Matildas to play two international friendlies in Victoria in December

The Matildas are coming to Victoria after all.

Eyebrows were raised earlier this year when it was revealed that the sports mad state (home to their official training base) had been “snubbed” from the 2026 Asian Women’s Cup, but now the dates have been locked in for a special two-match series in December.

Matildas will take on Chinese Taipei in the series, with the first game to be played at AAMI Park on December 4.

For the second friendly, the Matildas will make a rare visit to GMHBA Stadium (the home of AFL powerhouse Geelong). It is the first time they’ve played there since 2017.

News Corp reports that the Matildas squad to feature in the friendlies is expected to boast some big names, including Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley.

Catley, who has replaced the injured Sam Kerr as captain, is originally from Melbourne.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said: “The Matildas captured our hearts and we cannot wait to welcome them back to Victoria, giving more people the chance to see their heroes play in their own backyard.’’

It is great news for Victorian fans after the Asian Women’s Cup “snub” (that event has been scheduled for Sydney, Perth and Brisbane).

Victorian fans have shown they can’t get enough of Australia’s favourite football team, with over 50,000 cramming into Marvel Stadium for the thrilling victory over France in July last year, and more than 54,000 turning up to the same venue in February this year to watch the Olympic qualifier against Uzbekistan.

Football Australia still hasn’t found a replacement for coach Tony Gustavsson, who was sacked in the aftermath of the disappointing Paris Games.

Football Australia has said Matildas players, including injured captain Sam Kerr, will be consulted before they make the new appointment.

“We need the players involved. That’s important,” FA chief executive James Johnson told AAP last month.

“The players don’t make the decisions. We make the decisions.

“But I think the more we can understand the players’ perspective of what went well and what didn’t go well, what they want to maintain, what they don’t (the better), and then it’s for us to decide how much of that is relevant.”

The Matildas will return to action against world No.4 Germany at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg on October 28 (local time).

Germany beat the Matildas 3-0 in Australia’s group-stage exit at the Paris Olympics.

Football Australia said it was prepared to appoint an interim coach for that encounter.

- With AAP