Montemurro calls for Matildas to be braver against China

[p]The Matildas scraped into the last four after a 2-1 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/north-korea/fojQgvMl/"]North Korea[/a] in which they were on the back foot for much of the game.[/p][p]"[b]We haven't always been brave enough to control the ball, and as you all know, my way of thinking is with the ball,[/b]" said Montemurro ahead of the clash in Perth on Tuesday.[/p][p]"[b]So obviously the focus has been on that. We're playing a team that is very, very well structured, very well organised.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/YXMhvJho/"]Australia[/a] received a boost with star players [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/catley-stephanie/8IK8PWMd/"]Steph Catley[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raso-hayley/hjjKfGtK/"]Hayley Raso[/a] both declared fit after missing the quarter-final with concussion.[/p][p]The semi-final will be extra special for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leicester/dWUIlGLF/"]Leicester City[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-egmond-emily/QBHh8iVk/"]Emily van Egmond[/a], who will become Australia's most-capped player in her 170th game, surpassing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/polkinghorne-clare/2R7THHwi/"]Clare Polkinghorne[/a].[/p][p]Van Egmond has played at four World Cups, three Olympic Games and three Asian Cups, and said it was all about collective effort.[/p][embed guid="72f31d03-2be4-4718-985a-85a22e62aa43" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUtsNZXz0GY" social-type="youtube" /][p]"[b]We've worked hard to reach the semi-finals and it's all about team performance,[/b]" said the 32-year-old, who Montemurro called "one of the best footballers that we've produced".[/p][p]Australia have the benefit of an extra day's rest following their efforts against North Korea on Friday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/china/IFHViN7N/"]China[/a] played a day later and needed to toil through extra time to tame Taiwan 2-0 in a game that saw key striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wang-shuang/IR4XvLMs/"]Wang Shuang[/a] pick up a second yellow card.[/p][p]She is suspended for the semis, but China have a coach who knows Australia very well.[/p][embed guid="2c5c67ef-5b22-446c-ab04-5d4e44e418dd" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AURmrTFlXI" social-type="youtube" /][p]Ante Milicic coached the Matildas at the 2019 World Cup, leading them to the round of 16, and always keeps close tabs on them.[/p][p]"[b]I always follow the Matildas from afar and track the players' journey,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]Right now I'm enjoying my time with China, and leading them to the semi-finals is a dream for me and the staff.[/b]"[/p][p]Milicic is particularly wary of the threat posed up front by Australia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kerr-samantha/8YuNOAak/"]Sam Kerr[/a], Raso and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/foord-caitlin/SMMIEghM/"]Caitlin Foord[/a].[/p][p]"[b]These forward players of Australia can unlock any defence and have been performing at the top level for a long time,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"Defensively we have to be very strong.[/p][p]"[b]We not only have to contain Australia's attacking threat, but we have also shown that we can attack and need to find the right balance.[/b]"[/p][p]The winner will face either [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ltLyWcnC/"]Japan[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/6LgUhbye/"]South Korea[/a] in Saturday's final in Sydney.[/p]