Just six months out from the 2023 Women's World Cup, the Matildas are putting their finishing touches on the squad, systems, and styles they expect to play come July 20 where they will face the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and Nigeria in the group stage.
Their first stop of this "dress rehearsal" couldn't have gone much better, thumping Czechia 4-0 at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Thursday night thanks to a brace from Hayley Raso and a goal apiece from Sam Kerr and record-breaking captain for the night, Clare Polkinghorne.
Raso's two goals early in the second half helped settle Australia's nerves after the Czechs had failed to convert a trio of gilt-edged chances in the first.
Tony Gustavsson's side ironed out their defensive vulnerabilities in the second half and Sam Kerr and Clare Polkinghorne, who became the Matildas' most-capped player of all time in her 152nd game, joined Raso on the scoresheet.
Polkinghorne looked assured at the back in her milestone game and the Matildas began in promising fashion with Kerr and Raso both probing the Czech defence.
But just as Australia were beginning to threaten, Czechia sparked into life.
If it wasn't for goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who was starting her first Matildas game in over a year, Australia could have found themselves 3-0 down.
Gustavasson has spoken of this tournament being a dress rehearsal for the World Cup but when the Czechs took a stranglehold — albeit brief — his side looked vulnerable.
Thankfully for the Swede his side were able to weather the storm and then snatch a lead through Raso just after half-time.
Kerr found her teammate in space on the right side of the box in the 48th minute and Raso finished, a cruel deflection helping the ball bobble past Czech goalkeeper Olivie Lukasova and into the back of the net.
Raso's strike jolted Australia into life and they attacked with purpose, with Kerr particularly menacing as she left the Czech defence chasing their tail.
A Steph Catley corner was their reward and it was an opportunity they didn't waste.
Western Sydney defender Clare Hunt, who was making her senior debut, headed Catley's in-swinger back towards the goalmouth where Raso was able to poke home for her second of the night.
Even after Gustavsson made a treble substitution, the Matildas continued their charge, with Kerr scoring in the 70th minute after some energetic play from substitute Alex Chidiac.
Polkinghorne then capped her historic night by scoring off a deflection from a corner with less than 10 minutes left.
Australia play world number 7 Spain, who beat Jamaica earlier on Thursday, in Parramatta on Sunday in a game which is likely to decide the winner of the tournament.
Take a look at how the match unfolded in our liveblog below.
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Live updates
Final thoughts
By Samantha Lewis
Well, as expected, this was a game all about shaking off the cobwebs.
The Matildas started the first half well, settling on the ball early, but struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities going forward.
Czechia were impressive defensively for the first 45 minutes, barely allowing Sam Kerr a glimpse of goal, while forming a solid red-and-blue wall that kept the Matildas to shots from distance or hopeful long set-pieces.
Going into the break at 0-0, the vibe was that a change was necessary, particularly in midfield where Australia were lacking some energy and creativity.
They came out a different team in the second half, particularly Manchester City Hayley Raso, who scored a quick brace to give Australia a bit more breathing-room, before Sam Kerr and Clare Polkinghorne added the third and fourth in what was a much more dominant 45 minutes.
Tony Gustavsson spoke in the build-up about the importance of game management, and this was a good opportunity for the team to assess, adjust, and adapt to a game where they had the upper-hand for most of the time, but couldn't capitalise.
The next big test comes against Spain this Sunday; a very different kind of game where Australia won't expect to have as much ball dominance as they did tonight, making the opportunities they do create all the more important to convert.
I'll see you all then!
94' Whoops
By Samantha Lewis
A Czechia player got absolutely clattered in the face by a clearance from her own player, with the referee immediately blowing her whistle and signalling for help.
They've brought the stretcher out to carry her off as added time ticks over.
A fitting end to what was a bit of a capitulation by the Czechs, in the end.
92' Raso still at it
By Samantha Lewis
The winger picks up a nice little pass from Cooney-Cross just inside the D and lets it rip through a scrambling defender, but Czechia's goalkeeper gets down just in time to put her torso behind it.
Only a few minutes left - who takes our your Player of the Match, blog-watchers?
And the final crowd figure is...
By Samantha Lewis
Shout-out to the 7,702 people who showed up to Gosford on a Thursday night for this game! They've certainly got their money's worth in this second half!
83' GOAL AUSTRALIA!!!
By Samantha Lewis
AND IT'S THE RECORD-BREAKER CLARE POLKINGHORNE!
On the occasion of her 152nd appearance for Australia - now the outright leader in the history of the Matildas - the veteran centre-back scores the most unlikely Polkinghorne goal by deftly clipping home a corner kick; the types she usually buries with her head.
What a lovely, understated little finish. Quite like her career, really.
4-0.
We love some sass on the blog, Mike
By Samantha Lewis
Oh dear, don't tell Sam! It was supposed to be a compliment on her prolific scoring this year. :)
- Mike
More of it, I say!
75' Larissa Crummer almost has a fourth
By Samantha Lewis
The Brisbane Roar striker makes a lovely run in behind the shoulder of her defender, controlling a perfect through-ball from Kyra Cooney-Cross and taking a step towards the six-yard line, but she panics and clips the ball just over the crossbar.
Commenter Mike with the SAM KERR SASS!
By Samantha Lewis
Sam Kerr hasn't seen a lot of active play lately, mostly just standing around waiting for restarts from her goals.
- Mike
69' GOAL AUSTRALIA!
By Samantha Lewis
And it's Sam Kerr!!!
The striker finally gets her goal, but this was a move that was all about Alex Chidiac.
The substitute made an immediate impact, starting the series of passes from midfield out to the right side, with the ball returning right to her feet near the top of the box. The Racing Louisville midfielder then put her laces through it, low and hard into a sea of Czech legs, with the deflection spinning off right into the path of Kerr, who tapped it home near the back post.
Talk about game-changers, eh?
3-0.
65' You get a sub! And you get a sub!
By Samantha Lewis
Both Czecia and Australia are making three substitutions each just past the hour-mark.
The Czechs bring on Denisa Vesela, Andrea Staskova, and Kristyna Ruzickova, while the Matildas bring on Alex Chidiac, Emily Van Egmond, and Larissa Crummer in place of Cortnee Vine, Mary Fowler, and Katrina Gorry.
63' Czechia player is down
By Samantha Lewis
Simona Necidova seems to have done something to her wrist, falling into the turf and clutching her arm to her torso as the Matildas try to break away.
But the referee whistles play dead and the physios come out to check on her, walking her slowly off the field.
It looks like three substitutes are being prepared from the visitors' bench, too.
What's the go with Hayley Ras-o?
By Samantha Lewis
The pocket-rocket winger has been one of the Matildas' best players tonight, not only thanks to her two goals, but also due to her work-rate off the ball. She's been tracking back whenever she loses possession, creating width to pull Czecia's defenders apart, and has been keeping tempo high when on the ball.
She's playing like she has a point to prove - which, in some ways, she does. Raso hasn't been playing much for Manchester CIty recently, used primarily as a late-game substitute or in a Cup competition every now and then.
Tony Gustavsson said earlier this week that players who aren't playing many minutes for their clubs are a concern: he wants his squad as match-fit as possible coming into the World Cup this July, with several Matildas coming into camp having played more minutes for Australia than in their leagues over the past few months.
Raso is clearly using this Cup of Nations to remind him that she's still a weapon, even if Gareth Taylor might not be using her in England.
Who else do you reckon falls into this bracket? Mary Fowler comes to mind...
54' GOAL AUSTRALIA!
By Samantha Lewis
And it's a Hayley Raso brace!
Steph Catley's corner curls towards a tangle of yellow shirts at the back post before being headed back across goal. Raso leaps up first, beating her defender in the air and guiding the spinning ball into the top corner.
2-0!
51' Czechs almost equalise!
By Samantha Lewis
A galloping run down the right sees a beautiful ball clipped in behind the Matildas' back-tracking defensive line, with Czechia's centre-forward making a bee-line for the front post, but Hunt stands strong and just muscles her away from the trajectory of the ball. Even Mackenzie Arnold threw herself to the ground, thinking it'd connect. Very close.
Looks like that half-time team talk paid off!
By Samantha Lewis
CZ crushing many AU opportunities as they mark up very tightly in mid-field, many AU passes out of the back line or in mid-field play are to AU players who are immediately under pressure. So half time talk could be about how to create some space...
- Stop Moving the Goalposts
47' GOAL AUSTRALIA!
By Samantha Lewis
And it's a Hayley Raso classic!
After Sam Kerr picked up the ball in midfield and charged towards Czechia's centre-backs, Raso pulled wide to create some space and pointed in behind her opposing defender to where she wanted the pass.
Kerr laid it on a platter for the Manchester City winger, with Raso taking a steadying touch before drilling the ball low towards the goal, spinning off the leg of a Czech defender and slamming into the net.
1-0!
Second half kick-off!
By Samantha Lewis
And the Matildas have made a change, but not where we expected!
23-year-old Clare Hunt has just earned her first cap for Australia, coming in to replace Aivi Luik at centre-back alongside Polkinghorne.
What a moment for the youngster, who's been on the radar of Gustavsson and the Matildas staff for some time, but whose career has been hampered by a number of injuries over the last few years.
Congrats, Clare!
HALF-TIME: 0-0
By Samantha Lewis
Well, there were no added minutes to that first half, which surprised all of us in the media box!
The final play of the opening 45 was a free kick for the Matildas, with Catley curling in a lovely ball from the right side to try and find the head of Sam Kerr, but Czechia's excellent defenders head it away once again.
It's been an interesting half: the stats show that even though Australia have had almost double the amount of possession, things have been a little more even where it counts. The Matildas have had seven shots, but just one on target, while the Czechs are 4 and 3.
As Tony Gustavsson often says: games are won and lost inside the 18-yard box. Neither team has won or lost it, yet.
What changes need to be made at the half-time break, do you reckon? Who can Australia turn to on the bench to shake things up?
ABC/AAP
