In brief
- Australia and Japan are set to face off at the Women’s Asian Cup final on Saturday.
- The Matildas say they’re feeling “very prepared” for a tough game against Japan.
This coming Saturday, the Matildas are set to clash with Japan in the grand finale of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, aiming for victory on their home turf in Sydney. However, a seasoned player has acknowledged that they must up their game.
Acclaimed defender Steph Catley, who made a remarkable return for the semi-final against China on Tuesday following a successful concussion test, praised Japan for their “great” team dynamics and “technical” style of play.
“Yet it’s by no means an impossible feat to win,” Catley shared with reporters on Thursday, emphasizing the Matildas’ athletic prowess and their ability to be a formidable force on the field.
“We’ve triumphed over Japan before. We possess strengths that I’m confident they’ll be wary of,” she added.
How strong is Japan?
On Wednesday, Japan, who are two-time Asian Cup champions, secured their spot in the final by defeating South Korea 4-1 in Sydney. Their performance has been exceptional, netting 28 goals and allowing just one throughout the tournament.
The showdown on Saturday evening marks the 31st encounter between Australia and Japan since 1984. Notably, in the 2018 Women’s Asian Cup, Japan edged out Australia with a 1-0 victory in the final.
Australians will also see a familiar face in Japan’s team, as former Matildas player Leah Blayney is now serving as the team’s assistant coach.
Speaking to SBS Japanese after the semi-final on Tuesday evening, Blayney said she’s excited for the upcoming final.
“It’s going to be a great showcase of football in Asia. A match between the Matildas and Japan. What a terrific occasion. I think we’re all looking forward to it,” she said.
Blayney has been working under Nils Nielsen, who has also coached Denmark and Switzerland.
Under his watch, Japan has launched a near-faultless campaign during the Asian Cup this year, netting 28 goals and conceding just one across five-straight wins.
How prepared are the Matildas?
Nielsen has also crossed paths with Australia’s defensive midfielder Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler during his time as a technical director at Women’s Super League giants Manchester City.
“Alanna, I know from Man City, and I just want the best for her because she’s such a great girl,” Nielsen said, adding that Fowler was his “absolute favourite player in the whole of world football”.
Nielsen told SBS Japanese that for the final match on Saturday, the Matildas have a strength that Japan won’t: the home fans.
“It’s mainly the crowd, [which is] the whole thing about making the Asian competition something special,” he said. “And the Australians have just done a really great job of it.”
He also highly praised Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro, saying he has “a fantastic heart for the players”.
Speaking of strategies against Japan, Catley said the team has had tactical meetings to discuss their plans.
She said the team would need to improve on possession of the ball in the upcoming game.
“We probably didn’t protect the ball as well as we could have in the last game [against China], so it’s definitely something we’re looking to improve on,” she said.
“We’ve been very prepared, but I’m sure it’ll be a busy night on both ends and just a great game for everyone to watch.”
How can I watch the Asian Cup final?
The Asian Cup final between the Matildas and Japan will be held at Stadium Australia in Sydney and kick off at 8pm AEDT.
If you can’t get to the match in person, it will be broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+. You can also listen to coverage live via ABC Sport radio.
— This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Japanese, with additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
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