Matildas confident of beating Canada to revive World Cup campaign after loss to Nigeria
The shattered Matildas have to quickly regain their World Cup focus for a must-win clash against to the World Cup quarter-finals
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Disappointed Matildas veteran Emily van Egmond says the Australians can’t afford to dwell on their shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria as they prepare to fight for their FIFA Women’s World Cup survival against Canada in Melbourne on Monday night.
A loss to the Canadians will result in the Matildas failing to qualify for the tournament’s knockout stages.
A draw is unlikely to be enough either, so it’s all but a do-or-die affair for the Australians, who are desperate to keep alive their dreams of World Cup glory on home soil.
“We stay positive, we stay true to who we are, and we get the job done in Melbourne,” a confident van Egmond said after her side’s unexpected loss to the Super Falcons at Suncorp Stadium.
Called into the starting side as the replacement for the concussed Mary Fowler, van Egmond gave the Matildas a deserved lead in first-half stoppage-time, but then it went all pear-shaped for the tournament co-hosts, who wasted a host of chances.
“The girls who were out there (on Thursday night) … they fought until the very end. Unfortunately, it’s come up short,” she said.
“There’s no use dwelling on it now. It’s done. All eyes are on Canada.
The Canadians, the reigning Olympic Games gold medallists, were 2-1 winners over Ireland on Wednesday night Perth.
They are on four points with Nigeria, with the Australians a point back in third spot. Only the top two qualify for the round-of-16.
Van Egmond will be hopeful of another start but team success is the priority.
“It’s about the team for me and we’re all on this journey together, no matter who takes the pitch. Everyone’s so important,” she said.
Including Sam Kerr, who hasn’t played in the tournament yet due to a calf injury and is no certainty to return on Monday night.
“We have an amazing group of girls,” van Egmond said.
Midfielder Katrina Gorry echoed van Egmond’s sentiments.
“It’s obviously disappointing, but still there are a lot of positives to take out of the game. We need to focus on them,” Gorry said.
“We created a lot of chances, we kept possession of the ball and we won quite a few second balls in there, so there are some positives we can take into the next game.
“We obviously came out here to win. We never want to lose on our home ground, so for us, it’s disappointing.”
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said it was only “small margins” that cost Australia a win on Thursday night,
“We created a lot of chances, it’s just putting them away in the goal,” Arnold said.
She said a “miscommunication” between her and defender Alanna Kennedy gifted the Nigerians their third goal, scored by substitute Asisat Oshoala.
“It’s just what happened. It’s football – loud crowd, hard to hear, miscommunication,” Arnold said.
Originally published as Matildas confident of beating Canada to revive World Cup campaign after loss to Nigeria
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