EXCLUSIVE: The Matildas will play South Korea in the Peace Queen Cup final on Saturday night with the clash being shown on ABC TV.
Broadcast at 10pm (EST) from the Suwon World Cup stadium, the broadcast forms part of ABC’s coverage of women’s football with the W-League returning in a couple of weeks.
And ABC will this season feature presenter Stephanie Brantz as part of the W- League coverage.
As for the Matildas, a 3-1 victory over Mexico and a 1-0 win over Chinese Taipei has set up Saturday’s Peace Queen Cup final showdown.
They face Korea after all their potential opposition in the other group drew 0-0 in their matches and the finalist to meet the Matildas had to be chosen by drawing lots.
Goals haven't been an issue for the Australian women though.
Striker and FourFourTwo magazine columnist Kate Gill has starred for the green and gold with two goals in Korea while Sally Shipard scored a contender for goal of the tournament with a 40m rocket against the Mexicans.
The game offers Australia’s women a chance for a second trophy this year after the Matildas won the Asian Cup in May.
The resurgent Matildas are also using the Peace Queen Cup as preparation for next June’s World Cup in Germany.
And it’s to Europe where they head straight after Saturday night’s clash to play a one-off friendly match against Germany, the world number two ranked nation, in Wolfsburg on October 28.
After that, the home based players will return to Australia for the commencement of the W-League.
Recuperating Matildas striker Sarah Walsh says Australia’s form in South Korea shows the growing depth in the Australian ranks.
“We’ve gone to South Korea without myself, Lisa De Vanna and Heather Garriock yet look how well we’ve done," she said.
"[Coach] Tommy Sermanni will have a tough job picking the squad for the World Cup with so many good young players coming through.”
Walsh was on hand today to help launch a sponsorship agreement by the FFA and PFA with Open Universities Australia (OUA). It aims to increase continuing higher education opportunities for footballers.
The partnership supports the My Football Career program, a joint FFA/PFA initiative designed to assist professional footballers to become proactive life and career managers.
As part of the two year sponsorship, OUA will provide 10 scholarships to professional footballers competing in the A-League, W-League, National Youth League (NYL) or other international leagues.
Walsh said her involvement with OUA would assist her to juggle her football commitments in Australia with Sydney FC and internationally with the Matildas and Boston Breakers in the US Women’s Professional Soccer League.
“With the amount of time I spend playing football for the Matildas, locally and professionally overseas, it is very difficult for me to complete any kind of traditional study," she said.
"OUA enables me to study online and gives me the flexibility I need to pursue both passions at the same time.
“I am honoured to be representing OUA as ambassador and look forward to sharing the benefits online education provides for all professional footballers and their support teams.”
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