Matildas set the standard for rivals with 6-1 win over Brazil

The Matildas continue to set the standard for Australian sport after a stunning 6-1 demolition of giants Brazil.

Lisa De Vanna, right, celebrates with teammates Temeka Butt, left, and Sam Kerr after one of her two goals against Brazil.

They have lost jobs and sacrificed careers and social lives — all for a base salary of between $31,000 and $40,000, about half the average fulltime salary in Australia.

But the Matildas continue to reap rewards for Australian sport after their stunning 6-1 demolition of South American giants Brazil on the way to claiming the Tournament of Nations in Los Angeles yesterday.

Inspired by the memory of the late Les Murray, who passed away this week, the Australians saved their best for last with a clinical display in which the exciting Sam Kerr, along with Katrina Gorry, once again demonstrated her remarkable skill in setting up two goals and netting one herself. She finished the tournament with four goals to be its standout performer.

Brazil, twice runners-up at the Olympics and once at the World Cup, had no answer to the Matildas, who produced a breathtaking attacking display that featured a brace of goals for veteran Lisa De Vanna, who became the Matildas’ greatest goalscorer.

Just a week after beating the USA, the No 1-ranked team in the world, and five days after a 4-2 win over Japan, Asia’s best-ranked side, Australia are now looking at equalling their highest world ranking since FIFA first introduced the system in 2003.

The tournament victory has guaranteed they will jump from seventh to sixth, overtaking Japan to be rated Asia’s best. England’s performance in the Euro Championships will see them jump from fifth to fourth, passing Canada.

But the Matildas are likely to be just a point or two from Canada, and at an all-time high of fifth spot when the new rankings are announced on September 1.

While the rankings are just a guide, there is no doubting the tournament victory in the US has pushed the Matildas, who have made wonderful progress under the exceptional coaching of Alen Stajcic, into serious contention for the World Cup finals in France in 2019.

Kerr has no doubt they will be up there with the best of them.

“It’s funny what bit of (good) media does because we have been thinking that for the last couple of years,” Kerr told The Weekend Australian. “It’s a great feeling and what the sport needs and I hope everyone stays behind us.

“There is a big picture for us ... we want to be World Cup contenders, Asian Cup contenders and gold medal contenders. It’s been building for a few years and it is great that things are starting to fall into place right now.”

The Asian Cup — which they won in 2010 in China under Tom Sermanni before losing the 2014 final to Japan in Vietnam — in Jordan next April is the next goal. The top four teams from that tournament will qualify automatically for the World Cup.

The Matildas have come a long way since a pay dispute with Football Federation Australia almost two years ago saw them boycott a training session then refuse to go to the US to play the Americans in a friendly.

They have recovered brilliantly from that setback to lead the way on the sporting fields, arguably becoming one of the country’s most successful teams of either gender.

The 32-year-old De Vanna, capped more than 120 times for Australia, revealed that the Matildas were inspired by Murray. “Today was emotional,” she said. “Today it was all about Les.

“We obviously knew all about his legacy and what this man fought for. ”

Most of the team will return to their US and European club sides before returning home in September for a two-game series against the Brazilians in Penrith and Newcastle.

Additional reporting: AAP