Australia’s sporting capital looked like any other day ahead of Matildas must-win clash

The Matildas are staring down the barrel of their biggest ever game on home soil, but in Melbourne you’d never have known.

The walk from Flinders Street Station to Melbourne’s Olympic Park precinct is one that is often filled with plenty of emotions.

Depending on the event, the emotion among the crowd making the walk can differ wildly.

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For concertgoers, it’s endless excitement for the night of blaring music that lay ahead. For those attending the Australian Open, the crowd is more docile as they prepare for a full day of tennis action and champagne.

The footy crowd is a different kettle of fish. The walk along the Yarra River is a mixed bag of emotions as fans bristle with a cocktail of nerves and excitement.

On Monday, the feeling walking towards the stadium in the hours before the game was a vastly different experience.

The 1600m trek from the station to the stadium felt like it does on any given day — there was a distinct lack of emotion and nervous tension in the air.

While some had already camped out in the available chairs at Federation Square, the journey in between was a vast wasteland of commuters and cyclists.

The sighting of Matildas green and gold was like coming across an oasis in the desert.

Not a fan in sight. Photo: James McKern

As the stadium came into sight, the signage for the match became more evident but the pre-game buzz was still lacking.

Granted it was several hours ahead of kick-off, but the distinct lack of fan fare ahead of the biggest Matildas game ever on home soil was brutally evident.

After sneaking over the line in their World Cup opener against Ireland, the Matildas fell in a shock display against Nigeria.

They now face a must-win clash against the Olympic champs Canada. A daunting feat on a good day, but when you add in the injuries the group has faced it becomes an instant nightmare.

Fans slowly arriving at the stadium. Picture: Mark Stewart

Questions remain over the availability of Aussie skipper Sam Kerr and whether she is fit enough to even take the pitch on Monday night.

Fellow Matildas star Mary Fowler is expected to return to the XI after succumbing to injury ahead of the Nigeria clash.

With everything on the line for the Matildas, they need everything to go their way. One of the biggest advantages to hosting a home World Cup is the crowd advantage.

While still a few hours away from play, the early signs and the distinct lack of interest being displayed by the sporting capital don’t make for a great sight.