Destiny awaits Matildas in Paris

THE mammoth challenge awaiting the Matildas as they gun for Australia’s first football World Cup win will become clearer this weekend.

Australia will be plucked out of the hat in Paris tomorrow morning (our time), discovering their group stage opponents at the Women’s World Cup next year in France.

As a seed, the Matildas will avoid world champion United States, the host France, as well as powerhouses Germany, England and Canada.

But there are plenty of other challenges, such as European champion the Netherlands, Scandinavian giants Norway and Sweden, plus Brazil, all of which are able to take it up to Alen Stajcic’s side.

“It’s exciting but I actually genuinely don’t care who we get in our group,” Stajcic said.

“I know all the teams there, we’ve played against virtually all of them. They are all at a high level now, so it’s more just anticipation of seeing who we have to prepare against.”

The top two sides in each of the six groups, as well as four third-placed finishers, make it through to the last 16 in France, replicating the complicated format used at the 2016 European Championship.

Australia will finalise a base camp, travel and its match schedule leading up to the tournament in the days after the draw.

Chief among Stajcic’s concerns will be ensuring his squad of 23 can enter June’s 24-nation tournament in cherry ripe condition. That’s easier said than done, given that at the W-League’s conclusion in February, some players will pack up and head overseas for club stints, and others will take a break before France.

The Matildas have locked in one of several friendly matches in the lead-up to France. They play the US on April 4 in Commerce City, Colorado.

Stajcic said playing against the top-ranked nation in the world would offer his side a great preparation leading into the tournament.