When Ante Milicic recalls the "Miracle of Montpellier" from 2019, he speaks of it as the defining moment of his coaching career. His Matildas were two goals down to Brazil, facing elimination from the World Cup, when they clawed their way back to win 3-2. On Tuesday night in Perth, he will attempt something equally audacious: beating that same Australian team as the manager of China.
The Women's Asian Cup semi-final pits Milicic against the side he led to a World Cup quarter-final seven years ago. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, China's defending champions earned their place in the final four after a hard-fought extra-time victory over Chinese Taipei, while the Matildas qualified on Friday with a 2-1 win over North Korea.
Milicic was speaking to media on Saturday when he drew the comparison between his former team and his current one. "I saw it first hand with the Matildas when I coached them," he said. "I was fortunate. One of my best nights of coaching was in Montpellier, against Brazil. We were 2-0 down and coming back to 3-2."
He believes China possesses that same resilience. "Their mentality is too strong," Milicic said. "As a nation they're not afraid of anyone, and certainly not 60,000 or whatever the stadium holds. We may, in fact, use that to our advantage."
Playing at home in Perth, the Matildas are tournament favourites. The ABC reports that Australia beat North Korea in regulation time, while China required extra time to see off Chinese Taipei. Yet several Matildas squad members hold their former coach in high regard. Ellie Carpenter, one of the remaining 2019 World Cup squad members, acknowledged Milicic's influence on Chinese football. "He's a great coach," she said. "Him and Ivan run a tight ship. With us, he was very structurally organised, and I know [with China] he has been very strongly organised."
There are practical considerations beyond psychology. China will be without Wang Shuang, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham attacker suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. The ABC notes Wang received a second yellow in Saturday's quarter-final after making heavy contact with Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Cheng Ssu-yu. That absence represents a genuine tactical loss; Wang has been one of the tournament's standout players, orchestrating attacks from midfield and providing the vision that set up Shao Ziqin's decisive goal in extra time.
For Australia, both Steph Catley and Hayley Raso are under concussion protocols. Joe Montemurro's team will be declared fit or otherwise on Monday. The Matildas have also rotated heavily throughout the tournament to manage fatigue in the compressed schedule.
Milicic is comfortable entering as the underdog. "Being the favourite, expected to win, breaking down a block, maybe that played a little bit on the girls' minds," he said after Saturday's match. "Maybe it's OK to go into the game on Tuesday with everyone thinking they've played 120 minutes, Wang Shuang's not playing. So be it. We're fine with that."
Carpenter sees the challenge clearly. "Against North Korea, we probably didn't play our best game," she said. "But in tournament football, sometimes you have to win games like that. Now we turn back focus on ourselves and playing the football we want to play against China, controlling the game and dictating the game and get the result we want."
Both teams know what is at stake. The winner advances to the final and secures qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. For Milicic, victory would represent a remarkable redemption arc, his coaching legacy defined not by the side he lost, but by the one he conquered.