The Matildas are being urged to play their own game and not be distracted by the status of their opponents when they meet world No 1 United States in a pre-World Cup international friendly in Colorado later this week.
Fresh from a successful Cup of Nations campaign on home soil, coach Ante Milicic’s next test – his biggest in the job to date – comes against the three-times world champions at high altitude.
Milicic was parachuted in following Alen Stajcic’s dismissal and has set about making his mark on the team, while being careful not to upset the natural instincts of a team currently ranked sixth in the world and hopeful of a deep run at the World Cup in France.
Goalkeeper Lydia Williams said the trust Milicic has placed in the playing group and their existing qualities has been an important factor as the new era has got under way to an encouraging start.
“The work that Ante [Milicic] and the staff have put in is just fantastic every time we come into camp,” Williams said on Wednesday after completing training with a full compliment of players for the first time since arriving in the US.
“He is just really confident in the way that we play and how we can play and he wants to build that. No matter what team we come up against, he wants to always impart the style and the belief we have in each other and as Australia as a country.
“Every time that we come into camp we are really positive and he wants us to take risks and be confident in how we can play so that is always exciting.”
It makes for a mouthwatering match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday (AEDT), home ground of MLS side Colorado Rapids, where a sell-out local crowd is tipped to turn out.
The US, led by Jill Ellis, are a force to be reckoned with, despite a recent run of results that has seen them held by both England and Japan, and Australia midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight believes such a test on the eve of a World Cup will be “really important” for the Matildas.
“Playing against the world No 1 is a really big occasion and we [the team] have spoken a little bit about presence and being ready to compete against America,” Kellond-Knight said.
“It’s vital in our preparation. We’ve only got a few games left together as a team. This game, especially being against the best team in the world, you couldn’t really ask for better preparation, especially playing them on home soil.”
The game against the US is the only one scheduled before the Matildas head to their training base in Turkey, from where they will fine-tune preparations for the tournament in France.
“We’re building on our success at the Cup of Nations, we really enjoyed playing there,” Williams said. “This is definitely another good test for us. It’s just building on that momentum leading into our next phases.”
