How an Aussie football icon could solve the Matildas' biggest problem heading into the Asian Cup next year on home soil

John Aloisi provided Australian shot fans with an unforgettable infinitesimal erstwhile his punishment successful a shootout against Uruguay ensured the Socceroos qualified for the 2006 World Cup aft much than 3 decades of pain.

Now helium is firming arsenic the Matildas' adjacent fulltime manager - and it couldn't travel astatine a amended time, with the Asian Cup to beryllium held connected section shores adjacent year.

Along with European-based Aussie Joe Montemurro, Aloisi, 49, has been reportedly courted by Football Australia to regenerate interim manager Tom Sermanni.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Aloisi politely declined to remark connected immoderate imaginable development, stating his absorption was with Western United up of their pending A-League finals campaign.

They beryllium successful 2nd spot aft 21 games, with their awesome marque of shot must-watch this season.

It comes arsenic erstwhile manager Tony Gustavsson moved connected past August pursuing a nightmare run astatine the Paris Olympics - and since past the Matildas person gone further backwards.

Winless astatine the caller SheBelieves Cup successful the US, whoever assumes the relation volition person their hands full.

Last month, Australia dropped to 16th successful the satellite - their joint-worst spot successful the rankings since they were archetypal introduced successful 2003.

Their autumn from grace hasn't been helped by the semipermanent lack of striker Sam Kerr, who continues to retrieve from an ACL rupture sustained successful January of 2024.

Kerr's tribunal saga earlier this twelvemonth successful London - wherever she was found not blameworthy of racially aggravated abuse of a constabulary serviceman - besides generated unwelcome headlines.

It is hard to fathom the Matildas were World Cup semi-finalists successful 2023, specified has been their alarming dip successful form. 

Former Matildas striker Ashleigh Sykes has nary uncertainty Aloisi - who is off-contract with Western United astatine the extremity of the A-League play - would excel successful the blistery seat.

'He's (Aloisi) a precise knowledgeable manager successful the women's crippled arsenic good arsenic the men's game, I deliberation he's a large shout,' she told Optus Sport.

'He understands the culture, understands what it takes to triumph arsenic a nationalist squad subordinate - I deliberation I could get on-board with that (appointment).'

Meanwhile, the Matildas instrumentality connected South Korea connected Friday successful Sydney earlier a 2nd lucifer successful Newcastle connected Monday, April 7.

In a important blow, Ellie Carpenter (ankle) and Hayley Raso (thigh) won't play and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold is successful uncertainty owed to an limb injury.