Stadium Australia clash against USA a World Cup final ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Matildas

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson will treat his side’s clash against the USA at Stadium Australia on November 27 like a World Cup final.

Sam Kerr celebrates scoring against Brazil last month. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The 2023 Women’s World Cup final is set to come early for a Matildas team intent on experiencing the future pressure they hope awaits them.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has named a 25-strong squad for this month’s two matches against the United States in Sydney and Newcastle.

The squad includes uncapped Sydney FC pair Jessika Nash and Charlize Rule as Gustavsson continues to keep his options open for January’s Asia Cup in India.

However, the Matildas coach is also planning long term, with Gustavsson wanting to use the November 27 clash against the Americans at Stadium Australia as a “dress rehearsal” for the 2023 World Cup final at the same venue.

Sam Kerr returns to Australia later this month with the Matildas. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“This could not be a better dress rehearsal for a World Cup final and we are going to treat it in the same way,” Gustavsson said.

“From when we arrive, to those match days with what we hope will be record crowds, this is our chance to prepare for the big moments that we want to be a part of in 2023.

“We’re never going to get closer to replicating the World Cup final before the World Cup than this first game against the US.

“It’s going to be played at the same stadium as the World Cup final, we’re playing the No.1 ranked team in the world in that stadium and with hopefully a record-breaking crowd.

“That means everything we do from now on leading into the game is going to be mimicking what we would do going into the World Cup final.

“I hope the players feel a lot of pressure going into this game because we’re going to treat it like a World Cup final in every aspect.

“We need to learn to deal with that (pressure). It’s a part of preparing for that World Cup in ’23.

“Everything we do including in camp when it comes to training, meetings, strategies ... we’re going to ask ourselves ‘would we do this if it was a World Cup final?’”

The squad also includes key England-based attacking pair Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik, who missed the recent two-match series against Brazil through respective shoulder and toe injuries.

“It was very important for (Raso) to come into this camp because she needs to get up to speed with our tactics,” Gustavsson said.

“She’s one of our best pressing players when it comes to our aggressive pressing game ... she’s always going to be a threat.

“In selecting the squad, balance was at the heart of the decision making.

“We know that this is our final occasion to see the group together before announcing the squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup next year, and our focus remains on this crucial preparation.”

Matildas squad: Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United, England), Angela Beard (Fortuna Hjørring, Denmark), Ellie Carpenter (Lyon, France), Steph Catley (Arsenal, England), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Melbourne Victory), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal, England), Mary Fowler (Montpellier, France), Emily Gielnik (Aston Villa, England), Charlotte Grant (FC Rosengård, Sweden), Bryleeh Henry (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City, England), Sam Kerr (Chelsea, England), Teagan Micah (FC Rosengård, Sweden), Jessika Nash (Sydney FC), Courtney Nevin (Melbourne Victory), Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjö GIK, Sweden), Hayley Raso (Manchester City, England), Karly Roestbakken (LSK Kvinner, Norway) Charlize Rule (Sydney FC), Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC), Kyah Simon (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Emily van Egmond (Orlando Pride, USA), Clare Wheeler (Fortuna Hjørring, Denmark), Lydia Williams (Arsenal, England), Tameka Yallop (West Ham United, England).