Westfield Matildas ‘buzzing’ ahead of Asian Cup in Jordan

Emily van Egmond says the Westfield Matildas are relishing their first trip to the Middle East and insists the team’s focus is squarely centred on winning the Asian Cup for a second time.

Alen Stajcic’s side have arrived in Jordan for the continental tournament and trained for the first in Amman on Monday.

The Matildas, ranked sixth in the world, will start as one of the favourites for the title but van Egmond is adamant Australia can’t look too far ahead.

“It is exciting. That’s the main goal – obviously to win the Asian Cup, van Egmond told FFA TV.

“Obviously our first game is against South Korea is a big one. That’s the only goal at the moment we’re looking forward to.

“We’re here to focus on our first game against South Korea, I think that’s the big one.

“Every game we’ll approach as a do-or-die and hopefully at the end of the tournament we’ll come out with some silverware.”

Westfield Matildas Jordan Training
Emily van Egmond trains in Jordan with the Matildas

Australia are pitted in a difficult Group B alongside traditional rivals Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.  

While the Matildas will be favored to progress to the Semi-Finals as one of the top two in the group, van Egmond believes their first match against Korea looms as the most important.

“A difficult game,” van Egmond said when asked about the expectations of facing Korea.

“There’s no easy beats here. Women’s football is definitely on the rise and there’s no easy competitor here.

“That’s exactly why we’re just focusing on South Korea.”