‘Once in a lifetime’: Matildas itching to play for record crowds

A Matildas star says Friday’s final warm-up game will be an “extra special” occasion for her as tickets sell out for the clash.

Matildas fullback Ellie Carpenter says she is excited to lock horns with five of her Lyon teammates at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Star defender Ellie Carpenter says she gets goosebumps every time she thinks about the bumper crowds the Matildas have in store this month.

The highest attendance for an Australian women’s football match will be smashed on Friday night with more than 50,000 fans expected to watch the Matildas play France in their final warm-up game at Marvel Stadium.

That record will stand for just six days when more than 80,000 people pack Sydney’s Stadium Australia for the first World Cup match against Ireland, but Carpenter says the Matildas will still be soaking up every moment when they face Les Bleues in Melbourne.

“The feeling (on Friday) is you’re going to think, ‘woah, this is incredible’, and then having in the back of your mind next week is going to be double this,” she said.

Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter and coach Tony Gustavsson spoke to reporters ahead of Friday’s blockbuster friendly against France. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

“That just gives me goosebumps talking about it. I don’t think many of us have played in front of more than 50 or 60 thousand people.

“So it’s going to be just taking it all in, soaking it all in – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“When can I ever play in front of my home country, my family like this ever again, so (I’m) just making the most of it.”

Carpenter said the Marvel Stadium surface felt “pretty good” when the Matildas had their first look during Thursday’s training session, after a packed schedule of AFL and NRL games at the venue in the weeks leading in.

“The field’s looking pretty good … a couple of lines are out there, hopefully they put the banners around so I know where the lines are so I don’t go out of the field, but it should be fine,” she said.

The Matildas had their first look at the Marvel Stadium surface on Thursday, with Carpenter declaring it looked ‘pretty good’ ahead of its first round ball game since March. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

She said the friendly would carry “extra special” significance for her as she locks horns with five of her club teammates from Lyon, including France captain Wendie Renard.

“I get to play against some of my teammates who I know very well, and I’m excited to see them,” she said.

Carpenter, 23, said she wanted the Matildas to keep building on their soaring popularity after the tournament, noting there was still “a long way to go” towards reaching prizemoney parity with the men’s game.

“I’m in a very unique position – obviously I came into the team nine years ago now and it feels like it was not that long ago but I’ve seen that change, because when I came in, there was hardly any (money) involved, and I’ve been in that era which I’ve seen it go from zero to 100,” she said.

“Hopefully we keep building on this, because for me it’s just the beginning.”