Fowler Shines for Manchester City and Matildas

Before the World Cup, Mary Fowler struggled to find playing time with Manchester City. However, her standout performance in the tournament changed everything. The 20-year-old forward has now become a key player for both the English Women's Super League side and the Matildas.

In her first four games of the WSL season, Fowler has already played significantly more minutes than she did in the entire previous campaign. The World Cup experience, combined with the motivation she gained from sitting on City’s bench, has propelled her to new heights.

In the recent Olympic qualifying win over Iran, Fowler showcased her versatility by playing as a winger, a positional adjustment similar to what her club coach Gareth Taylor had implemented. This move proved to be successful when she assisted Sam Kerr‘s goal.

Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson praised City’s influence on Fowler’s development and commended her outstanding performances in the league. He saw a spark in her eyes when given the opportunity to play on the wide areas, which further validated her impact on the team.

Gustavsson recognized Fowler’s unique technical ability and vision as a footballer. He also highlighted her humility and desire to continuously improve. However, he emphasized the importance of managing expectations and ensuring that Fowler doesn’t carry the team’s burden alone.

Gustavsson also applauded Ellie Carpenter, who scored the opening goal against Iran. He singled out two players who were not part of the World Cup squad but made valuable contributions. One of them is Clare Wheeler, who controlled the midfield with her outstanding performance. The other is Amy Sayer, who narrowly missed out on the final World Cup squad and has since signed with a top-flight Swedish club.

The Matildas now need to secure victories against the Philippines and Taiwan to advance to the third and final phase of Paris 2024 qualifying.