Football Federation Australia (FFA) has confirmed that the Westfield Matildas will play the Netherlands in their final international friendly match ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
The Westfield Matildas will meet the world’s eighth-ranked side at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven on Saturday, 1 June 2019 after completing their pre-Women’s World Cup preparations in Antalya, Turkey.
Australia and the Netherlands have played six international matches in the past, with the first meeting coming in August 1997 and the last fixture being played at the Algarve Cup in March 2017.
Like Australia, the Netherlands – who are the current European Women’s Champions – have qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
Sarina Wiegman’s side will contest Group E in France where they have been drawn alongside Canada, Cameroon, and New Zealand.
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Westfield Matildas Head Coach Ante Milicic believes the game against the Oranjevrouwen (‘Orange Women’) will provide another great test for his team ahead of their first game of the Women’s World Cup against Italy in Valenciennes on June 9.
“We believe that this match against the Netherlands will come at a perfect time for our team,” Milicic said.
“We will have completed our ten-day training camp in Turkey where the focus will be on embedding our style of play and tactical principles.
“With this match against a strong opponent coming a week before our first game in France, we will be able to get a good gauge of what aspects of our approach need to be fine-tuned prior to the start of the Women’s World Cup.”
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Australian football has several connections with the Philips Stadium, the home of Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven, with numerous Australian professionals having called the Eindhoven venue home over the years.
Caltex Socceroos defenders Trent Sainsbury and Aziz Behich are currently contracted to the Dutch club, who are coached by former Socceroos Assistant Coach Mark van Bommel. Meanwhile, former Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina played with the red and whites between 2005 and 2009.
The Westfield Matildas’ match against the Netherlands from the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven will be broadcast live in Australia on FOX SPORTS.
Upcoming Match | Westfield Matildas
Netherlands vs. Westfield Matildas (International Friendly)
Date: Saturday, 1 June 2019
Venue: Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Kick-off: 6.15pm (local) – 2.15am (Sunday, 2 June 2019)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS
