Women’s World Cup draw: Tough group awaits Matildas

Australia hasn’t fared well in the draw for the Women’s World Cup with three tough nations to deal with – and the Kiwis haven’t fared much better.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has embraced an “amazing” FIFA Women’s World Cup schedule for his side despite Australia having been drawn in the tournament’s “Group of Death”.

The Matildas will start their 2023 World Cup campaign against the Republic of Ireland — who beat the Australians last year — on July 20 in Sydney.

Australia’s Group B opponents include reigning Olympic Games champion Canada and the most successful African women’s football nation, Nigeria.

The Matildas will meet the Nigerians in Brisbane on July 27 before backing up four days later in Melbourne against Canada, who beat the Australians twice in a two-game series in Brisbane and Sydney last month.

“Those games, already in the group stage — amazing,” said Gustavsson, who predicted a tough opener against the Irish, the world’s 24th-ranked nation who defeated the Matildas 3-2 in Dublin in September last year.

Former New Zealand player Maia Jackman displays the country Australia during the football draw for the Australia and New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

“They’re extremely well organised and very physical in the way they play. That’s going to be a tough opening game but we’re looking forward to it a lot.

“Now it’s all about preparation. It’s all about the opening game. We want to start the tournament as good as possible.

“It’s all about knowing who you’re facing and preparing the best way possible.”

Gustavsson promised a “high octane” Matildas at the tournament and said his team would “thrive” with the home support.

“I love this team. I feel so privileged to be a small part of something much bigger than just 90 minutes of football,” the Sweden-born mentor said following the draw, which took place in New Zealand on Saturday night.

“I can’t wait to see the interaction between the players and the fans moving forward … (but) we have some work to do to make sure we prepare the best way possible.

“Unfortunately at the moment we have a lot of players injured so we want to get them back on the park as soon as possible.

Australia finds itself n a tough Group B, which has already been dubbed the tournament’s “Group of Death”.

World Cup co-hosts New Zealand start their Group A campaign in Auckland on July 20 against Norway

Group A also includes Alen Stajcic’s Philippines and Switzerland.

Should the Matildas win Group B, they meet the runners-up in Group D, which comprises recently crowned European champions England, Denmark, China and a yet to be determined playoff winner.

Finishing second in Group B will pit the Matildas against the Group D winners. meaning a round of 16 battle with the English is well and truly on the cards.

The draw has also thrown up a classic Group E meeting between the USA and the Netherlands, who met in the final of the tournament four years ago.

Jill Ellis, who coached the USA to Women’s World Cup glory not only in 2019 but also in 2015, said: “It’ll be the most competitive World Cup we’ve seen.

Matildas/’ foundation captain Julie Dolan, who was part of the draw process along with Australian swimming star Cate Campbell, said being a Women’s World Cup co-host was “something every pioneering Matilda dreamt of”.

WORLD CUP GROUPS

A: 1. New Zealand, 2. Norway. 3. Philippines, 4. Switzerland

B: 1. Australia, 2. Republic of Ireland, 3. Nigeria, 4. Canada

C: 1. Spain, 2. Costa Rica, 3. Zambia, 4. Japan

D: 1. England, 2, Playoff winner 3. Denmark 4. China

E: 1. USA, 2. Vietnam, 3. Netherlands, 4. Playoff winner

F: 1. France, 2. Jamaica, 3. Brazil, 4. Playoff winner

G: 1. Sweden, 2, South Africa, 3. Italy, 4. Argentina

H: 1. Germany, 2. Morocco, 3. Colombia, 4. South Korea

Originally published as Women’s World Cup draw: Tough group awaits Matildas