In a crucial pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup warm-up match, the Westfield Matildas will take on the Netherlands in Eindhoven in June.
A clash against the world’s eighth-ranked nation – who are also off to the tournament in France – is just the sort of fixture Ante Milicic’s squad will want prior to starting their World Cup campaign.
CONFIRMED: Westfield Matildas to face the Netherlands in Eindhoven
HOW TO WATCH: The Westfield Matildas v the Netherlands
This won’t be the first time these two nations have met, with the Westfield Matildas taking on the Netherlands on six previous occasions.
While the first meeting came way back in 1997, the most recent was just two years ago at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.
Ahead of the meeting at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, we look back at the three most recent meetings between the two sides.
Algarve Cup in 2017 – Westfield Matildas 3-2 Netherlands
In the most recent meeting between the two nations, Australia had to absorb a frantic late fightback from the Dutch to preserve the victory.
The Westfield Matildas assumed control of the contest from the outset, with Emily Gielnik scoring twice in the first 31 minutes, including one directly from a corner.
Australia’s first-half dominance got even further reward in the final minute as Alanna Kennedy’s thumping header sent them to the break 3-0 up.
Sam Kerr, Katrina Gorry, Caitlin Foord and Lisa De Vanna all had chances to extend the lead in the second half before the Netherlands mounted their comeback in the last 15 minutes.
Two goals in four minutes from Vivianne Miedema and Sherida Spitse got the score back to 3-2 and it took a couple of sensational saves from Lydia Williams late on to ensure Australia held on to their lead.
Cyprus Cup in 2015 – Westfield Matildas 1-0 Netherlands
This is a match that will live long in the memory for young attacker Larissa Crummer.
After coming on as a second-half substitute, the then 19-year-old Queenslander scored the only goal of the game 17 minutes from time to clinch the victory.
After an even first hour of play, coach Alen Stajcic introduced Crummer and she went on to score her first international goal soon after.
It came after Lisa De Vanna slid a superb through ball to the young striker, who snuck her shot in at the far post.
“She has been doing really well in camps and probably the only thing missing so far has been that execution in the final third of the field so it’s great for her to come on and score her first international goal and for it to be the winner makes it all the more special,” Stajcic said at the time.
Cyprus Cup in 2014 – Westfield Matildas 2-2 Netherlands
Australia were forced to produce a spirited second-half comeback to salvage a draw in this clash at GSZ Larnaca.
In the opening group game at the tournament, the Dutch caught the Westfield Matildas cold and took a deserved 2-0 lead to the break.
And it was an inspired double substitution at the start of the second half which sparked the fightback.
Katrina Gorry and Michelle Heyman both came off the bench to score goals within five minutes of each other to see the Westfield Matildas claim a share of the spoils.
It was Gorry’s clinical one-touch finish from a Steph Catley assist in the 54th minute which swung the momentum of the match.
The, just before the hour mark, Sam Kerr made the most of some time and space in midfield, playing a clever diagonal ball over the top of the defence, with Heyman sneaking in behind and superbly chipping the keeper.
