Logarzo: Asian Cup is massive

Matildas midfielder Chloe Logarzo says Australia isn’t just satisfied with qualifying for the World Cup but lifting silverware.

With the Asian Cup doubling as World Cup qualifiers, Australia only need to be part of the top five teams out of the eight competitors in Jordan to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in France.

While the scenario seems straight forward, the Matildas have been drawn in the toughest of the two groups featuring Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

Ahead of the first Asian Cup game against South Korea Chloe Lograzo told FourFourTwo winning the Asian Cup is the priority.

“For me and the girls this tournament is massive in regard to being able to lift up some silverware," said the 23-year-old.

But Logarzo admitted that being at France 2019 does enter into her thoughts.

“If you’re a football fanatic you know that the World Cup is the be all and end all," she said.

“In respect of it being an important tournament for us and again in terms of qualifying for the World Cup - which is the most prestigious tournament in football - I’ve always got the World Cup in the back of my mind.”

Since the Matildas played at the Brazil Olympics two years ago, the team has reached another plane with their results and performances resulting in accolades and increased media attention.

Logarzo said that once the team is in camp all the outside distractions fade away.

“Our coach Alen Stajcic is pretty good at keeping us focused," she said.

“We have such a good support network bringing us mindfulness and that helps us keep the external stuff away from the team. They bring us to the moment of what the task at hand is.

“That’s something that we’re all learning to do. The support from the nation in the past two years since the Olympics has been unbelievable.

"Although we shouldn’t turn that off because the support is so great, we just need to tune that into fuelling our successes and push us to strive to be better.”

Meanwhile Logarzo is buzzing about the opportunity that playing in Jordan will offer as she has never played at an Asian Cup or World Cup.

“I’m looking forward to this tournament. I’m excited to just knuckle down and get things done," she said.

“I am surrounded by some incredibly talented people that have been to World Cups and Asian Cups and won them. For me, I definitely still feel like a newbie.

“This is my first ever Asian Cup. So, the focus is definitely ‘all eyes on us’ but it’s just like any other tournament, you can’t let the enormity of the consequences of the tournament override the way we play.”

Westfield Matildas Match Schedule

Saturday, 7 April

Westfield Matildas v Korea Republic

King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman

Kick off 8pm local time (Sunday, 8 April, 3am AEST)

Tuesday, 10 April

Vietnam v Westfield Matildas

Amman International Stadium, Amman

Kick off 8pm local time (Wednesday, 11 April, 3am AEST)

Friday, 13 April

Japan v Westfield Matildas

Amman International Stadium, Amman