MATILDAS co-captain Lisa De Vanna has expressed renewed confidence in her side ahead of their imminent trek to Rio, saying the current crop of Matildas are the strongest she has played alongside since first taking to the international pitch in 2004, despite their recent result against Newcastle’s youth development side.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The squad who arrived for their week-long training session in Ballarat on Monday were emphatic in the Olympic qualification in Japan earlier this year, defeating North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam and the host nation to earn their spot in Brazil.
And after a recent headline-grabbing loss to the Jets’ under-15 side, De Vanna said Australia’s premier women would be better off for playing the speedy young male outfit.
“They were pretty quick and tactically and physically much stronger than us, but it was what we needed,” De Vanna said. “We need to come to a point where we’re prepared for when we do play teams that are quick or might be a bit stronger than us, so it was a good hit-out for us.
“We know our philosophy and our game plan and the way coach (Alen Stajcic) wants us to play, it’s just about shaping that when we get together.”
The squad will be hard at work at Morshead Park over the next week, fine-tuning their game ahead of their first friendly against New Zealand, to take place on Saturday afternoon. The two sides will then meet again three days later as part of a double-header with Greece and the Socceroos.
While the Australians will go into the friendlies with a winning record, they will face an in-form Football Ferns outfit keen to impress ahead of their own Olympic campaign.
De Vanna said the Matildas were confident despite the Ferns’ recent improvements.
“I’ve been around the side for a very long time and for me this is where the team is at its best,” De Vanna said. “If we execute our game plan I’m pretty confident.”