Matildas to step up Tokyo prep with high-profile clash against Germany
It’s been over a year since they had a game, but the Matildas will finally return to action in Europe next month when they take on Olympic champions Germany in a pre-Tokyo Games friendly.
The match will be played in Wiesbaden on Sunday April 11 (Australian time) at the Brita-Arena in the German spa town close to Frankfurt, widely known nowadays as home to thousands of European-based US military personnel.
This fixture – Australia’s first since it qualified for the Tokyo Football Tournament by defeating Vietnam on March 11 last year – will also be significant because it marks the debut of new coach Tony Gustavsson.
Because of strict quarantine protocols and the difficulties of travelling in and out of Australia, Gustavsson will select only European-based players. And the game will be staged in an empty venue with no spectators.
The vast majority of his squad have already moved to the big leagues in Europe – the likes of Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley all play in England while Ellie Carpenter is with European champions Lyon.
But it will be disappointing news for a handful of locally based players with hopes of making a late charge at an Olympic squad place.
Sam Kerr.Credit:Getty Images
It will be a baptism of fire for the Swede Gustavsson, as Germany is currently ranked number two in the world and boasting some of the world’s best known players.
They include Giulia Gwinn, a 21-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder who won the award at the 2019 World Cup as the best young player of the tournament – despite the fact that the much-fancied Germans were eliminated by Sweden in the quarter-finals.
Still, it is a challenge Gustavsson is relishing, having spent months talking to his players by Zoom conference, email, social media apps, text and telephone and watching games (including W-League fixtures) in his home on a screen rather than in person at a stadium.
“I am delighted to finally have the opportunity to bring the players and staff together and for us to start our journey as a team,” said Gustavsson. “I am pleased to secure a match against a nation of the calibre of Germany for our first outing.
“It is important for our development that we take on quality opponents often to measure our progress and build strong foundations for the next three years. Consistent matches against highly ranked teams are key to our ability to reach our full potential.
“Although it has been a significant period since the team was last together, we have continued our preparations in innovative ways and now I am eager to get the group assembled.″
FA chief James Johnson revealed that the Germans had reciprocated by agreeing to play a warm-up game against the Matildas in 2023 before Australia (along with New Zealand) hosts the next Women’s World Cup.
Other World Cup warm-up fixtures in Australia have been arranged against Canada and the US so that Gustavsson will be able to fine-tune his squad against high-calibre opposition after this year’s Olympics and the Asian Women’s Cup, due to be held in India next January.
Johnson said: “While individually many of the players have been putting in fantastic performances at some of the world’s best teams, I am looking forward to seeing the team together in a high-quality match.”
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