Forget about "grit and Aussie spirit" the next Matildas coach needs to establish the squad's attacking brilliance as its trademark Australian style.
That's the message from Brisbane Roar A-League Women's coach Alex Smith, who says both men's and women's national teams have "a bit to go" as they negotiate states of flux.
Football Australia (FA) is hunting for Tony Gustavsson's permanent successor while Tom Sermanni serves as interim.
The English-born US-raised Smith, a former A-League player, agrees with pundits who have recommended FA instal an Australian coach, with one condition.
"We need a more national style, one that is synonymous with Australian footballers across the world," he said.
"You see a Japanese player and you know exactly what you're going to get.
"The coach is crucial to that so the message is that these girls are capable of playing brilliant, attacking football."
The Matildas were as high as No.4 in the world in 2017 but have slipped to No.15 after a disappointing Olympic campaign and haven't been ranked higher than ninth since 2020.
"We don't need to rely on grit, or the Aussie spirit, I guess is the old saying," Smith said.
"These Matildas are playing in the best clubs around the world; there's no reason we can't ... dominate teams.
"We have the players, but need a system in place and coach that believes in it."
Matildas veteran Kyah Simon is on the same page as she maintains hope of a recall at 33.
"I'd like to see a coach with a really high football intelligence in terms of taking our team to the next level tactically," she said.
"We have a great team and a great foundation of athletes, of players that we've played in the team for over 10 years now.
"(The next coach needs) to take us to the next level in terms of just that tactical awareness and the footballing ability, to enable us to be able to go to that next level and to get ourselves back in the top five in the world."
Smith is doing his bit at the level below, spending the back half of last season ironing out the "negative vibe" he encountered on arrival.
"I spent most of last year changing the attitude ... we want the first step forward instead of backwards," he said.
"Much more forward thinking and expecting to win football games."
