As of Tuesday, the FIFA Womens World Cup is simply 100 days away – one of many largest sporting occasions ever to be held on Australian soil.
On Wednesday morning (AEDT), the Matildas’ preparations for his or her bid for glory on house soil (the match is being co-hosted with NZ) take an enormous step up with a blockbuster conflict with England.
An understrength Australian aspect fell to a 1-0 defeat to Scotland – a staff that did not qualify for the World Cup – on Friday evening. A sequence of acquainted issues resurfaced as a seven-match successful streak got here crashing to a halt.
Now, the world quantity 10 Aussies face off in opposition to world quantity 4 England in arguably their hardest check in years – the place an upset victory may reveal that the Matildas are real contenders for the World Cup.
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Coach Tony Gustavsson labelled the Lionessess the “staff on this planet to beat” on the again of a 30-game unbeaten run. That exceptional streak was capped off on Friday by victory for the European champions over South American champs Brazil within the first-ever Women’s Finalissima in entrance of 83,132 followers at Wembley Stadium.
England are firmly among the many favourites to hoist essentially the most cherished silverware within the recreation, the Women’s World Cup, with a star-studded assault and depth that makes deciding on a 23-player squad for the match a headache-inducing process.
“Thirty video games unbeaten, they play fashionable soccer with excessive depth, extraordinarily excessive tempo in the whole lot they do. Their urgent recreation is incredible, and their purpose motion good,” Gustavsson stated.
Defender Charli Grant equally stated: “England goes to be a very thrilling problem for us to see the place we’re at particularly so near a World Cup.
“I feel they undoubtedly have most likely the most effective forwards on this planet in the intervening time and that’s going to be a very good problem for our backline but additionally they’re nice defensively to see how effectively they’ve carried out within the Euros and even lately in pleasant matches.”
By distinction, the Matildas are at the moment battling a bunch of accidents, with Gustavsson stating he’s lacking ‘eight to 10’ gamers for the huge conflict.
Scotland shock Matildas with 1-0 win | 01:18
Captain Sam Kerr missed the defeat to Scotland for unnamed causes and stays beneath some doubt for this conflict.
The likes of veterans Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Emily Gielnik, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, and Chloe Logarzo have been dominated out of those friendlies via harm. Emily van Egmond and Holly McNamara have been despatched again to their golf equipment over the weekend after additionally struggling accidents.
Gustavsson stated: “We’re not going to draw back from this problem, it’s the hardest perhaps ever since I got here on board, and all these gamers received’t draw back both. That’s who they’re.”
It is the ultimate match earlier than Gustavsson names his 23-player squad for the match correct, and will effectively present a harsh lesson. Of course, all that issues is whether or not the coach and staff study these classes by the point it actually counts.
Kerr hopes World Cup delivers desires | 01:18
England vs CommBank Matildas
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium, London
Kick-Off: 4:45am, Wed, 12 April (AEST)
Broadcast: Network 10
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