Americans looming for Aussies

THE world champions are heading for Australia, ready to renew their rivalry with the Matildas.

As Ante Milicic’s side prepares to face China tonight on the road to the Olympics, the US women’s national team has locked in three games against the Matildas, with two of them to be played on Australian soil next year.

The US team, including stars Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe, will first take on Australia in April in Utah, in what is hoped will be an Olympic preparation game for both sides, before travelling here for a double-header in November next year.

After winning the World Cup last July, the US have already booked their place at the Olympics and are bidding to become the first team in history to win a gold medal while also being world champions.

The games against the Americans add to a series of high-profile fixtures lined up for the green and gold, travelling to Vancouver to take on Canada in April four days after facing the US, and then hosting the Canadian side — ranked eighth in the world — for two games later this year.