Japan Coach Nils Nielsen Hails Mary Fowler as His 'Favourite Player in the Whole World'
Japan's head coach Nils Nielsen has made a stunning declaration, describing Australian attacker Mary Fowler as his "favourite player in the whole world" as his team prepares to face the Matildas in the Women's Asian Cup final. The highly anticipated match is set to take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney this Saturday, with Japan looking to disrupt Australia's hopes of winning the tournament on home soil.
Japan's Impressive Run to the Final
Nielsen's Japanese squad enters the final fresh off an emphatic 4-1 victory over South Korea, continuing what has been a near-flawless campaign throughout the tournament. Japan has demonstrated exceptional dominance, scoring an impressive 28 goals while conceding just one across five consecutive wins. This remarkable performance has positioned them as formidable opponents for the host nation.
Nielsen's Personal Connections to Australian Players
The Greenland-born coach has previous experience working with several Matildas players during his time as a technical director at Women's Super League powerhouse Manchester City. It was during this period that Nielsen crossed paths with both Fowler and Australian defensive midfielder Alanna Kennedy.
While Nielsen expressed admiration for Kennedy, who was recently overtaken in the golden boot standings by Japan's Riko Ueki after Ueki scored her sixth tournament goal against South Korea on Wednesday, he reserved special praise for Fowler.
"Alanna, I know from Man City and I just want the best for her because she's such a great girl," Nielsen stated. "My absolute favourite player in the whole of world football that I ever had anything to do with is Mary Fowler. She's just a character from another world and those of you that know her better than I do, you can understand what I mean."
Nielsen continued his heartfelt tribute, saying, "She's special, so take care of her because you should be very proud to have an Australian player that has a character like that."
Respect for Australian Coach and Players
The Japan coach also revealed his friendship with Australian coach Joe Montemurro, praising how Montemurro has managed the team despite significant absences. Key players Steph Catley, Hayley Raso, and Mackenzie Arnold have missed large portions of the tournament, yet Australia has still reached the final.
Nielsen acknowledged the threat posed by several Matildas stars, even if Australia hasn't been as dominant as Japan throughout the competition. "I love the players I know, I even love some of those that I don't know," he said. "I think it's amazing that Sam Kerr can just keep scoring - she's so dangerous, a top, world-class striker. (Caitlin) Foord, the way she has been playing is so dangerous and Ellie Carpenter is a machine. I don't think she can get tired. I'm waiting, maybe she will be a little bit tired in the final, I hope!"
Embracing the Underdog Role
Despite Japan's impressive statistics, Nielsen recognizes his team will be playing in front of a heavily pro-Australian crowd at Stadium Australia. However, he rejects any notion of his team being cast as villains in the final showdown.
"I don't consider us bad guys, I'm never really the bad guy," Nielsen asserted. "I know a lot of people want the Matildas to win, and I can understand why. If I had been from Australia, maybe I would feel like Australia should win as well. But I'm not, and I will be honest with you, I'm hoping that we can beat them."
The stage is now set for what promises to be an electrifying Women's Asian Cup final, with Nielsen's personal admiration for Fowler adding an intriguing subplot to the high-stakes encounter between two of women's football's powerhouse nations.
