Only two days to go to get your Tilly on for the Olympics…time to get game ready!
The CommBank Matildas take on current World number 4 Germany in their first Olympics 2024 match in Group B at 3 am on Friday, July 26, AEST at Stade de Marseille, before facing the United States and Zambia.
Out of this pool of four, the top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals; the two overall-best third-placed teams from the broader pool will also continue to play in the Olympic tournament.
Women’s football was introduced to the Olympic Games for the 1996 tournament where only the top eight teams from the 1995 World Cup qualified – Australia had finished 12th and missed out. However, as host nation in Sydney in 2000, the Matildas automatically qualified and did so again in 2004 as winner of the Oceania tournament.
Photo credit: Matildas.com.au
After a 12-year absence, Australia returned to the Games at Rio in 2016, qualifying for the knockout stage before coming up against Brazil in the quarterfinals the hosts triumphing 7-6 on penalties after a scoreless match.
Who can forget the Tillies’ incredible run in last year’s World Cup on home soil where the girls garnered the weight of the nation on their backs to reach the semifinals, only to go down to eventual runner-up England?
Let’s take it all the way this time…you have the support of the nation to see you through!
As we prepare for the game, why not get in the spirit with these four German recipes to try at home; after all this is what could be fuelling the opposition:
Kransky sausage is actually a delicious Slovenian creation that has been modified by German cooks from the original very fatty recipe and extremely popular as a filling for hot dogs, smothered with sauerkraut, currywurst sauce, cheddar cheese and mustard. Try this amazing hot dog recipe from Chef, restaurateur and TV personality, Ben O’Donoghue who has worked at some of the UK’s most notable restaurants, including the River Café with Jamie Oliver.
This dish is based on the forever-popular German meal of chicken in paprika-spiced cream and can be served with spatzle, potatoes or spirelli pasta for a hearty Winter dinner. For spice shortcuts, use Gewurzhaus Bavarian roast chicken spice.
Unlike mayonnaise-based American potato salads, German potato salad is tossed in a vinegar-based dressing made with bacon dripping and is usually served warm instead of cold or at room temperature. This recipe is the ideal side for any meal with the addition of bacon and hard-boiled eggs for extra texture and protein.
This is a traditional German dessert, which is easier to make than it seems, filled with sweet, spiced apples and raisins in a flaky crust that everyone will love as the perfect end to dinner on a cold, Winter’s night.
Let’s go Tillies…
