we're all human. You can't always base your life around football," she said.

The Matildas will face world No.3 Germany without three key creative players: Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Katrina Gorry. Despite these absences, Montemurro expressed confidence in the team's midfield depth.

"This is now a great opportunity, a fantastic opportunity first of all, to bring them in and to understand what we're trying to do in terms of from a high-performance scenario, but more importantly now to be able to expose them against some of the best midfielders in the world," Montemurro stated. He specifically mentioned Vittsjo's Dani Galic, Nottingham Forest's Alana Murphy, and uncapped Valarenga playmaker Hana Lowry as players he believes represent the next generation of Australian midfielders.

Montemurro emphasized the abundance of talented midfielders in Australia and sees this as a crucial starting point for the team. The upcoming matches are also important for FIFA Women's World Cup ranking points, with Australia aiming to remain in pot two for the December draw. Arnold stressed that the team approaches all matches with seriousness, regardless of their designation.

"I wouldn't say we really take any game as a friendly," Arnold said.