Matildas imagine France pleasant at Docklands is the right lead into Ladies’s World Cup match

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson believes pleasant opponents France have given Australia a serving to hand forward of the Ladies’s World Cup.

The Matildas tackle the world quantity 5 at a sold-out Docklands Stadium tonight at 7:30pm AEST.

Herve Renard’s expenses just lately beat Canada and Eire, offering Australia with a powerful blueprint for find out how to tackle two of their three group-stage opponents.

In addition to offering invaluable analysis materials, France can even pose a terrific take a look at on the sector.

“We did not know they had been going to play Canada and Eire,” Gustavsson mentioned.

“That was an excellent bonus for us.

“We received a whole lot of good footage of France however extra so about our group-stage opponents. We have checked out a whole lot of video.

“Relating to why we’re enjoying France, it is a part of the larger plan that we have prepped for, for years — that means we have to play prime opposition, European opposition, and ensure that we measure ourselves in opposition to these prime groups.

“France is likely one of the few (prime) groups that we have not performed beneath my tenure. So I am actually completely happy to get the possibility to try this as nicely.”

Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter performs her membership soccer at Lyon alongside a number of of France’s squad.

“(It is) extra-special for me, I get to play in opposition to a few of my teammates who I do know very nicely,” she mentioned.

“I am excited to see them and I can not anticipate the battle.”

France coach Renard, who was in control of Saudi Arabia’s males’s group ultimately yr’s World Cup in Qatar, is trying ahead to enjoying the hosts in entrance of greater than 50,000 followers in Melbourne.

“It is a excellent context to start out this World Cup,” he mentioned.

“If the stadium is full, it is a good (preparation).

“We all know it is going to be a really troublesome sport however it’s excellent for us.

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“We’ve got to be prepared to start out very nicely and to play an excellent World Cup in Australia.

“Tomorrow it is going to be one other stage in opposition to one of many favourites of this Ladies’s World Cup.”

France are cautious of the Australians too however Renard mentioned his aspect would stay targeted on their very own efficiency

“They improved lots. They’ve a coach with large expertise, particularly with ladies’s soccer. So it is thrilling,” Renard mentioned of the Matildas.

“We all know (Sam Kerr is) an excellent striker. She did very nicely additionally at Chelsea. After all she’s the chief of this group.

“(However) we’re pondering of ourselves first.”

Be a part of Samantha Lewis at abc.web.au/sport tonight as ABC Sport stay blogs Australia’s bought out warm-up conflict with France in Melbourne

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