To see the Matildas in training at Sydney yesterday...

The Matildas entertain Canada at the SFS on Friday night before jetting off to Vietnam for the prestigious tournament.

The coach saw his team fight back time after time after time in both their recent defeats against the USA and he is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “Our first aim is to get to the semi-finals. Then it can often depend on the draw that you get.

"We’ll either get China or North Korea. Obviously when we get there we’ll be hopeful of getting to the final. And anything can happen in finals.

“I just think they’re focused on playing for Australia. I think that was highlighted in the US. We went there with not a great deal of preparation and kept coming back into the game against the number one team in the world.

"That really highlights what this team’s about, their character and commitment to playing for each Australia and for each other.”

Before the challenges in Vietnam, there is the small matter of trying to beat Canada on Friday. Sermanni isn’t yet sure of his line-up. Certain players have European club commitments while there are one or two knocks as well.

The coach is looking forward to the occasion though. He said: “It’s a fantastic game for us, particularly with the rematch of the World Cup game, playing before the Socceroos and in a great stadium at home. There are many, many plusses for Friday night.

“We’re just waiting to get our squad together and waiting on a few injuries. I’m not quite sure what we’ll be doing on Friday night. It might be a bit of a mix and match team for Friday night.”

Youth might well get its chance with both defender Ellyse Perry and striker Kyah Simon in the shake up for a start.

Sermanni said: “We’ve three 16-year-olds here who are hopefully our next generation of Matildas.

“I’m hoping we get an opportunity to put some of our younger players in the team against Canand but that might depend on the flow of the game.

“Kyah Simon is a tremendous prospect. She has a superb game awareness, she’s strong and quick and like most Australians, takes no prisoners and doesn’t get fazed by whoever she’s playing against.”

To see the Matildas in training at Sydney yesterday...