WENDELL HUSSEY | Cadet | CONTACT
The national football team is today setting its sights on the knockout stages of the World Cup.
After a dream first week, the Matildas are now all set to take on either England, Denmark or China in the Round of 16 at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.
The date with history comes after a seamless Group Stage of the home World Cup, where there was never even the slightest doubt that the Matildas wouldn’t progress.
Following a comfortable and definitely not nervy 1-0 win over a plucky Ireland, the Tillies experienced a tiny blip in the form of a 3-2 loss to Nigeria in their second group game.
That left the home side needing a win, (or a draw and a Nigeria loss against Ireland) in their final game.
Come up against Olympic Champions and World Number 7 Canada, who beat us twice last year, some pundits had foolishly posed the possibility of being knocked out in the group stage of a historic home World Cup.
However, those pundits weren’t taking into account that we are playing tournament football now, and Coach Gustavsson, who would have been the dumbest coach ever had we lost – is actually a genius.
The thumping 4-0 win, which actually was never in doubt, settled the nerves of the nation.
Led by rampaging runs from Catley and Raso, strong midfield play from Mini and Kyra, and Caitlin Foord that covered every single blade of grass multiple times, the performance made for one of the most enjoyable wins in the history of Australian football.
“Never in doubt,” laughed one Matildas fan whose looking forward to repairing some of their fingernails over the next couple of days.
Onto the next one.
More to come.
