CommBank Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson said that he “can’t wait” to play against France after Les Bleus were announced as his team’s opponent for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 send-off game on Friday, 14 July in Melbourne.
After the announcement of the game against England in April, France will be the ninth opponent in the current top 10 that the CommBank Matildas have faced in Gustavsson’s tenure.
“It’s massive. I can’t thank the federation enough for understanding how important preparation is,” he said.
“We know, historically, that we have struggled against European opposition and top-ranked opposition in tournaments. To be able to practice that and get that preparation is massive for us.”
France presents some unique challenges that mean that they are an ideal opponent on the eve of the World Cup.
“France is going to throw a lot of challenges at us. With their pace, with their technique, with their physicality,” Gustavsson explained.
“It was also perfect for us because they’re on the other side of the bracket at the World Cup draw, so we can’t face them until a potential final. It means we can get top opposition that have traits that other teams have, on our side of the bracket.”
It will be the second time that the CommBank Matildas have played in Melbourne with Gustavsson at the helm. After experiencing what the crowd was like after his side’s 4-0 victory over Sweden late last year, he is excited to return.
“I still think about that game when we played against Sweden. How loud the fans were, how supportive they were,” he recalled.
“This is, for me, a perfect send-off game to get that taste of what is coming just a few days later when the World Cup kicks off.”
Gustavsson highlighted the importance of exposing the players to the atmosphere that the World Cup will bring before the tournament proper kicks off.
“The importance of the match is starting that football festival and show what we’re about,” he said.
“Doing it in Melbourne as well, where people get behind the players, the players can connect with the fans, and we can send some messages about what it’s going to be like for Canada when they play down there [at game three of the World Cup].
“It’s going to be loud, we’re going to be behind the players, we do this together. Feeling that taste of what the World Cup will be like – and I don’t even just think it’s a taste of it, I think it’s going to be like an informal start of the actual World Cup right there, right then.
“I can’t wait to play that game.”
He had one simple message to Victorians and all Australians – come out and send the team off with a bang.
“Connect to these amazing players. They need and deserve all of the support that they can get so be loud, be really, really freaking loud!” he exclaimed.
“We play a high octane, pressing game; an aggressive, attacking game, and to have the twelfth players in the stand connecting with the players on the park - when we are pressing and winning that ball in a tackle when we score that goal, they are a massive part of that.
“They’re on the field with us.”
CommBank Matildas v France
Date: Friday, 14 July 2023
Venue: Marvel Stadium
Kick-Off: 7:30 pm AEST
Broadcast: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Football Account pre-sale: 9:00 am AEDT on Wednesday, 15 March 2023
General Public on-sale: 9:00 am AEDT on Friday, 17 March 2023
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au