The Matildas have a quarter-final battle with Nadeshiko of Japan after the reigning world champion defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in its round of 16 match last night.
A goal in each half booked Japan’s place in the last eight to set up the encounter with the Matildas at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton 6.00 am AEST, Sunday 28 June.
The rivalry between the two Asian heavyweights is set to be one of the most watched matches in SBS television coverage with the Matildas hoping to go one better than the last time the two sides met in the Asian Cup final, which saw Japan defeat Australia 1-0.
This shapes as a chance to do what no other Australian senior football team has done before: make it to the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Head Coach Alen Stajcic, who watched Japan overcome a tenacious Netherlands, was upbeat about his team’s next encounter.
“We can beat Japan, but it’s going to be an incredibly tough match,” Stajcic said.
“Their passing and movement off the ball is probably the best of any team at the World Cup, so we’ve got a big assignment on our hands – the current world champions are a very good team.”
Japan has had a relatively easy run to the quarter-finals, defeating Cameroon, Switzerland and Ecuador and this may be beneficial as the business end of the tournament approaches.
“We’ve grown a lot…on and off the field, and it just gives us great belief that we can match it with the world champions and if we play to our potential we can certainly beat them this time around,” said Stajcic.
After the interview with Matildas star Sam Kerr, it seems that matches against heavyweights USA, Sweden and Brazil may have taken their toll, but Stajcic disagrees.
“I think the biggest thing we’ve learnt is the belief we have in the team, I think if we play to our potential we can match it with the world champions.”
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