Follow our rolling protection of the Matildas World Cup warm-up match in opposition to France beneath.
8:37pm – SECOND HALF Matildas 0 France 0
Cortnee Vine has made approach for Mary Fowler as Gustavsson swaps tempo for precision on the half. Fowler will take over putting duties as Foord strikes huge. Lyon attacker Cascarino has come off the French bench for De Almeida. Big second 45 arising.
8:21pm – 45+3” Matildas 0 France 0 – HALF TIME
The Matildas have troubled the French backline however requested little of Les Bleus keeper Peyraud-Mangin in a tense opening half at Marvel Stadium.
There’s been loads of motion however the Australians have lacked a little bit execution with some haphazard passing and reactive play.
While France have had the higher alternatives and lead the shots-on-target rely, Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley and Clare Hunt have proved impenetrable within the Matildas defensive efforts.
Caitlin Foord has continued her penetrating type within the frontline, whereas Sam Kerr has been a little bit quieter by her facet, seeking to create slightly than capitalise on alternatives.
Tony Gustavsson shall be hoping for a little bit extra out of his midfield duo, with Cooney-Cross and Gorry struggling to come up with play by the centre.
8:15pm – 43” Matildas 0 France 0 – Hunt gathering for Matildas within the backline
Clare Hunt is exhibiting her value within the backline and is getting loads of work because the Matildas’ final line of defence because the French proceed to search out totally different avenues into their remaining third.
Karchaoui can also be the primary reserving of the match for a careless try on Caitlin Foord however Catley is unable to ship a significant ball into the field from the ensuing free.
8:07pm – 35” Matildas 0 France 0 – France with an opportunity
Both groups are momentarily down to 10 as Steph Catley and French midfielder Diani have a head conflict mid-air. France make the higher of the chance with an excellent passage of play however the shot fizzles with some vital defensive work from Clare Hunt.
7:57pm – 26” Matildas 0 France 0 – Foord trying fierce
Caitlin Foord has one of the best alternative but for the Matildas in an vital exhibiting that Sam Kerr isn’t the Australians’ solely avenue to aim. She beats one of many world’s greatest defenders earlier than releasing a shot that doesn’t fear French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
7:52pm – 20” Matildas 0 France 0
Mackenzie Arnold is named into motion for the primary time and is fast to disclaim France a chance. France unable to make something of the sport’s opening nook.
Wondering if France might mistake Arnold (and her purple equipment) for one in every of their very own if she makes a run up the pitch…
7:51pm – 19” Matildas 0 France 0 – Early likelihood for the Matildas
An opportunity goes begging for Cortnee Vine who appears a little bit hesitant to launch the set off. France has begun to look a little bit extra composed, holding the ball and exhibiting their traditional finesse.
7:42pm – 10” Matildas 0 France 0 – Early likelihood for the Matildas
Caitlin Foord earns a free kick and Katrina Gorry sends a glancing free kick simply over the again put up. Nervous indicators for France because the Matildas have the vast majority of early probabilities.
7:37pm – 6” Matildas 0 France 0
Some early probabilities for the Australians who’re making nice use of their tempo on the width, however are unable to get something significant into their strikers as of but.
Cortnee Vine’s tempo gained’t keep secret for lengthy.
7:30pm – WE’RE OFF!
Expect loads of motion up the Carpenter-Raso flank when Australia go ahead! Australia are sporting their new house equipment whereas the French look extra Les Violets than Les Bleus of their gear.
7:10pm – The French menace
France shall be a formidable pressure on the World Cup, because the No.5 ranked facet and one in every of Europe’s powerhouses of home soccer.
While they’ve confronted their share of off-field challenges this yr, the soundness that captain Wendie Renard gives to the group, mixed with the expertise of latest coach (and private facet observe – one of the vital good-looking males in world soccer) Herve Renard is, is essential to French probabilities.
Renard coached Saudi Arabia to a major upset on the Qatar FIFA World Cup in 2022 when his group defeated eventual champions Argentina within the group stage.
France have additionally carried out the Matildas a major favour, in going through the Australians’ Group B opponents Republic of Ireland in a tune-up match final week.
France dispatched the Irish 3-0, a consequence the Matildas would love to duplicate after they meet in Australia’s World Cup opener.
France and Australia have confronted off on seven earlier events, with the outcomes break up evenly. Three wins apiece and a draw.
6:50pm – Gustavsson: “Good indicator of the finishing line-up”
Tony Gustavsson clearly has a 90-minute World Cup plan in thoughts.
The Matildas coach has indicated that the group that faces France gained’t simply be an vital litmus check for his beginning XI gamers but in addition a sign of how he makes use of his bench.
“It will be a good indicator of the starting lineup but also the finishing lineup [against Ireland],” Gustavsson stated within the lead as much as the match with France.
Alanna Kennedy returns to the beginning squad after a protracted run of accidents and can accomplice Clare Hunt within the backline – a debut pairing in centre defence.
Kyah Simon, nonetheless, is unlikely to function.
“She’s [Simon] still not ready to play many minutes but we’re working on an individual plan for her and we selected her as a game-changer,” Gustavsson stated.
6:15pm – No surprises as Gustavsson names his possible World Cup starters
Mackenzie Arnold has cemented herself because the possible goalkeeper to start out in opposition to the Republic of Ireland as she takes No.1 duties within the Matildas send-off match in opposition to France.
Captain Sam Kerr leads a robust Matildas line-up as they tackle fifth positioned France, who’re favoured to go deep into the ladies’s FIFA World Cup.
Tony Gustavsson has additionally named Cup debutants Cortnee Vine, Clare Hunt and Kyra Cooney-Cross in his starters to face Les Bleus.
Matildas who entered the camp nursing accidents, together with Clare Polkinghorne, Tameka Yallop and Kyah Simon have all been named on the bench, with Gustavsson suggesting they’re more likely to see restricted minutes in tonight’s warm-up match.
MATILDAS STARTING XI
18. Mackenzie Arnold (GK)
5. Cortnee Vine
7. Steph Catley
9. Caitlin Foord
14. Alanna Kennedy
15. Clare Hunt
16. Hayley Raso
19. Katrina Gorry
20. Sam Kerr (C)
21. Ellie Carpenter
23. Kyra Cooney-Cross
FRANCE STARTING XI
16. Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (GK)
2. Maëlle Lakrar
3. Wendie Renard (C)
5. Élisa De Almeida
7. Sakina Karchaoui
8. Grâce Geyoro
9. Eugénie Le Sommer
11. Kadidiatou Diani
13. Selma Bacha
14. Aïssatou Tounkara
15. Kenza Dali
Matildas coach admits they’re ‘vulnerable’
The Matildas will get an unforgettable World Cup send-off with greater than 50,000 followers anticipated to attend the sold-out farewell match at Marvel Stadium on Friday night time the place they tackle France.
The crowd will eclipse the earlier report at an Australian girls’s soccer match of 36,109, set in 2021 after they hosted the USA in Sydney.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has welcomed the chance to play a facet he has had little coping with.
“France is one of the few (top) teams that we haven’t played under my tenure. So I’m really happy to get the chance to do that as well,” he stated.
“When it comes to why we’re playing France, it’s part of the bigger plan that we’ve prepped for, for years — meaning we need to play top opposition, European opposition, and make sure that we measure ourselves against those top teams.”
Looking forward to the World Cup which will get underway subsequent Thursday, Gustavsson admits his facet’s “in your face” type may show pricey on the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Intent on his facet enjoying a urgent recreation, Gustavsson has been relentless in getting ready the Matildas forward of their opening match of the event subsequent Thursday in opposition to Ireland in Sydney.
“We’ve been in a performance bubble for about a month with some of these players now,” stated the 49-year-old Swede.
“They’ve been training extremely hard. We ran them hard. We know we want to play a pressing game, play intense and attack a lot, so it takes a lot of running, so we ran them hard.”
Gustavsson made no apologies for the urgent techniques regardless of the chance that it may depart the Matildas susceptible.
“We’re always going to be an ‘in your face’ kind of team, no matter who we’re playing, (even) if it’s a top-ranked team,” he stated.
“We’re going to use that Aussie spirit and the high-pressing game in attack. “It might cost us a goal or two, but then we need to score more.”
Veteran Matildas defender Clare Polkinghorne praised Gustavsson’s consideration to element in getting ready Australia for the World Cup.
“He’s always thinking of ways to improve and what he can do better, and he likes to have things organised,” the Matildas’ most-capped participant stated.
“That’s the type of coach he is. He knows what he wants and he comes up with detailed plans of how to get there.”
Originally printed as Matildas vs France reside scores: Women’s World Cup pleasant, Australia updates
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
