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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Joey Lynch

After another win over a top-five team can the Matildas really win the World Cup?

The Matildas. ‘It is clear that as a collective, functioning unit, this is a better team than the one that Tony Gustavsson rolled out at the start of his tenure.’
The Matildas. ‘It is clear that as a collective, functioning unit, this is a better team than the one that Tony Gustavsson rolled out at the start of his tenure.’ Photograph: Future Publishing/Getty Images

After defeating France 1-0 on Friday, the next time the Matildas take the field will be in front of 80,000 people at Stadium Australia for the first game of their 2023 Women’s World Cup against the Republic of Ireland. With another win over a European powerhouse under their belt, the question now is: can the Matildas actually win the tournament?

The answer is yes, potentially.Are they now favourites? No. As two-time defending champions, the United States have earned that honour. European teams such as England, Germany, France and Spain are all fearsome contenders. Importantly though, the notion of a Australian triumph on home soil has evolved to the point where it cannot be considered beyond the realms of possibility.

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