Matildas’ sights set firmly on silverware

FRIENDLY wins are great, says Matildas star Emily Van Egmond, but the next big challenge for the Australian women is to win silverware.

It has been a watershed year for Alen Stajcic’s team, highlighted by its stunning Tournament of Nations success against world powers the US, Japan and Brazil.

That forms part of a sixgame winning streak for the Matildas, including Wednesday’s 3-0 trouncing of China at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

And while there is a second game of the Chinese series in Geelong on Sunday, looming large on the horizon is April’s Asian Cup in Jordan and, the following year, the women’s World Cup in France.

Asian Cup matches double as World Cup qualifiers, with the top five teams advancing to France, but Van Egmond says the star-studded Matildas need to aim higher than simply booking a World Cup ticket.

“If you go and win a tournament like that against powerhouses like Japan, then it sets a mark,” Van Egmond said.

“China, South Korea, they’re all coming up through the ranks. So if you can make a statement in that then I think it puts you in good stead for the World Cup.”

While the recent run has been fulfilling, Van Egmond says the Matildas want more.

“The success we’ve had ... has been really good but we still haven’t done anything in a major tournament,” she said.

“That’s OK, but we want to win that silverware and I think that’s our next big challenge.”