Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson previews Australia's World Cup opponents in his own words:

* IRELAND

"Ireland are proven in the qualifiers and the reason why they in the World Cup now is because they're extremely well organised. And they are very physical. They do not hesitate to go into one-on-one duels. They are very strong and attacking set plays, including the long throw. They have one of the longest throws in the world on the women's side. And then (Katie) McCabe who plays with (Matildas) Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord at Arsenal. She has an amazing left foot."

* NIGERIA

"Pace and power is the headline. The pace and power that they have is just impressive. They have some impressive athletes. And what they have improved over the last couple of years is that they're more organised now than before. They had individual qualities and have had for years but now they're also more well organised. And they're really dangerous on the breaks, on the transitions. They're quick and technical should be added to that."

* CANADA

"Canada we all know are the Olympic champions. They base their whole game on being one of the toughest teams in the world to score goals (against). Very defensively solid, brutally effective on transition and the breaks. They scored two goals like that against us last time we played them. And then they have some world-class individual players as well. I mean, (Christine) Sinclair, one of the best forwards in the world over a decade."

MATILDAS' GROUP STAGE WORLD CUP MATCHES

July 20 - Australia v Ireland - Sydney

July 27 - Australia v Nigeria - Brisbane

July 31 - Australia v Canada - Melbourne