The first opponents of their home tournament, the Republic of Ireland present a tricky test for a Matildas team in great form.
With a number of players plying their trade across the United States, England, and continental Europe, the Girls in Green feature clubmates and domestic adversaries well known to this Australian side.
Last Time Out
Ireland 3 Australia 2 – Dublin, 2021
The two sides’ only previous meeting saw the home side eke out a narrow victory against a largely experimental Australian squad. Featuring players omitted from World Cup selection, including Jenna McCormick, Emma Checker, and newly-minted Philippines international Angela Beard, two goals from Mary Fowler weren’t enough for the Matildas as Louise Quinn’s second-half strike earned the Irish a famous win.
Likely Starting XIs
Three Key Battles
O’Sullivan vs Gorry
Despite her extensive collection of NWSL silverware, there’s no doubt that Denise O’Sullivan will be made to earn her keep in midfield by the dogged defensive efforts of Katrina Gorry.
Since her return to the national team after welcoming baby Harper, Gorry has been a breath of fresh air in the centre of the park for Australia, chasing lost possession, choking opponents into errors, and controlling the tempo of the match like peak Andrea Pirlo but with two X chromosomes.
With over 100 international appearances, the Cork native is integral to the Repbulic’s chances at this World Cup, and despite her recent knock in the suspended friendly team against Colombia, O’Sullivan will be the key link between defence and attack, as well as acting as the vanguard in front of her back four.
Alongside midfield mainstay Ruesha Littlejohn, O’Sullivan’s ability to evade Australia’s defensive press to maintain possession and create attacking opportunities will be crucial to Ireland’s hopes of taking three points away from Homebush.
Ireland’s wingbacks vs Australia’s pace
A feature of the Matildas’ recent victory over France in Melbourne, manager Tony Gustavsson has primed wingers Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine for use as both a counter-attacking outlet and a way to stretch what will likely be a packed, structured defensive system employed by Ireland.
Among the fastest players in the tournament and both capable of delivering a killer final pass at speed, these two former Brisbane players allow Gustavsson to play in a deep block where necessary, defending in numbers between the lateral extremities of the penalty and six-yard boxes, before launching forward like a tightly-wound spring in search of Kerr, Foord, or simply open space behind opponents.
Similarly, their ability to bring Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter into play as overlapping fullbacks allows Raso and Vine to slot between the lines in something of a fluid 3-4-3 against settled defences, dragging opponents out of position and providing space for team-mates elsewhere.
These quick and decisive positional changes have served Australia well in the past, playing to their strengths and forcing their opponents to shapeshift out of their usual 5-4-1 in order to cover their attacking runs, seeking to cause chaos in a system heavily reliant on order.
Australia vs expectation
This is, in reality, the biggest game in Australian women’s football history. It may not be an Olympic knock-out match, an Asian Cup final, or have silverware at stake, but up until this point this is most important match in these players’ lives.
None of this Australian squad have played in front of a crowd above 60,000; indeed, for A-League Women-based players like Cortnee Vine and Clare Hunt, the majority of their career up until this point has been marked by playing in front of small, loyal crowds in suburban stadia spread across our cities.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr has said time and again that “pressure is a privilege”, and she’s right – but that privilege is gained not just by being among the 23 best players Australia has to offer; its by being the beneficiary of months and years of tireless work and sacrifice by parents, coaches, volunteers, administrators and support staff, many of whom will be at Homebush to watch that work come to fruition.
The Matildas would have every right to be blinded by the lights or crushed under the weight of the thousands watching at Stadium Australia and around the world, but with their cumulative tournament experience since 2019, Gustavsson et al will be looking to continue their recent strong form and start the tournament in the best way possible.
Prediction
Though Ireland are a capable and worthy opponent, Australia should be able to use their strength in midfield and a significant home-town advantage to quell any disquiet from the visitors. Australia 3 Ireland 1
