Fan | Daily mail online

The Matildas finished 1-1 against Switzerland in Zurich in their first game under interim coach Tom Sermanni, but a mysterious shift involving Mary Fowler has left fans scratching their heads.

It was the first match since Swedish coach Tony Gustafsson was sacked after the Paris Olympics after guiding the Matildas to the final four of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The team has struggled since then, losing captain Sam Kerr (anterior cruciate ligament injury) and being eliminated in the group stage of the Paris Olympics.

The keys to the castle have now been handed over to Scottish coach Sermanni, but Matildas fans may have to be patient.

Despite new management, Sermanni struggled to activate the potential of star striker Mary Fowler, who was largely absent from the game.

Sermanni formed a new line-up with Claire Hunt, Alanna Kennedy and Courtney Nevin forming a back three, with Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Torpey joining them when the Matildas lost possession.

The midfield trio remains unchanged: Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorrie and Kira Cooney-Cross.

However, Fowler was moved to the right side rather than her preferred central role, limiting her impact on the game.

“Mary Fowler is still playing deeper. She trained as a number 9 in her youth and plays as a striker/striker for Manchester City, but the Matildas are keen on playing her deeper and are wondering why they can’t get the best out of her? one fan asked.

“Can we play Mary Fowler in her position next game?” – asked another.

Sermanni admitted that finding the best position for Fowler is not easy, saying: “She’s a very talented player, but she’s still a young player, so I don’t want to expose her too much.”

Fowler’s time on the field was marked by limited touches and several instances of her falling backwards to find the ball.

Caitlin Foord led the Matildas’ attack and was instrumental in creating scoring opportunities for them.

Her run into the penalty area led to a penalty following a controversial dive by the Swiss goalkeeper, which Foord confidently converted.

This put the Matildas ahead but failed to showcase their best form.

Switzerland equalized in the second half, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by the Matildas. Geraldine Reuther took advantage of the opportunity to score just 18 minutes after the break.

The goal reflected the Matildas’ defensive struggle, which Sermanni described as “very shambolic on our part.”

Despite the mixed performance, Sermanni remains hopeful but has just a few days to perfect his formation ahead of the meeting with Germany.

“I thought we were a little off the pace… but overall we looked pretty solid and pretty safe,” Sermanni said.