3 minute read

A look at the final friendly match for Ante Milicic's Matildas ahead of their World Cup campaign.

NETHERLANDS v AUSTRALIA:

International women's friendly

Phillips Stadion, Eindhoven

Saturday June 1, 6:15pm kickoff local (Sunday June 2, 2:15am AEST)

AUSTRALIA:

Australia head to France believing they can contend and this test will go some way to showing if they are the real deal. With an interrupted preparation, a win will demonstrate they mean business. Anything less will show work to do.

Coach: Ante Milicic

Captain: Sam Kerr

Ranking: 6

Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2007, 2011, 2015)

Key player: Alanna Kennedy. Kerr might take the headlines but, in a team packed with attacking talent, Kennedy is the key as the fulcrum of the Matildas' defence.

NETHERLANDS:

The Netherlands shocked by winning the European Championships in 2017. They loom as a dark horse in France. In Lieke Martins and Vivianne Miedema, they have strikers worthy of any nation.

Coach: Sarina Wiegman

Captain: Sari van Veenendaal

World ranking: 8

Best World Cup finish: Round of 16 (2015)

Key player: Lieke Martins. Named the world's best player two years ago, Martins has played in five countries and scored goals in all of them.

HEAD TO HEAD:

Overall: 6 matches - Australia 3 wins, Netherlands 1 win, 2 draws

Last meeting: Australia 3-2 Netherlands, 2017 Algarve Cup, Portugal.