Westfield Matildas to play France in Saint-Etienne

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed that the Westfield Matildas will venture to France next month to play an international friendly match in Saint-Etienne.

Alen Stajcic’s side will meet Corinne Diacre’s France team on October 5 (local time).

Les Blues are currently ranked third in the world according to the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, while the Westfield Matildas are eighth.

Westfield Matildas Head Coach, Alen Stajcic, said that the fixture in France will help Australia to benchmark itself against one of the world’s top female football teams ahead of next year’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in the same nation.

“France have probably been the best women’s football team over the past decade, with excellent individuals and an enterprising style of play,” said Stajcic. “It will be great to once again test ourselves against a world super power on their home soil.”

“Aside from the match, the time that we spend in France will help the team to familiarise themselves with the type of conditions that they will encounter at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup,” he said.

FFA will announce further matches for the Westfield Matildas – to be played both home and abroad – shortly.

Matildas