Matildas reveal biggest threat they’ll have to deal with from Ireland in World Cup opener

The Matildas are ready to go toe-to-toe with Ireland in the physicality stakes when required in their Women’s World Cup opener.

Ireland’s build-up to the tournament has been overshadowed by an abandoned friendly against Colombia.

The Irish, a physical team in their own right, pulled the pin 23 minutes into the game after a challenge on Denise O’Sullivan resulted in the star midfielder being sent to hospital with a shin injury.

‘In terms of what happened the other night, obviously that impacts the Irish team and for us, that obviously doesn’t necessarily impact our preparation,’ Matildas defender Clare Hunt said.

‘It’s terrible that a game has to be abandoned for those reasons.

Alanna Kennedy is bracing herself for a physical 90 minutes when the Matildas tackle Ireland in their World Cup opener on Thursday in Sydney

Kennedy (pictured right) declared her team are ‘technically and tactically sound’ as they work to ‘nullify’ Ireland’s aggression

‘But in terms of the Irish physicality, they’ve always had it and they always will and I think that we are preparing in that same way and we know that that is a strength of theirs and we’re just working to nullify that in any way that we can.

‘We’re obviously also a very transitional and physical team, so I think it will be a good battle.’

Fellow centre-back Alanna Kennedy is prepared for a tough contest.

‘We are not only a tough team, but we are also technically and tactically sound as well,’ she said.

‘So it’s a combination of all those things and just playing smart football, whether it’s physical or whether it’s tactical, whatever it is.

‘So we’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us.’

O’Sullivan has been cleared of a fracture but there is clearly some doubt over her involvement in Thursday night’s opener at Accor Stadium.

‘I hope she’s OK because obviously you don’t want to see any players injured at the moment, especially right before the start of the World Cup,’ Kennedy said.

‘Obviously she’s a big player for them.

‘But for us, I guess whether she plays or whether someone else replaces her in there, it doesn’t change anything for us and our game plan will stay the same.’

Alanna Kennedy will be a key figure at Stadium Australia, where a crowd of at least 70,000 has been predicted

The Irish are sweating on the fitness of star midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who was injured in their warm-up match against Colombia, which was abandoned

Australia also won’t read into their 3-2 loss to Ireland in Sam Kerr’s 100th game in Dublin in September 2021.

‘We’re all at our peak at the moment,’ Kennedy said.

‘At the time (we were) coming off a major tournament and bringing in new players, playing a different style of play as well – just a completely different moment in time back then.

‘Obviously we’re a much more consistent team as a collective at the moment, which is what we want to be heading into the biggest tournament yet.’

Charli Grant (illness) didn’t train with the main group on Monday, nor did Tameka Yallop (knee) while Kyah Simon is on her own program.