Matildas to learn about opponents

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 ( AEDT), discovering their group stage opponents at the Women’s World Cup next year in France. As a seed, the Matildas will avoid world champions United States, the hosts, as well as powerhouses Germany, England and Canada.

But there are plenty of other challenges like European champions Netherlands, Scandinavian giants Norway and Sweden, plus Brazil able to take it up to Alen Stajcic’s side.

“They are all at a high level now, so it’s really more just anticipation of seeing who we have to prepare against,” Stajcic said.