In brief
- Australia and Japan are set to face off at the Women's Asian Cup final on Saturday.
- The Matildas say they're feeling "very prepared" for a tough game against Japan.
This Saturday, the Matildas will face Japan in the finals of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, vying for the championship at their home pitch in Sydney, but a senior player has admitted they'll need to improve.
Star defender Steph Catley, who made a stunning comeback for the semi-final against China on Tuesday after passing a concussion test, described Japan as a "great" team with a "technical" play style.
"But it's definitely not mission impossible [to win]", Catley told reporters on Thursday, describing the Matildas squad as highly athletic and potentially hard to chase.
"We've beaten Japan before. We have our own strength that I'm sure that they'll be looking at and they'll be worried about."
How strong is Japan?
On Wednesday, two-time Asian Cup winners Japan made it through to the final after sinking South Korea 4-1 in their semi-final in Sydney. Their form has been blistering, scoring 28 goals and conceding only one in the tournament.
The final on Saturday evening will also be the 31st game between Australia and Japan since 1984. During the Women's Asian Cup in 2018, Japan beat Australia 1-0 in the final.
Australians will also see a familiar face in Japan's team, as former Matildas player Leah Blayney is now serving as the team's assistant coach.
Speaking to SBS Japanese after the semi-final on Tuesday evening, Blayney said she's excited for the upcoming final.
"It's going to be a great showcase of football in Asia. A match between the Matildas and Japan. What a terrific occasion. I think we're all looking forward to it," she said.
Blayney has been working under Nils Nielsen, who has also coached Denmark and Switzerland.
Under his watch, Japan has launched a near-faultless campaign during the Asian Cup this year, netting 28 goals and conceding just one across five-straight wins.
How prepared are the Matildas?
Nielsen has also crossed paths with Australia's defensive midfielder Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler during his time as a technical director at Women's Super League giants Manchester City.
"Alanna, I know from Man City, and I just want the best for her because she's such a great girl," Nielsen said, adding that Fowler was his "absolute favourite player in the whole of world football".
Nielsen told SBS Japanese that for the final match on Saturday, the Matildas have a strength that Japan won't: the home fans.
"It's mainly the crowd, [which is] the whole thing about making the Asian competition something special," he said. "And the Australians have just done a really great job of it."
He also highly praised Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro, saying he has "a fantastic heart for the players".
Speaking of strategies against Japan, Catley said the team has had tactical meetings to discuss their plans.
She said the team would need to improve on possession of the ball in the upcoming game.
"We probably didn't protect the ball as well as we could have in the last game [against China], so it's definitely something we're looking to improve on," she said.
"We've been very prepared, but I'm sure it'll be a busy night on both ends and just a great game for everyone to watch."
How can I watch the Asian Cup final?
The Asian Cup final between the Matildas and Japan will be held at Stadium Australia in Sydney and kick off at 8pm AEDT.
If you can't get to the match in person, it will be broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+. You can also listen to coverage live via ABC Sport radio.
— This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Japanese, with additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
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