Matildas co-captain Lisa De Vanna is delighted to be playing a Matildas home game in Melbourne.
The news came on Tuesday morning as it was announced a double header will be played when the Socceroos lock horns with Greece in a friendly at Etihad Stadium on 7 June. The Matildas will play New Zealand as a curtain-raiser and farewell as they jet off to Brazil in preparation for the Olympics in July.
De Vanna says playing in the “capital of sport” in front of a healthy crowd will be an ideal send-off for Alen Stajcic’s gold-chasing team and will help promote the women’s game.
Alen Stajcic: Matildas gunning for Olympic gold
“To have a double header, two world class teams, it’s going to be amazing. The fact it’s been a long time for the Matildas to play a double header here in Melbourne – the capital of sport. It’s going to be fantastic,” De Vanna said.
“To have fans and family see us on TV and see where we’re at, we left a great mark in Japan and qualifying. The support we had was fantastic, that’s what we want. We want the game to grow and not just football, but women’s sport in general.
“For myself I’ve been there and done that, but for a lot of the girls it (a big crowd) is excitement. It’s something they’ve never experienced before, besides the World Cup or a qualifier.
“This is a different level when you have your home fans chanting. It’s a motivation to go out and perform, it’s going to be exciting and I just can’t wait.
“To come to Melbourne, have friends and family back us up. It’s just a mentality and belief we go to Rio knowing we have all this support back home, which is a great motivation which is what I want to do.”
After progressing through the Asian Olympic qualifying stage undefeated, the Matildas were pitted against Canada, Germany and Zimbabwe for the Rio games. Australia is not favourite to take home gold, but that is not detracting from De Vanna and the team’s golden goal.
“France, US and Germany are probably the top contenders. Other than that, if we go out and play the style of football that we can, I don’t think we have any threat because we enough belief in ourselves, because we can play some good football.
“I’m happy we’re actually getting results, go onto a field and look at my team mates saying ‘you know what? We’ve got that belief and confidence we can take it’. I’ve always dreamt of that day and the fact that Staj has come in and put that belief into the team, that culture and hearts that you go put on the jersey and go out there and perform, you’re going to get results.”
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