Matildas star Ellie Carpenter still ‘trying to process emotions’ after Olympics nightmare

Matildas star Ellie Carpenter has spoken of her disappointment after crashing out of the Olympics.

After being expected to challenge for a medal in Paris, the Matildas failed to get out of their group following losses to Germany and the United States.

Coach Tony Gustavsson, who led the Matildas to the semi-finals in a memorable run at last year’s Women’s World Cup, departed just hours after their final group game.

There were reports that Gustavsson lost the playing group long ago, with several describing his tenure privately as “four years of hell”, citing several sources close to the players.

Carpenter has been a mainstay in the team throughout Gustavsson’s reign and will be among the leading candidates to one day captain the side.

Still only 24, the defender has already racked up 80 appearances for the national side.

Few players have spoken publicly following the loss to the USA and subsequent departure of Gustavsson last Thursday.

Carpenter released a statement on her Instagram page over the weekend, saying she is still “trying to process” her emotions following the devastating Olympics exit.

“I gave it my all but it wasn’t enough ... Still on a rollercoaster with all the emotions I’ve been feeling and trying to process,” she wrote.

“So grateful for all the support we’ve received, thank you 🙏🏼

“All the best for the remaining teams and let’s go for all my fellow Aussies in these Olympics 💛💚 Proud to be an Aussie.”

Meanwhile, Football Australia will “look under every single rock” to find the coach who can lead the Matildas to glory at the 2026 Asian Cup on home soil — as a “changing of the guard” looms large.

The next coach will now have the non-negotiable directive to regenerate the team while competing for titles — including as hosts of the 2026 Asian Cup.

“We didn’t do as well as what we wanted to do, I think we need to own that as a team and as an organisation,” FA boss James Johnson said on Sunday after returning home.

“We are going to look both locally and also globally, we are going to look under every single rock and ultimately we are going to look for a coach that can hopefully win us the women’s Asian Cup and also compete in ‘27 (World Cup) and ‘28 (Olympics).

“But also a coach that can bring the next generation of young players through, that’s something of course that is going to be a priority over the next cycle.”

Asian Cup-winning Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says the next Australia coach must be bold enough to oversee a radical shake-up to the national team by placing Mary Fowler at the heart of the side’s gameplan.

Sermanni, who managed Australia in two stints, feels 21-year-old Fowler struggled to make an impact at the Olympics.

Whoever takes the job will have to oversee a changing of the guard, with many of Australia’s golden generation to be into their mid-30s by the time the LA Games roll around in 2028.

Sermanni said that meant it was now time for Fowler to become the team’s attacking fulcrum.

“She is the player you’ve got to build the team around for me,” Sermanni told AAP.

“I thought she was on the periphery too much at this tournament.

“I think going forward she’s got to be in the key area of the field to dictate how the team plays.

“You’ve got to have her somewhere in that central area where she can really hurt teams.

“She’s effective out wide but she has the vision, hits great passes and is the player you need to build the team around.”

Sermanni said it would take a “brave” coach to immediately come in and edge out mainstays of the senior side for the last decade.

But with an 18-month run-up to the 2026 Asian Cup, the Scot said the next manager had time to facilitate a quiet revolution.

“That should be enough time, you’re not wiping out 10 players overnight,” Sermanni said.

“You’d think it’s more of a natural process where some of the younger ones get to the standard to keep the team at a high enough level.”

- With AAP