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When do the Matildas play, Women’s football competition, full Australia schedule, news, preview, Mary Fowler, start times, groups,

When do the Matildas play, Women’s football competition, full Australia schedule, news, preview, Mary Fowler, start times, groups,

The world number 12 Matildas are dreaming of a first-ever Olympics medal as they take to the field in France this fortnight – but they’ve got to escape a brutal group first.

Australia’s four-team group includes the world number five USA, who have won gold four times and are tipped to contend again under the new tutelage of former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

There’s also world number four Germany, who have also previously won gold, and world number 64 Zambia who boast a striker, Barbra Banda, in incredible form.

Banda made history when scoring back-to-back hat-tricks in the last Olympics in Tokyo. Banda, just 24, then captained the Copper Queens to their first-ever Women’s World Cup win in a 3-1 group stage victory last year over Costa Rica in Australia. She has scored 12 goals in 12 games in the NWSL (in the USA) this season for Orlando Pride – and her attacking threat means the Matildas can’t overlook the African side.

The Matildas – or the men’s Olyroos team – have never managed a medal, though the Matildas secured-best ever fourth-place finishes in both Tokyo 2020 and last year’s Women’s World Cup on home soil.

The Matildas are missing captain and all-time leading scorer Sam Kerr due to a torn ACL, while there are minor injury concerns about the likes of Caitlin Foord, captain Steph Catley and defender Kaitlyn Torpey, as well as Alanna Kennedy and Katrina Gorry. All of those either missed a pre-Olympics warm-up friendly against Canada or were battling with niggles during the match.

One Team USA legend claims the absence of Sam Kerr could prove too hard to overcome in their bid for a first medal.

But Matildas star Mary Fowler told Foxsports.com.au in March that the Matildas ‘have what it takes’ to seal a podium result.

She said: “I do believe that we have what it takes to finish on the stage. I think we’ve shown that in the last couple tournaments.

“I think it’s just pushing on through that last little bit of a tournament now. And now that it’s happened to us twice where we finish fourth, I don’t think we’re going to let that happen again.”

The Matildas training at State Roger Couderc in Marseille ahead of their opening game.  Pic: Michael Klein
The Matildas training at State Roger Couderc in Marseille ahead of their opening game. Pic: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

Crucially, a last-minute rule change means teams can now use their four reserve players in addition to their usual 18-player squad. Previously, a player had to be ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to injury in order to be replaced by a reserve player. Now, the Olympics will allow players to be ruled out for just one game due to injury but subsequently return for later games – meaning reserves can come in and out to help the team with a packed schedule.

The format for the women’s football competition at the Olympics is a 12-team tournament split into three groups of four. Each team plays each opponent in their group once.

The top two teams progress to the quarterfinals, as do the two best third-placed teams.

If the Matildas can make it out of a tough group, there’s no shortage of tough teams still to overcome. That includes reigning world champions and Olympic favorites Spain, world number two France, world number seven Japan and world number eight Canada who claimed gold in Tokyo.

Here’s all the fixtures for the Matildas!

FULL PARIS SCHEDULE: Every event with AEST times and when the top Aussie medal hopes are in action

EVERY AUSSIE: Who is representing us in each sport and our medal hopes

PREVIEW: Boomers’ weapon to blow open group of death; Giddey’s NBA reminder

Focus already shifting to Brisbane 2032 | 00:39

THE GROUPS

Group A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand

Group B: United States, Zambia, Germany, Australia

Group C: Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil

MATILDAS GROUP FIXTURES (AEST)

Friday July 26, 3am: Germany vs Australia – Marseille Stadium

Monday July 29, 3am: Australia vs Zambia – Lyon Stadium

Thursday August 1, 3am Australia vs USA – Marseille Stadium

POTENTIAL KNOCKOUT FIXTURES

Quarter-Finals: Saturday August 3 11:00pm, or Sunday August 4 at 1am, 3am, or 5am.

Semi-Finals: Tuesday August 7, 2am or 5am.

Bronze Medal Match: Friday August 9, 11:00pm

Gold Medal Match: Sunday August 11, 1:00am. Parc des Princes, Paris.

MATILDA’S SQUAD

Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Cortnee Vine

Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond (vice-captain), Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop

Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (captain), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah

Reserves: Lydia Williams, Courtney Nevin, Charlotte Grant, Sharn Freier