The Westfield Matildas kick off their Olympic Games qualifiers tonight and we’ve got all you need to know ahead of the clash with host nation Japan.
Who: Westfield Matildas v Japan, Olympic Games qualifiers
When: Monday, 29 February
Where: Kincho Stadium, Osaka
TV Broadcast: LIVE nationally on 7mate
Kick-off: 7:35pm local time (9:35pm AEDT)
Weather: 12 degrees, overcast with chance of showers
Twitter: #AFCWOQ #RoadToRio #GoMatildas
Last three meetings against Japan: (0 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses)
What they need to do: A top-two finish at the six nation round-robin tournament will book the Westfield Matildas spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Matildas prime for Olympic qualfying assault
What they said: “To give football another footstep in the mainstream of the Australian public and media we really need to qualify and show off our assets on a world stage and a mainstream stage like the Olympics. We want to be on that stage,” – coach Alen Stajcic.
Westfield Matildas Squad: Lydia Williams, Ashleigh Sykes, Caitlin Cooper, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Chloe Logarzo, Steph Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna, Casey Dumont, Tameka Butt, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Gielnik, Michelle Heyman, Kyah Simon, Mackenzie Arnold, Katrina Gorry, Ellie Carpenter.