Coach Joe Montemurro told his Australian team on Friday that they must change and be “smart” to win the Women’s Asian Cup for the first time since 2010 and avenge a double loss to Japan in the continental final.
The teams will battle it out for the title on Saturday at the Sydney Olympic Stadium in a replay of the 2014 and 2018 deciders, with Japan winning 1-0 both times.
Nils Nielsen’s world number 6 team go into the match looking invincible after going through the tournament with five wins and 28 goals to one.
In contrast, the natives of Australia have had to kneel down and fight hard.
Montemurro said “there are no favorites in the final”.
“It is the one who wants it the most and the one who is smart enough to control time,” he said.
