FOOTBALL: The Australian women’s football team will take on fellow Olympic qualifiers New Zealand on June 7 in their final match on Australian shores ahead of their return to Olympic competition for the first time since the Athens 2004 Games.

With the majority of the overseas based players coming back for the match against New Zealand, Head Coach Alen Stajcic is excited about facing their trans-Tasman rivals less than two months out from the Rio Games where Australia will face Canada, Germany and Zimbabwe in the Group Stage.

“We’re delighted that we have been able to lock in a match against New Zealand in the FIFA dates,” said Stajcic.

“It will be one of the only chances we have to get most of the overseas players back here and together before the Rio Games so it will be a really important game for us.

“I’m sure the players will be really looking forward to playing in front of our home fans, something we haven’t done since before the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year.”

The Australian side qualified for Rio after going through the Olympic qualifiers undefeated with wins over Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Vietnam confirming their spot at the Games before a final match draw with China.

The results helped the side move up to fifth in the FIFA world rankings, their highest ever position. 

FFA and olympics.com.au