Poletti 
The starting five players for the ParaMatildas prior to their group stage game against the USA. Photo: Mark Avellino/Football Australia
The two teams who met in the inaugural IFCPF Women’s World Cup Final in 2022 will once again meet up to play for the trophy in 2024, which was won by the USA 4-2 after extra time.
With Australia sealing its spot following wins in their first three games, several teams were still in contention for the second spot heading into the final group stage games, which the USA sealed with a thumping 12-0 win over Japan.
That win put the USA temporarily back on top of the group, before Australia played and defeated Denmark on Tuesday morning (AEDT), winning 9-0.
Tahlia Blanshard, who was part of that 2022 squad, said that this was something the side had been working towards since the whistle blew in that game.
“It’s been our focus, just wanting to get back into that final,” Blanshard said.
“To know that we’re going to be back, back against the US, we’re all so excited.”
Part of the reflection process for Blanshard looking back on the 2022 World Cup included just how new the team was.
The ParaMatildas were officially launched as a team in March 2022, less than two months before the World Cup, following a talent identification camp in 2019, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing delays.
“Sometimes it is just wild to think back and remember that we’d only existed as a team for just a few weeks before going to that last World Cup,” Blanshard said.
“To now be going into this with having so many camps, the Asian Cup, all of that behind us, it’s amazing to see the progress that has been made.
“I’m really proud of the girls. Everything just seems to be falling into place and we just can’t wait.”
Coach Kelly Stirton, who has coached the side from the beginning, said that it means a lot to be back in the final and the whole side has been waiting for this moment, but that it was more important for her that the side shows they have created something special.
“Look [at] what we’ve come from in 2022 and if we take it home this time, and even if we don’t, I think Australia can see what we’ve achieved and be pretty proud of the girls,” she said.
The coach said that while the thought of going into the final undefeated was a scary prospect, she thinks the side has got things covered, and is happy with how they have performed.
Stirton also said coming in that she thought a potential final was going to be against either the USA or Ireland, with the latter being an unknown coming into the tournament, but was excited by a grudge match against the Americans, identifying fitness as a key factor.
“I think they’re a very physical team [and] they’re super smart as well, so we can’t be complacent,” she said.
“We’ve got to show them the respect on the pitch, but we’ve got to step up as well.
“It all comes down to fitness in the end and we need to make sure that we’re playing smart football so we can and if we do go into extra time we’re there and we’re competing right to the end.”
The IFCPF World Cup between the ParaMatildas and the USA kicks off at 12:30am AEDT Wednesday Morning, and can be viewed on the Football Australia YouTube channel.