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Spain 3-0 Jamaica
This is of course a double header on the Central Coast today. Earlier the world No 7 side Spain posted a convincing win over Jamaica ahead of their meeting with the Matildas on Sunday in Sydney. Maite Oroz opened the scoring for Spain after a deflected shot rebounded off the bar into her path, before Esther Gonzalez made it two before the break. Fiamma Benitez came off the bench to round off the win in the second half.
Here’s Tony G with some smooth talk ahead of kick-off.
While we’re awaiting kick-off in Gosford, in about 20 minutes, here’s my colleague Emma Kemp with some thoughts on the Cup of Nations, dress rehearsals and Mary Poppins:
Polks is talking to Channel 10 of her pride at breaking the appearance record tonight – to be clear, that includes men’s as well as women’s football. She’s asked how she avoids ageing, Benjamin Button-style.
“I feel like I am. I love what I do and playing in this team so it keeps me younger.
“We’ve always said this is going to be a rehearsal for the World Cup. It’s going to be a good part of our preparation.”
Good to see Mary Fowler in the starting XI tonight – she’s such a bright talent and always great to watch. The Manchester City player was labelled as The Next Big Thing™ not so long ago on these very pages. Have a read below:
Team news
Let’s dive straight in – there has been some speculation over whether Sam Kerr would play tonight, but fear not, the talismanic striker is on Australia’s starting XI. So too is Claire Polkinghorne, who sets an incredible new record tonight as she becomes Australia’s most capped national team player with 152 to her name. She captains the side tonight. In comes Mackenzie Arnold for goalkeeper Lydia Williams, while Aivi Luik gets the nod to start. Caitlin Foord misses out with a quad strain.
And the Czech line-up for you:
Preamble
Mike Hytner
Hello. The countdown to the big kick-off is well and truly on! By my reckoning there are just 154 days to go before Australia meet Ireland at Stadium Australia (after New Zealand have opened the tournament against Norway at Eden Park) and the Matildas begin their highly anticipated 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign.
Up first though is the small matter of a Cup of Nations, at which the Matildas will be able to test themselves in “tournament mode” and get a bead on how ready they are for a major title tilt. Tonight’s opponents, world No 28 Czech Republic, may not have qualified for the tournament in July and August, but will still provide an opportunity for Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson to tick off some boxes as he enters the final stages of his World Cup preparation.
Gustavsson is keen to treat tonight’s match, and the two which follow against No 7-ranked Spain and fellow World Cup finalists Jamaica, as a “dress rehearsal” for the main event. “That’s what it’s about now: training for tournaments,” he said on Tuesday. “Three unique opponents with very different tactical preparation, and being able to do that in a short turn-around.”
The Czechs and the other protagonists in this four-team mini-tournament have apparently been hand picked for this tournament, to give a realistic impression of what the Matildas’ World Cup group will offer (it contains Ireland, Canada and Nigeria). Karel Rada’s team have enjoyed some excellent results of late, including a couple of goalless draws against top opposition – the top-ranked US at last year’s She Believes Cup and European champions England in a friendly in October.
The glorious Central Coast Stadium is the venue for tonight’s game. It’s a balmy evening in Gosford, with the mercury tipping 25C at the moment. Do feel free to get in touch with an email (mike.hytner@theguardian.com) or on Twitter (@mike_hytner). Otherwise, strap yourselves in for a fun evening ahead.
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