Matildas face ‘unique’ World Cup challenges against Group C opponents Italy, Brazil and Jamaica
ONE staunch arch-rival, a ghost to exorcise from Socceroos’ past and an unfamiliar foe.
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ONE staunch arch-rival, a ghost to exorcise from Socceroos’ past and an unfamiliar foe.
All are challenges for which the Matildas will spend the next six months preparing after drawing Brazil, Italy and Jamaica at the Women's World Cup.
The pathway to the knockout stages in France in June is now set for Alen Stajcic’s national team, viewed globally as genuine contenders to lift the trophy following their dramatic rise of the past four years.
Group C is by no means the group of death, nor is it a walkover.
Having retained their top-six ranking ahead of Saturday night’s draw in Paris, the Matildas ensured a seeding to avoid defending champions USA and big guns Germany, France, England and Canada.
What they got instead was a set of opponents with what Stajcic labelled “unique styles” set to test their focus-shifting ability.
Australia will kick-start their campaign against Italy on June 10 in Valenciennes, in what shapes as a chance for the Matildas to claim belated vengeance on behalf of the Socceroos for that heartbreaking 2006 World Cup exit.
Neither the men’s nor women’s national team has faced Italy at a major tournament since though the Matildas have played them eight times since 2001 and emerged with a level ledger.
"I certainly did reflect back to that game in 2006 and the heartache that game caused our country, especially when the Socceroos were on the precipice of moving into the quarter-finals," Stajcic said.
"It's not as if we can take revenge for that moment, but I know I certainly feel a lot of emotion from that game and we'll be doing everything we can to win for our sake, for our team and for our tournament.
“But it’s the first match, we all know how important it is to get on the board and set yourself up for the rest of the tournament.”
On paper Australia are superior, with the Azzurri currently ranked 16th.
But Stajcic, having watched them at the 2017 Euros and recently defeat ninth-ranked Sweden, was wary of a “very pragmatic, very strong defensively minded” up-and-comer fuelled by an increasingly professional Serie A.
“They’ve developed a really strong domestic league,” he said.
“Two or three clubs (mainly Juventus) have taken their domestic football to a new level and most of their national-team players play for those clubs.
“It’s no fluke that’s resulted in their national team becoming really competitive in the last 24 months.”
Brazil, up next on June 13 in Montpellier, are a far better-known entity. An old-time enemy evoking memories of Australia’s famous round-of-16 win at the 2015 World Cup, and of a devastating 2016 Rio Olympics quarter-final loss on penalties.
The Matildas carry the psychological edge in this rivalry, having seen off Marta and company all four times since including a 6-1 pasting in last year’s Tournament of Nations.
Stajcic saw world No.53 minnows Jamaica, nicknamed the Reggae Girlz, as the most difficult team to source intel on ahead of their June 18 encounter in Grenoble.
What he had witnessed was “crisp, dynamic and explosive”.
“But the bonus is we play them in game three so we’ll have two World Cup matches to scout them,” he said.
Stajcic will this week embark on a reconnaissance trip to nut out logistics including venues, training bases, accommodation and travel to all ends of France.
And he does so with confidence that, despite a “bit of a rollercoaster” year featuring a string of injuries, heavy playing loads and mixed results, the Matildas are on track to better their quarter-final appearance of 2015.
“They’ve beaten the top nations on Earth, competed with Olympic gold medallist and World Cup winners and finalists, so the maturity and belief within the team has gone full circle,” he said.
“Now it's just a matter of the approach within each game, having the necessary focus and consistency to win each game and win each moment.
“That’s the critical part to win the World Cup.”
GROUPS
Group A: France, South Korea, Norway, Nigeria
Group B: Germany, China, Spain, South Africa
Group C: Australia, Italy, Brazil, Jamaica
Group D: England, Scotland, Argentina, Japan
Group E: Canada, Cameroon, New Zealand, Netherlands
Group F: United States, Thailand, Chile, Sweden
GROUP C
Australia v Italy
Monday, June 10, 9pm
Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes
Australia v Brazil
Friday June 14, 2am
Venue: Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Jamaica v Australia
Wednesday June 19, 5am
Venue: Stade des Alpes
OUR RIVALS
ITALY
Nickname: Azzurre
Coach: Milena Bertolini
Captain: Barbara Bonansea
Most caps: Patrizia Panico (196)
Top scorer: Patrizia Panico, Elisabetta Vignotto (107)
FIFA ranking: 16
Previous World Cup appearances: 2 (1991, 1999)
Best result: Quarter-finals (1991)
BRAZIL
Nickname: Selecao/As Canarinhas
Coach: Vadao
Captain: Marta
Most caps: Formiga (167)
Top scorer: Marta (110)
FIFA ranking: 10
Previous World Cup appearances: 7 (all since 1991)
Best result: Runners-up (2007)
JAMAICA
Nickname: Reggae Girlz
Coach: Hue Menzies
FIFA ranking: 53
Previous World Cup appearances: None
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