The Matildas will return to Australia in front of a sell-out crowd at Pepper Stadium in Penrith for the first of their two match series against Brazil.
The side is on a high after defeating Brazil 6-1 to claim the Tournament of Nations trophy in the US in early August.
Matildas star and incumbent Western Sydney Wanderers W-League captain Caitlin Cooper said it would be amazing to play at home.
“Nothing compares to playing in front of your family and friends and people who have been supporting us for a long time now,” Cooper said.
“It just shows we can go on to beat anyone in the world on any given day as long as we’re performing well. We just want to take that into these games against Brazil, do it in front of a home crowd and show Australia what the Matildas are really made of.”
Australia will have a tougher time against the Brazilians this time with the woman known as ‘the Pele of women’s soccer’ Marta returning to the line up for the visitors.
In winning the Tournament of Nations, the Matildas also defeated the US for the first time.
Matildas coach Alen Stajcic said the Matildas are proving they can compete with the best teams in the world.
“Over the past two to three years, we’ve shown that we can compete and beat some of the best teams in the world on one-off occasions but there haven’t been many occasions that we’ve been able to win two or three games in a row,” he said.
“It’s a good boost to our confidence knowing we can do that and something we can take with us over the next two to three years.”
The Matildas will play Brazil with matches at Pepper Stadium in Penrith on Saturday, September 16 at 3pm and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Tuesday, September 19 at 7.30pm.
GIVEAWAY
The Hawkesbury Gazette has a family pass (two adults, two children), valued at $40, to the sold out match between the Matildas and Brazil at Pepper Stadium on Saturday, September 16.
To enter, please e-mail 25 words or less on why you love the Matildas to conor.hickey@fairfaxmedia.com.au before 10am on Friday, September 8.
Please include your full name, address, phone number and email address and the subject heading ‘Hawkesbury Gazette Matildas Giveaway’.
The tickets will be sent electronically to the winners.