CHINESE STRIKE FORCE TO WATCH
MATILDAS star Clare Polkinghorne says Australia is preparing for a fierce attack in tomorrow’s clash with China at GMHBA Stadium.
The Chinese are blessed with a final third bursting with pace and technical ability and Polkinghorne is aware the Australians will have their hands full.
China has brought across four strikers — Jin Kun (Jiangsu), Tang Jiali (Shanghai), Song Duan (Dalian), Wang Shanshan (Tianjin) — and they are sure to pose a threat in the final game of the series.
Shanshan is the most lethal of the four, having already netted seven times already in 2017.
“We have highlighted a couple of their strikers, they are world-class strikers and they like to score goals and make life very difficult for us. They are going to be two key players we are going to have to manage,” Polkinghorne said.
“They are a typical Asian football team, where they are very technical and quite sharp and quick.
“They are going to be a handful for us and we need to make sure we are on our game.”
It’s the first time Polkinghorne has travelled to Gee- long and she is looking forward to giving the region the Matildas experience.
“We’ve played out in Ballarat last year and the support we got from Ballarat was awesome. Hopefully we can get the same reaction from Geelong,” she said.
The co-captain said Geelong would get a look into the future with the Matildas squad boasting a number of highclass rising stars.
The 28-year-old, one of the more senior players in the squad, said she enjoyed bringing the next generation of women’s footballers through the national team.
“The group of players we have at the moment have been together for a long time now. We are starting to grow and mature as a group,” Polkinghorne said.
“Our performances on the pitch have shown how much we have grown as a group and how far we have come.
“It’s extremely important to get international matches against good opposition (into our young players).
“As an older player, it’s your responsibility to put those younger players under your wing and provide guidance if they need it. That’s my role. If they need any help, then they know they can come to me and hopefully I can help them out.”