Australia’s Matildas will be looking to continue the strong form they showed against powers Sweden as they take on a bit of a bogey side in Thailand tonight.
Just days after their stunning 4-0 triumph over the world’s second-ranked side, the Aussies face a Thai group that has caused them trouble in recent years that belies their low ranking.
The Matildas are ranked 13th in the world and favoured to beat Thailand, ranked No.41, in Gosford.
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But while winning all three of their previous meetings the Matildas started slowly in each of them, twice taking almost the entire first half to score, and once level at halftime.
“We struggled to get it going in all those three games, so the challenge that we’ve given ourselves for tomorrow is, can we start off fast?” coach Tony Gustavsson said on Monday.
“I would love to see us flying from the beginning with that mindset we had against Sweden.
“What can tend to happen when you play a well-organised team like Thailand and there’s less space is that you stop running. We’re a running team and we need to run tomorrow.”
Matildas put four on Sweden! | 01:33
He called for the Matildas not to be “complacent” in their final game of the year.
Australia defeated Thailand 2-1 in the group stage at the Asia Cup in their most recent encounter.
The match gets underway at 7:30pm EDT and can be watched on 10 Bold and 10 Play.
Matildas XI: Micah (GK), Nevin, Polkinghorne, Vine, Catley, Foord, Gorry, Kerr (c), Grant, Cooney-Cross
Subs: Williams, Luik, Logarzo, Kellond-Knight, Van Egmond, Fowler, Crummer, Whyman, Wheeler, Chidiac, Sayer, McNamara
Follow Australia’s Matildas v Thailand in our live blog below!
