Japan v Australia: SheBelieves Cup women's football international
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Japan: Ayaka Yamashita (gk), Saki Kumagai, Hikaru Kitagawa, Moeka Minami, Hana Takahashi, Toko Koga, Yui Hasegawa (capt), Fuka Nagano, Aoba Fujino, Maika Hamano, Mina Tanaka.
The No 8-ranked Japan match the Matildas in naming a strong lineup with goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita and skipper Yui Hasegawa familiar to Australia's Mary Fowler with all regular starters for Manchester City. Share
Interim coach Tom Sermanni tells Paramount+ that he wants the Matildas to make a fast start in both this match and across the tournament. He adds that Mary Fowler has been looking 'very good' which is understating how red-hot the Australia attacker's form as been. The 22-year-old has six goals and six assists for Manchester City in the WSL this season, as well as a brace in the League Cup and two goals in the Champions League.
Fowler has three goals and four assists in just her last four WSL games but can she carry that form into the SheBelieves Cup and take command of the Matildas side missing star striker Sam Kerr. — CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) February 20, 2025 Share
The Matildas will be the first of Australia's teams to wear the new kit with a striking green and gold chevron designed by First Nations artist Reko Rennie. The Socceroos will take their turn in a World Cup qualifier in March.
On first look, is it a yay or nay? Share
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley (capt), Tameka Yallop, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso.
The Matildas show their intent with a familiar, near-full-strength starting lineup. Many of the younger players that interim coach Tom Sermanni has blooded during his third tenure are in the camp and can be expected to get their opportunities over the three matches of the SheBelieves Cup. Share Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the women's international friendly between the Matildas and Japan. This is the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup, an annual invitational tournament held in the Unites States and featuring four teams including the hosts and this year also Colombia. This is the first time that Australia and the South Americans have been invited to the tournament, while Japan are back for a fifth time.
With four high-quality sides playing three matches each across six days it promises to be a whirlwind event and the ideal launching pad for Australia to start their year. While Matildas will seek to win the tournament, they will also be out to build momentum heading towards the Women's Asian Cup on home soil especially after a rollercoaster 2024 that ended with more lows than highs. This most important match of the series for the Matildas is arguably today's against the No 8-ranked Japan which will be among the leading contenders at the Asian Cup in little more than a year.
Kick-off time in Houston is 4pm local / 9am AEDT. I'll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news.
To share any comments, queries, ideas or predictions just shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social and X @martinpegan. Let's get into it! Share
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