'It has to happen': Two Matildas stars called out after Brazil series as head coach appointment becomes urgent
Andy Harper believes the Matildas "home fortress" is beginning to crack after they fell short in back-to-back clashes against Brazil.
After Clare Polkinghorne's retirement send-off was spoiled by defeat in Brisbane, the Matildas were unable to exact revenge over a fiery Brazilian outfit on Sunday.
The visiting football powerhouse remained composed in the heat of the battle, despite two early yellow cards, capitalising on the flaws in Australia's armory.
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A gap in defence placed Australian keeper Teagan Micah under immense pressure as Brazil slipped through the Matildas' defence to pull the trigger on a whopping 23 shots at goal.
According to Harper, the pressure placed on Micah was no comparison to what was served up at the other end of the pitch, with Brazilian keeper Lorena facing just seven shots on target.
"The difference between the teams is the quality of transition," Harper said on 10.
Tom Sermanni, Interim Head Coach of Australia talks to his players. Getty
"Australia have had a greater share of good circumstances but haven't made the Brazil keeper be excellent.
"Brazil have had fewer chances and they've made Teagan Micah be excellent.
"The defending [by the Matildas] wasn't great during each of the three goals. Very concerning errors that are being made in positional sense.
"It's disappointing. The Matildas defence has cracked. That's what the history books will now say, two games against Brazil and they came up short both times."
Harper called for the experience of senior players like Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso to focus on developing plays that can create goal scoring opportunities.
"Their [Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso] job as senior, full time professionals is to covert that advantage, which is very clear every time we watch it, into a greater percentage of goal-creating chances," he said.
Ellie Carpenter in action against Brazil. Getty
"This is now on the public record and it has to happen, for both the sake of the players and the team.
"They are incredible competitors and it is certainly within their capacity to make that shift.
"It's not a quantum shift, it is just improving by a couple of per cent which is where that goal will come from to equalise or win another match."
While the contest against a "whole team of Martas" proved too tough for the Matildas, Raso believes the transition into the Matildas' next chapter can not fully occur without the appointment of a head coach.
Tom Sermanni took on an interim role at the helm of the team following the departure of Tony Gustavsson, but it remains unclear how long he will remain in the position.
The 70-year-old confirmed he is content with fulfilling the interim role until Football Australia finds a coach to take over full time.
Hayley Raso in action against Brazil. Getty
But with Australia set to host the Asian Cup in 2026, Raso fears the team may become short of time to adapt to the philosophies of a new coach.
"Brazil are obviously a tough opponent," she said.
"They just came second in the Olympics so we knew it wasn't going to be easy.
"We are in a period now where we have got time. I think first and foremost it is about getting a coach in.
"After that, we will probably start working on a philosophy and finding our feet but we have got time to work on those things ... before the Asian Cup.
"It's important to get the coach in but at the same time we need to get the right appointment."
Australia will face Chinese Taipei in Melbourne on Wednesday.
