Key occasions
By the identical token, I’d prefer to see France play a composed, sluggish tempo, low block, to ask precisely the sort of questions the Matildas don’t wish to reply. Spain handed them to distraction in February with a B staff and Australia want to determine how to reply to these challenges. They are going to face opponents within the World Cup whose focus is on retaining possession and grinding by means of a recreation with a number of stoppages, doing their finest to disclaim that top octane momentum that makes the Matildas look so threatening at their finest.
There’s going to be loads of vitality from the stands tonight, and plenty of expectations round how the Matildas ought to play. I want to see them channel that and go full throttle. Take full benefit of the tempo of Carpenter, Vine and Raso, and make an announcement to France and the remainder of the World Cup they’re right here to play a sure method, and that method is 1,000,000 miles per hour. Gentle the blue contact paper and watch the fireworks.
This is excellent content material. This World Cup actually does really feel like a tipping level within the notion of ladies’s soccer to uninitiated audiences.
France XI
Joyeux quatorze Juillet mes amis Français! Les Bleues additionally go in with near their finest XI. It’s a facet dominated on the again by the highly effective Wendie Renard, one of many stars of the previous decade, and on the entrance by objective machine Eugénie Le Sommer. The Lyon pair could be heading to their closing World Cup, and determined to do nicely.
France (4-3-3) : Pevraud-Magnin (GK), Lakrar, Renard, De Almedia, Karchaoui / Geyoro, Toletti, Dali / Diani, Le Sommer, Bacha.
Australia XI
Gustavsson mentioned he wasn’t going to fiddle along with his staff choice tonight, and he has been true to his phrase. The beginning XI is as anticipated, and contains the returning Alanna Kennedy for the primary time since September. The again 4 would be the focus of consideration with Kennedy partnered by the inexperienced Clare Hunt, whereas Clare Polkinghorne nurses a foot harm. Each might be delighted that on their exterior they discover the category of Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley.
Australia: (4-4-2) Arnold (GK), Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley / Raso, Cooney-Cross, Gorry Vine / Kerr, Foord.
It’s been a cold midwinter’s day in Melbourne however the frigid air and howling gale won’t penetrate a Marvel Stadium with its roof closed. There are anticipated to be round 50,000 followers crammed inside – which might set a brand new document for a standalone Matildas fixture.
Then we now have a give attention to the World Cup debutants:
In addition to the complete squad overview:
With the World Cup across the nook, there’s loads of Matildas content material to chew over whereas we look forward to kick-off.
There are current options on Katrina Gorry:
Kyah Simon:
And my private favorite (and new Actual Madrid signing) Hayley Raso:
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hey all people and welcome to dwell protection of Australia v France from Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. Kick-off on this World Cup send-off is 7.30pm.
With the World Cup kicking off in beneath per week, tonight provides one final valuable alternative for Tony Gustavsson and Hervé Renard to work by means of their choices earlier than the intense motion begins. Tenth-ranked Australia and fifth-ranked France will think about themselves among the many contenders for the largest prize within the sport. The Matildas, on dwelling soil, are unlikely to ever have a greater alternative.
And they’re rising to the event properly. After a protracted bedding-in interval beneath Gustavsson, performances and outcomes have began to return good. Eight wins from 9 matches, courting again to final October are testomony to the progress, a run that includes 5 clear sheets, an away win to European champions England, and the event of spectacular squad depth. One other win tonight will gentle the blue contact paper on essentially the most eagerly anticipated World Cup marketing campaign in Australian historical past – male or feminine.
After a tumultuous few months final 12 months, France are additionally peaking simply on the proper time beneath the expertise of males’s World Cup specialist Renard. Les Bleus are unbeaten in seven – a stretch that includes six wins – because the squad returns to normality, simply because it appeared their World Cup hopes can be wrecked by infighting. Bastille Day provides a really perfect alternative to channel that revolutionary spirit.
I’ll be again with groups information and insights from the 2 camps shortly. If you wish to get in contact at any level you may all the time ship me an email.
