Holly McNamara, forward for the CommBank Matildas, expressed her excitement about playing against Argentina in her adopted home of Melbourne this May. Following the announcement of a two-game international series against Argentina during the May/June window, McNamara spoke to Football Australia Media about the upcoming matches.
Match One is set to take place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, followed by a second game at GIO Stadium in Canberra. "It's really exciting," McNamara stated. "It’ll be a great game facing Argentina at Marvel Stadium. It's a beautiful stadium, great atmosphere, as well as a good opponent. So I'm really looking forward to it." The CommBank Matildas have enjoyed remarkable success at Marvel Stadium in recent years, with notable victories including a game against France just a week before the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and a stunning 10-0 win over Uzbekistan in February 2024, which secured their qualification for the Paris 2024™ Olympics. Both matches were sold out, showcasing the team’s popularity in the region.
Reflecting on the electric atmosphere during the February match, McNamara recalled, "I was there in the crowd, and it was great atmosphere. It was a packed-out stadium, and the fans were amazing. It was a great game to watch. It was a big win for the Tillies, but it was a great atmosphere." Despite her roots in Sydney, McNamara’s professional journey began in Melbourne when she debuted for Melbourne City in 2021. Living in Victoria’s capital has been a significant part of her football career, and she cherishes the chance to play in front of friends and family. "Melbourne is very important in my football journey," she explained. "I got given my first opportunity here by Rado [Vidosic] all those years ago and I'm very grateful for the club and for all the staff here at Melbourne City that gave me that first opportunity. Hopefully, I can repay them. I love Melbourne. It’s my adopted home away from home. I love it here. It's a different lifestyle to back home in Sydney, but everything from the coffee to the lifestyle - I think it's just great down here."
McNamara’s football journey has been marked by significant challenges, including two ACL injuries that sidelined her for extended periods. After making her debut for the CommBank Matildas at the AFC Asian Cup 2022™, she faced the daunting task of rehabilitation following her first ACL tear in 2022. Despite a successful return to the pitch, she suffered another ACL injury in late 2023, marking her third such injury overall. Her emotional return to the national team came when she was substituted onto the field against Japan at the SheBelieves Cup in February 2025, a selection based on her impressive club performance. "It was a great experience for me going to the SheBelieves Cup," McNamara shared. "It was some tough opponents, and we didn't get the results that we wanted, but we learned a lot from the tournament, and hopefully we can build on that with these upcoming games. I’m very lucky to be rewarded with those call-ups in the last two camps, and I'm very grateful. It's been a long road for me, but I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity, and hopefully I can do well with it."
As the Matildas gear up for their matches in May, McNamara has a clear message for fans: come out and support the team. "We really want to get as many fans out to Marvel Stadium as we can, and really put on a good performance," she urged. "The last game there was so amazing - a huge win, great atmosphere, and I think the girls really flowed on from that atmosphere and got the big win. Hopefully we can get as many people there as we can, and really put on a good performance."
The details for the upcoming matches are as follows:
Match One: CommBank Matildas vs Argentina
Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
Kick-off: 8:00 PM AEST
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
TV Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Football Australia Football Account Pre-sale from 10:00 AM AEDT on Friday, March 28, 2025. General Public On-sale from 4:00 PM AEDT on Monday, March 31, 2025. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.
Match Two: CommBank Matildas vs Argentina
Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
Kick-off: 7:30 PM AEST
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Football Australia Football Account Pre-sale from 10:00 AM AEDT on Monday, March 31, 2025. General Public On-sale from 4:00 PM AEDT on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Tickets available from Ticketek.
The anticipation is building as fans prepare for what promises to be an exciting series. With McNamara and her teammates eager to showcase their skills, the upcoming matches against Argentina are set to be a highlight in the Matildas' calendar.
