Why Brazil could be perfect opponents for the Matildas: De Vanna

Record goalscorer Lisa De Vanna insists history is on the Matildas' side as the players prepare to dig deep and launch their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

De Vanna has notched an all-time best 47 goals for the Green and Gold, and as Australia aim to deliver a response to Sunday evening’s heartbreaking late opening Group C defeat to Italy, she says that familiar foes Brazil might just be ideal opposition.  

The Matildas have won their last four head-to-head meetings with the South American giants, scoring a combined nine goals in dominant Tournament of Nations victories in 2017 (6-1) and 2018 (3-1).

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Australia also triumphed over the seven-time Copa America Femenina champions in friendly victories in September 2017 in Sydney (2-1) and Newcastle (3-2).

That rivalry will be renewed in Montpellier on Thursday (kick off 2am, Friday, 14 June AEST).

“Brazil’s always been our go-to game,” said De Vanna, who came on as a substitute in Sunday’s heartbreaking late defeat to Italy, meaning she has now appeared at four World Cups for Australia (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019). 

“I’ve always believed they’re a tournament team so it’s going to be a big, big game for us to play.

“Once we lick our wounds a little bit and get our heads together, we have to dig deep – and there’s no better team to play against that we’ve had history with than Brazil.”

The Seleção kicked off their France 2019 campaign with a 3-0 win over Jamaica in Grenoble on Sunday, with 34-year-old striker Cristiane breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record to become the oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick.

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World Cup France 2019™ – Group C – Australia Matches

Australia v Brazil
Date: Friday, 14 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Kick-off: 2.00am AEST (6.00pm local time, Thursday 13 June)

Jamaica v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Kick-off: 5.00am AEST (9.00pm local time, Tuesday 18 June)

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