Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter has declared the side is “not satisfied” with their current ranking after dropping three spots post the Paris 2024 disaster.
The Australian national team has consistently hovered around 10th over the past three years.
Fourth was their highest ranking, in December 2017, but it’s been a steady decline from there.
READ MORE: ‘Never nice’: Questions remain as Broncos coach speaks
READ MORE: Brutal case for Warner to stay retired forever
READ MORE: Remarkable Tomic feat hidden by mounting ridicule
Now the Matildas are 15th after a recent slide from 12th, having been bundled out of the Olympics in the group stage.
Ellie Carpenter during the Olympics. Getty
Coach Tony Gustavsson finished in his role after it, leading to the appointment of Tom Sermanni as interim.
When Gustavsson’s departure was announced, the Matildas playing group were part of the process for finding an appointment.
Ahead of the Matildas’ clash with Switzerland, Carpenter revealed the responsibility is now fully with Football Australia.
“Initially we had some conversations but at the end of the day we trust them for that process and to make the right decision and for us,” she told media on Wednesday.
“It’s simple: we want a coach who will bring the best out of all us players, to play the best football and get results.
“We are 15th now in the world and I think we’re not satisified with that and we need to produce results in the next couple of years and this is a very important start of a massive cycle for this team.”
Ellie Carpenter gives her playing boot to a supporter during the World Cup. Getty
The Matildas’ next major tournament will be the Asian Cup at home in 2026 before the World Cup in Brazil the next year.
The home World Cup last year sparked a huge shift in interest in the Matildas as they surged to a fourth finish.
A quarter-final penalty shootout win against France had home fans dreaming of a tournament victory but it was ended by a dominant England the following match.
The Matildas squad for the friendlies against Switzerland and Germany looks different to that World Cup squad, with Daniela Galic, Winonah Heatley, Chloe Lincoln and Jada Whyman the uncapped players named.
Carpenter believes that young brigade can help lead a resurgence of the side.
“We have so many world class players in this team, and obviously some young and new fresh faces as well and that’s an opportunity for them to learn and feel comfortable in this environment to learn and play their best,” she said.
“You look back at our recent games, you think about the best games we’ve played and how we’ve performed and beat top 10 nations and we want to get back to playing that way and playing with freedom.
“I think when we’re all playing an eight or nine or 10, I think that’s when we’re the best.
“I think the girls want to really buy into that and get back into winning ways because like I said before, we’re 15th and results for us now onwards matter especially leading into the World Cup with rankings etc. so we’re out to do a job, out to perform and want to get us back into the top 10.”