CommBank Young Matildas defender Rubi Sullivan said that the team was excited and ready ahead of their AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026™ quarter-final match against Korea DPR.
The 17-year-old was speaking from Thailand ahead of the all-important contest.
"There's just a lot of excitement," she said.
"Obviously, this is a big game for everyone. Some of us have never been in this position before. Some of us have. We're all looking to those experienced ones for support, and they've been great supporting us through this whole journey. We're all ready to take this game on."
While it is a big game against the defending world champions, she said the team is confident that they can get the win and qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2026™.
"We know Korea DPR is a very good team, but I think everyone knows that we're capable of beating them," she said.
"This is a great opportunity to see where we lie against some of the top footballers our age in the world. Korea DPR and Japan, they were finalists and runners up in the last World Cup. It's great to see how we compare to teams like that, because it's a real challenge for us.
"We're not mad about being the underdogs for this game. Being the underdog, people don't expect a lot out of you, but people are going to be very surprised when they see our attitude coming in towards the quarterfinal."
Sullivan plays her club football with Sydney FC in the A-League Women. She said that coming to an international tournament like this helps her grow and show how the team stacks up on the world stage.
"In the A-League, you get a vibe of how the quality is within your own country," she explained.
"But when you get onto the international stage like this, you see the best players your age, and what the levels are in comparison."
In an important match such as the quarterfinal, the defender said that the team's bond on and off the pitch was vitally important.
"In big matches, with us being so close, you always know you have a support system everywhere," she said.
"I think I could turn to any one of the girls on the team, and they'd know exactly what to say, how to help settle my nerves - or if I've had a bad game, they'll come help me pick my head up. That togetherness really helps us.
"We know we have a great group of footballers and people. Everyone is aware that we can do whatever we put our minds to, and no opposition is going to stop that, because we have each other."
She backed her teammates to get the job done on Sunday.
"We have great footballers in our team - defenders, attackers, midfielders, goalkeepers," she said.
"In every aspect of the team, we have someone who's great quality, and that's across the whole team. Everyone deserves to be here, and I think that really helps us.
"We're coming in believing that we can win. We have these next few days to really lock in, prepare, go through everything that we need to, so we're prepared for the quarter-final. We're coming in with an attitude that means we're preparing to win."
She knows that if they do walk away with the win, the prize is a World Cup ticket.
"It's every footballer's dream to play in a World Cup, and to represent their country," she said.
"It's an honour to play for your country. To wear the Australian badge on your jersey is something not a lot of people get to do. When the opportunity comes, you're ready to run through a brick wall for your team.
"Everyone would agree that they're willing to sacrifice anything to go through and qualify for this World Cup."
AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup™ Thailand 2026
Korea DPR v Australia
Date: Sunday, 12 April 2026
Time: 4.00pm (Local)/ 7.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium, Pathum Thani
Watch: Channel 10
