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This is the first major international tournament the two teams have participated in since last year’s World Cup. The 2023 event was a resounding success for Australia with the Matildas becoming household names as well as reaching the semi-finals. For Germany, however, it was a failure after not getting out of the group for the first time ever.
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But this is a new tournament and anything could happen. The stars of Germany will be looking to prove a point, while Australia will want to continue their good form.
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Both teams have been hit with injuries. The Matildas are without talismanic captain Sam Kerr after she ruptured her ACL back in January and Tameka Yallop has withdrawn from game one with injury. Germany, meanwhile, are without star defender Lena Oberdorf because of a knee injury.
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So who are in the matchday line-ups? The team news will drop shortly so stay tuned ahead of kick-off in an hour.
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Key events
The players are out on the pitch, the anthems are in flow and kick-off will shortly follow. It is hard to even call a favourite in this one so we know it’s going to be a great one.
The last time the two teams met at an Olympic games in the women’s football event was in 2016. That day the result was a 2-2 tie.
The Olympic opening ceremony is tomorrow and it usually has a few famous faces involved. Have a read of this to see who is rumoured to show:
I’d love to hear from you and where you are watching from. Have you had a nap and got up just to watch? Or are you reading the blog on the way home from work? You can email me (sarah.rendell.casual@theguardian.co.uk) or message me on X (@rendellx).
Germany are returning to the Olympics for the first time in women’s football since 2016. They failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
There has been some controversy at the Olympics, particularly surrounding New Zealand’s match against Canada. Canada have apologised for sending a drone over New Zealand’s training. They are currently playing one another with the score 1-1. Read more about the story:
There had been some question marks over the fitness of Australia’s captain Steph Catley but she confirmed she was okay in a press conference yesterday and she is starting the match.
And she added on the prospective of winning a medal at the Olympics: “It would be incredible. This team has gone through a lot, been together for many, many years, we’ve come close to having some pretty amazing results. It’s definitely something that we want to achieve.
“But so does every single team in this tournament. Every single team in this tournament is incredible – the Olympics is really, really tough. Not to be clichéd but it really is one game at a time for us. We dream big always – every tournament we go into, we go into to win, to achieve the absolute most we can. But it’s risky to start to think like that, we just need to focus on Germany and how we can beat them.”
The team news is in. Germany has named a glittering starting XI, including captain Alexandra Popp who scored in every game she played in Euro 2022.
Germany: Berger, Linder, Hendrich, Hegering, Minge, Schuller, Nusken, Popp, Gwinn, Brand, Buhl
The starting 1️⃣1️⃣ to kick off the Olympic Games 👊🔥#DFB #GermanFootball #GermanWNT #TeamD #RoadtoParis #GERAUS
📸 DFB/DOSB/Sofieke van Bilsen pic.twitter.com/7ixScHpYQf
— German Football (@DFB_Team_EN) July 25, 2024
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Australia, meanwhile, have their own star-studded starting line-up. The team includes Caitlin Foord, who had been an injury doubt in the build-up until the final training sessison.
Australia: Arnold, Vine, Corry, Catley, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Fowler, Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Raso
STARTING XI 🗒
Here's how we line up for our opening game of #Paris2024 👊
⏰: 3:00am AEST
📺💻📱: Channel 9, 9Now & Stan Sport#Matildas #TilitsDone #AllezAUS #Olympics pic.twitter.com/NnPAFG2jnR
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 25, 2024
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to Germany v Australia on day one of the women’s football Olympic event.
This is the first major international tournament the two teams have participated in since last year’s World Cup. The 2023 event was a resounding success for Australia with the Matildas becoming household names as well as reaching the semi-finals. For Germany, however, it was a failure after not getting out of the group for the first time ever.
But this is a new tournament and anything could happen. The stars of Germany will be looking to prove a point, while Australia will want to continue their good form.
Both teams have been hit with injuries. The Matildas are without talismanic captain Sam Kerr after she ruptured her ACL back in January and Tameka Yallop has withdrawn from game one with injury. Germany, meanwhile, are without star defender Lena Oberdorf because of a knee injury.
So who are in the matchday line-ups? The team news will drop shortly so stay tuned ahead of kick-off in an hour.