LIVE: Matildas star has ‘goosebumps’ as sellout crowd awaits in final WWC tune-up

Star defender Ellie Carpenter says she gets goosebumps every time she thinks about the bumper crowds the Matildas have in store this month.

The highest attendance for an Australian women’s football match will be smashed on Friday night with more than 50,000 fans expected to watch the Matildas play France in their final warm-up game at Marvel Stadium.

MATCH CENTRE: Scores, stats and more!

That record will stand for just six days when more than 80,000 people pack Sydney’s Stadium Australia for the first World Cup match against Ireland, but Carpenter says the Matildas will still be soaking up every moment when they face Les Bleues in Melbourne.

“The feeling (on Friday) is you’re going to think, ‘woah, this is incredible’, and then having in the back of your mind next week is going to be double this,” she said.

“That just gives me goosebumps talking about it. I don’t think many of us have played in front of more than 50 or 60 thousand people.

Follow all the action from the Matildas’ send-off clash against France in our LIVE BLOG below!

“So it’s going to be just taking it all in, soaking it all in – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“When can I ever play in front of my home country, my family like this ever again, so (I’m) just making the most of it.”

Carpenter said the Marvel Stadium surface felt “pretty good” when the Matildas had their first look during Thursday’s training session, after a packed schedule of AFL and NRL games at the venue in the weeks leading in.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo?

MORE COVERAGE

‘Be a good indicator’: Matildas coach set to unveil World Cup line-up in final friendly

‘It might cost us’: Why Matildas boss won’t stray from ‘in your face’