Tony Gustavsson’s Matildas will meet the Lionesses at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on April 11, one of two games they will play in Europe during the penultimate international window before the start of the Women’s World Cup in July.
It looms as good preparation in more ways than one, given Australia could face the reigning European champions in the round of 16 at the World Cup if they fail to top Group B.
England are No.4 in FIFA’s women’s rankings and beat Germany 2-1 in extra time in the final of last year’s Euros, which they hosted.
Chelsea Football Club can confirm striker Sam Kerr has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during our warm weather training camp in Morocco.
Disappointingly!it seems Victoria prefers one-off national fixtures or exhibitions over major tournaments.
Beyond the ‘sporting capital’ blow, it’s a letdown for local clubs that would’ve served as training bases with desperately needed female-friendly facility upgrades. Legacy. https://t.co/jViSz32nKu
Something like AFL probably refusing to make Docklands and/or MCG available I'm gonna guess. They really do hate football (soccer). More even than NZ Rugby.
Disappointingly!it seems Victoria prefers one-off national fixtures or exhibitions over major tournaments.
Beyond the ‘sporting capital’ blow, it’s a letdown for local clubs that would’ve served as training bases with desperately needed female-friendly facility upgrades. Legacy. https://t.co/jViSz32nKu
Looking at previous editions it would probably be Played either during late cricket season or early AFL season - and AFC probably have the same pitch rules as FIFA meaning nothing would be able to be played on the surface for weeks prior - so AFL and Cricket Australia wouldn't be happy. Also AFC probably like FIFA don't really like showpiece tournaments being played in circular stadiums.
All this to say AAMI park would be the only option but being smaller than the stadiums in the other states they likely wouldn't put a Matildas game there, and outside of the Matildas I don't know how much pulling power the rest of the tournament will have for crowds.
Same reasons basically why Victoria only got a small number of games compared to other States, for last year's WWC.
Japan, Sth Korea and China could pull reasonable crowds - but yeah the rest not so much. North Korea for the novelty aspect possibly. They are also the 2nd best FIFA ranked team in Asia at 11th. I think they pulled out of AFC qualifying for last year's WWC due to Covid. Of course the Supreme leader tells us no one died of it there in the Democratic People's Republic.
Japan are ranked 7th & Matildas 12th.
Hopefully NZF can get a few teams to visit NZ for warm up games against the Ferns.
Something like AFL probably refusing to make Docklands and/or MCG available I'm gonna guess. They really do hate football (soccer). More even than NZ Rugby.
By the sounds of it, they didn't even lodge an expression of interest. Those happened before the WWC, so must not have predicted the Tillies-mania that has followed.
Last month Sermanni was appointed interim coach of the Matildas. So that's rules him out of a return to the Ferns (if he was ever an option).
But also highlights ain't so easy finding the right coach, if even Football Australia with all it's resources has had to go back to the 70 yr old Scot for a time.