The Matildas will take a look at their World Cup credentials in a four-team mini-tournament involving Spain, Czech Republic and Jamaica subsequent month as preparations ramp up forward of the worldwide showpiece occasion on dwelling soil later this yr.
The upcoming Cup of Nations was introduced on Thursday, with world No 7 Spain in specific presenting coach Tony Gustavsson a chance to run the rule over his aspect towards top-class opposition forward of the Women’s World Cup, which begins on 20 July in Australia and New Zealand.
Spain are thought-about critical contenders for the World Cup title and have a crew filled with expertise, regardless of lacking two-times Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who’s recovering from a knee harm.
The assembly will give Australia an opportunity to avenge a 7-0 drubbing the final time the 2 sides met in June, when a number of Matildas stars had been rested and Gustavsson noticed his aspect fall to their greatest defeat this century.
Australia, led by captain Sam Kerr, will kick off towards the Czech Republic on 16 February at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford earlier than assembly Spain three days later at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium. They spherical off the event towards Jamaica at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on 22 February. All match days will probably be double-headers that includes all 4 groups.
Gustavsson, whose crew are on a four-match profitable streak, mentioned his aspect have moved on from that heavy defeat in Huelva and is anticipating a a lot tighter contest in Sydney this time round.
“I actually think the players have already parked that one. We’re so much further ahead in our planning and our preparation,” he mentioned. “It will be a very different game because when we played them last time, we had more than 10 players away.
“Now we’re playing Spain on home soil with a full-strength team hopefully. What’s interesting is we’re one of the best pressing teams in the world, [and] they’re one of the best passing teams in the world. Is pressing or passing going to win that game? That’s going to be a really interesting challenge for us.”
While the Czechs, ranked twenty eighth in the world by Fifa, haven’t certified for the World Cup, FA chief govt James Johnson mentioned he anticipated a top quality event.
“Three of the four sides will be aiming for success at the Fifa Women’s World Cup, and we expect the quality of the six matches to be world-class,” he mentioned.
The Matildas are slated to kick off their World Cup marketing campaign towards Ireland at Sydney’s 45,000-capacity Allianz Stadium on 20 July, however given excessive demand for tickets there may be rising help to have the sport moved to the 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia at Homebush.
FA is in favour of the venue change, however any transfer would wish to be first given the inexperienced gentle by Fifa. Australia’s remaining video games in a tricky Group B are towards Nigeria at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and Olympic champions Canada at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
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