Live: Matildas take on Chinese Taipei in Melbourne without some of their biggest stars

 Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says the team has not “planned for the future well enough” as he’s had to field squads missing plenty of Australia’s biggest stars.

The list of injured or managed players includes Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Cortnee Vine, Katrina Gorry, Amy Sayer and Kaitlyn Torpey.

Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Ellie Carpenter, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy, Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin and Jamilla Rankin all left after Sunday’s game against Brazil.

Tottenham pair Clare Hunt and Charli Grant and FC Twente’s Daniela Galic will depart on Thursday and skip the final game.

Earlier this week, Sermanni pointed out the downside of not having stability in the side as they prepare for the 2026 Asian Cup.

“The Matildas have had a very consistent squad for four years and what’s happened with that is it hasn’t allowed opportunities for other players,” Sermanni said on Tuesday.

“One of the key things as a national team coach is you’ve got to play for the present but plan for the future. And I think, in all fairness, I don’t think we’ve planned for the future well enough.”

It’s a good question, and it’s to do with FIFA.

Basically, Chinese Taipei is FIFA’s official designation for the national team and the banner under which they play. According to football’s international governing body:

“Founded in 1924, Chinese Taipei Football Association is the governing body for football in Taiwan. The CTFA organises the men’s and women’s national teams and administers the Taiwan Football Premier League.”

Long-term Matildas fans are going to like this one: Chloe Logarzo is making her first appearance for Australia in two years.

After a horrible run of injuries, including a torn ACL and recurrent plantar fasciitis, the Western United star missed out on a call up for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

When she was selected in February for camp against Uzbekistan, she said it was “coming home”.

“It was something that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. After being out for so long and missing out on something that I had dreamed of for so many years, it felt as special as my first call-up, if not even more,” Logarzo told Football Australia.

Then looking towards the new generation, Sharn Freier, Daniela Galic and Tash Prior are all making their starting debuts.

Emily van Egmond will wear the captain’s armband and Mackenzie Arnold is back in the box.

Here’s your starting XI:

Things didn’t start well for the Matildas on the Gold Coast when captain and stalwart Steph Catley was a late withdrawal with lower leg tightness.

Without her, they battled to a 2-1 defeat to Brazil with Hayley Raso scoring the only goal for Australia.

The margin could have been far worse but Teagen Micah, in her first appearance back for the Matildas in almost a year, had an exceptional match with three desperate saves.

Fans were also introduced to a new Matilda with Natasha Prior making her debut.

Hello, football fans, and welcome to our live blog for tonight’s Matildas’ clash with Chinese Taipei. 

The Tillies are back in Melbourne, at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, where they’ll be hoping to get back on the winner’s list after notching back-to-back losses to Brazil last month.

Let’s see if they can do it (look, you’d hope). Please leave a comment at any time throughout the evening.

Alright, let’s get to it. Shall we?