Australia will close out the October FIFA Women’s International Window with a trip to Midtjylland to face Denmark at Viborg Stadium on early Wednesday morning (AEDT time).
Kicking off at 6.00 pm local time, it will be the second meeting between the two nations in the last 15 months as they ramp up their preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ in earnest.
October’s fixture will be the sixth meeting between Australia and the world number 17 and will come on the heels of our first-ever clash with South Africa, which saw the CommBank Matildas win at "home" in London on Saturday.
Squad News
Head Coach Tony Gustavsson has named a 22-player squad for the October window, with some late changes to the squad due to injury seeing the addition of forward Remy Siemsen and defenders Emma Checker and Matilda McNamara named to the squad.
The European-based trio will replace Emily van Egmond (quad strain), Tameka Yallop (ankle), Clare Wheeler (minor knee) and forward Kyah Simon (knee) who have all been ruled out due to injuries sustained at their clubs prior to the commencement of the October FIFA Women’s International Window.
Van Egmond, Yallop, Wheeler and Simon join Alanna Kennedy on the sidelines after the Manchester City defender recently suffered a shoulder fracture to keep her from the October training camp roster. Meanwhile, defender Ellie Carpenter continues to rehab from an ACL sustained in May this year.
Saturday's win over South Africa saw some forced changes to the side that took on Canada in our two-match series in September, with Sam Kerr starting on the bench due to illness throughout the week, while goalkeeper Lydia Williams sustained an ankle injury which rules her out of the October window.
The side has travelled from London to Viborg in Denmark as they begin their preparations for the final game of the window. Our last meeting with Denmark back in 2021 saw Mary Fowler score her first senior goal for Australia and also saw two debutants in Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin, with all three starting the game in our win over South Africa.
Matilda McNamara is the only uncapped member of the squad, with the defender being named on the bench in the game, however, will be in familiar terrority in Denmark, where she plies her trade with AGF in the Danish Women's League.
Our Opponent
After missing out on the most recent editions, Denmark will return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2023 as one of nine European nations to recently book their ticket to Australia and New Zealand. Denmark produced an impressive campaign as Lars Søndergaard’s side topped UEFA Group E with eight wins and no losses to qualify for the global showcase for the first time since 2007.
CommBank Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson was pleased to have secured a second complementary opponent for October.
“Having faced them in my early days with the team, we are all well aware of the quality of Denmark,” Gustavsson said. “Their quality is demonstrated in Denmark’s significant number of world-class players in the top teams and leagues.”
“In South Africa and Denmark, we have a chance to experience that difference in styles just days apart which will be our reality at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. As a team, it’s a great challenge in how we transition quickly in a tournament with only a short turnaround.”
This will be Denmark's only game of the October FIFA international window, with Head Coach Lars Søndergaard naming an experienced Red and White side.
Our game against Denmark will be shown live and exclusive to Paramount+.
Denmark v CommBank Matildas
Date: Tues, 11 October 2022 (local) / Wed, 12 October (AEDT)
Location: Viborg Stadium, Viborg, Denmark
Kick-Off: 6.00pm (local) / 3.00am (AEDT)
Broadcast: Paramount+