• Co-hosts Australia face Denmark at Stadium Australia on Monday

• Matildas' confidence sky-high after stunning win over Canada

• Mackenzie Arnold and Clare Polkinghorne speak to FIFA

Australia produced an exceptional all-round performance in their do-or-die clash with Canada to emphatically book their spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ round of 16.

The co-hosts overwhelmed the reigning Olympic champions to record a 4-0 success and set up a last-16 showdown with Denmark at Stadium Australia. The Matildas faced the Danes as recently as October 2022, with Tony Gustavsson’s side coming from behind to record a 3-1 success in a friendly international.

Monday’s contest is of dramatically greater significance, of course, with a place in the quarter-finals of the biggest Women’s World Cup of all time at stake. Ahead of the game, FIFA caught up with Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and defender Clare Polkinghorne to learn about how the Matildas are shaping up...

Polkinghorne: It was one of my proudest moments since being part of this team. When you consider what was on the line, the pressure we were under and the way we performed, it's definitely up there as one of my best nights in the jersey.

Arnold: It was unreal. Coming off the back of the Nigeria game and the disappointment surrounding that game, we really wanted to put that behind us and have a new mindset. I feel we did that. Getting a clean sheet and scoring four goals against the Olympic champions has given us lot of confidence, which we'll need heading into the Denmark game.

Polkinghorne: As a group, we were very calm after the Nigeria game. I think there was a lot of panic and pressure from outside but inside we knew what we needed to do. We trusted what we'd done leading into the tournament. It was a very mature performance from us against Canada.

Arnold: Personally, I reviewed the Nigeria game with my goalkeeping coach. We went through it, picked out the good and the bad, and put that to bed as soon as we could so I could focus on Canada. It was important for me to play my role and do what I had to do in that game to get us the clean sheet and the win. Thankfully, I was able to do that.

Arnold: Barely! We had a couple of days off to let it sink in and be happy with the result and performance, but now we're back to focusing on Denmark. 

Polkinghorne: It's the round of 16 so you're going to come up against tough teams. We played them not long ago, so we have some experience there. Obviously, it was a little while ago, so things have changed, but we've got a good idea of what we'll be up against and I've no doubt we'll be ready. We're in a good spot. We're definitely a confident team at the moment.

Arnold: They're quite a possession-based team. They like to keep the ball. They've got Pernille Harder up front, who is a world-class striker. It was always difficult coming up against her in the WSL [Women’s Super League] as well, so it's nothing I'm unfamiliar with and it's definitely something I'm looking forward to.

Polkinghorne: It's awesome we've been able to see these players on our soil. What they've all been able to do for the game has been incredible. They're players we've all looked up to and we've loved playing against. They're ultimate competitors. For me, personally, playing against Marta is something I'll always hold dear. She's a legend.

Arnold: It's a bit crazy to think about that. Throughout my whole career, they have been icons of the game. That they're playing in their last World Cups on our home soil is a little bit surreal. It's amazing to see what they've done for the game. To have those icons who are inspirations for the younger generation has been really important for the sport.