Matildas to host four-team tournament in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in 2019
THE Matildas’ preparations for next year’s World Cup will get a huge shot in the arm with a three-way tournament featuring double headers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in February and March.
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The Matildas’ preparations for next year’s World Cup will get a huge shot in the arm with a three-way tournament featuring double headers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in February and March.
It’s believed that months of negotiations have resulted in three fellow World Cup qualifiers coming to Australia, as coach Alen Stajcic bids to battle-harden his squad ahead of the tournament in France in June.
Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand will take part in what is set to be dubbed the Cup of Nations, rotating around NSW, Queensland and Victoria over a week.
Jubilee Stadium at Kogarah will host the opening pair of fixtures on Thursday February 28, with Korea taking on Argentina followed by the Matildas facing New Zealand straight after at the same venue.
Three days later Argentina and New Zealand will pair off at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, followed by Australia taking on South Korea — the Matildas’ first game in Brisbane for more than four years.
Finally the tournament will switch to Melbourne, with South Korea taking on New Zealand before the Matildas meeting Argentina — both games at AAMI Park.
The games pit the Australian squad against two of the world’s top 20 teams, with South Korea ranked 14th globally, New Zealand 19th and Argentina 36th.
The Matildas will also travel to America to face the US in April with a training camp there beforehand.
The tournament in Australia endorses Stajcic’s desire for as many games as possible against different styles of opposition before the World Cup, in the wake of friendlies against Chile in Penrith and Newcastle last month.
“They are going to be unique challenges and different playing styles (at the World Cup) but, you know, if you can’t overcome the ability to adapt and change within a tournament, within a game, then really we shouldn’t be talking about being a threat at a World Cup,” he said.
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Originally published as Matildas to host four-team tournament in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in 2019
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