The message is clear within the Young Matildas squad; The job is not done after Australia qualified for the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup by reaching the semi-finals of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup.
Australia – boasting a squad made up of 22 Liberty A-League-based players – defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in their final group-stage fixture in Uzbekistan on Saturday.
Melbourne Victory’s Jessika Nash, Zara Kruger of Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets defender Claudio Cicco were on target for the Young Matildas, who finished top of Group A with three wins from three games.
As a result, the Young Matildas will not only face either Japan, China or South Korea in Wednesday’s semi-final, but they are guaranteed of their fifth World Cup appearance.
The World Cup will take place between August and September in Colombia later this year.
“It’s honestly a dream come true to be heading to Colombia with such an incredible group and staff,” Nash told Football Australia post-game.
“This campaign has really captured and embodied what this team stands for. What we say is that it’s done yet. We still have a semi-final and hopefully a final to play.”
Nash, who has made 13 appearances for high-flying Victory in the Liberty A-League this season, added: “Yes we’ve qualified for a World Cup but the job isn’t done yet.
“Our goal was to come and qualify, we’ve done that. But it was also a goal of ours to win this Asian Cup which we’re more than capable of.
“Heading towards Wednesday, we’re going to stick to our tactics and focus on us because we know once we step onto the pitch and exemplify what we’ve been trying to do, we will get the job done.”
Featured image: Football Australia
