Win and you’re in! That’s what the Matildas must do against the USA if they are to make sure they advance to the women’s football quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
They’ll be back at Stade de Marseille for the clash, at 3am AEST Thursday 1 August, for their final pool match in Group B.
“I think we've always been a never say die team,” Matildas winger Hayley Raso said.
The Matildas enter the contest with three points on the board thanks to a nail-biting 6-5 comeback against Zambia in the second group match.
Meanwhile the four-time Olympic gold medallists, the United States, sit atop the group with maximum points from their opening two fixtures.
Any result other than a win will have the Matildas sweating on the results of matches from the other two groups, A and C.
Moving past the Americans will be no easy feat with Emma Hayes’ side currently prolific in attack with seven goals and stingy in defence, conceding just one goal.
“They're obviously one of the teams that is in the best form in the world right now, and not just in this tournament but the games leading into as well,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.
Like Australia, the USA have one of the quickest forward lines in the tournament with Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman all in stellar form.
The midfield has been steered by captain Lindsay Horan alongside the technically gifted Rose Lavelle, while Naomi Girma has marshalled the defence with maturity beyond her first Olympic appearance.
For Australia one of the contests to watch will be the battle between Horan and Kyra Cooney-Cross. Kyra has quietly gone about her business in the Australian engine room with two consistent performances.
While this game is certainly to be more controlled and less transitional than the one against Zambia,, both teams still possess the ability to rapidly turn defence into attack with strong pressing and running games.
The wings will also prove an interesting theatre of battle with the USA and the Matildas blessed with some of the best attacking fullbacks in the game in Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter for the Aussies and Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn for the USA.
Australia is also determined to re-find the defensive resolve and steel that has served them so well across the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. That will start from the front.
All in all, this is set to be a gripping contest due to the strong connection and knowledge these two nations have in relation to one another.
Tokyo 2020 was the last Olympic meeting between Australia and the USA with the Americans claiming a coveted bronze medal 4-3.
