Roar Guru
Australia’s Matildas will take on Germany in a match that is enormously important for Australia’s hopes of progressing beyond the groups stage. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game, starting from 7am (AEST).
Germany will look to bounce back from a disappointing 4th place at the World Cup last year, while Australia will want to build on an impressive World cup showing where they were beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Japan.
The previous history between these two sides has not been kind to Australia however neither side has faced one another in recent years. Going on recent form however, Germany will be a tough side to beat for the Australian squad.
Germany will be led by all-time leading goal scorer in Women’s UEFA Champions league Anja Mittag, who despite all of her talents last helped Germany to a world title in 2007. Australia will hope goal keeper Lydia Williams can show some of her form in that we say the qualifiers, conceding just two goals in four games.
The Matildas badly need a win after losing their opening match to Canada 0-2. That has left them in doubt of progressing beyond the groups stage, but a win here over the favoured German side would immediately put them back into finals calculations.
Should they lose however the task of making it into the quarter-finals will become all the harder. Even a draw would give them something of a fighting chance.
Can Australia bounce back from their devastating loss to Canada? Or will the Germans put an end to Australia’s Olympics campaign at the group stages?
Prediction
Unfortunately for the Matildas, the strong German side look to be the likely winners.
Germany 2-1
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game, starting from 7am (AEST).