Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has urged his brigade of emerging stars to use the platform of the Women’s World Cup to become household names.
After landing in Winnipeg on Friday (AEST), the venue for Australia’s first two group games in the Canada-hosted tournament, Stajcic was in a bullish mood for both the prospects of his side and his young stars.
Stajcic echoed the thoughts of Matildas co-captain Lisa De Vanna in singling out young winger Caitlin Foord as a hot prospect.
The 20-year-old was named best young player at the 2011 Women’s World Cup while still at high school.
Stajcic added utility Steph Catley and forward Sam Kerr, both 21, to a list of young players that could take the competition by storm.
“I think if they have a good tournament, they’ll be some of the best players in the world,” he said.
“We have a tremendous amount of talent coming through, we’re still a young team but definitely more experienced than at the last World Cup.”
In Germany four years ago, the Matildas were knocked out in the round of 16 by Sweden, a group stage opponent this time around.
But Stajcic said an extra four years experience under the young squad’s belt – only goalkeeper Melissa Hudson (nee Barbieri) and De Vanna are in their 30s – combined with a rich sense of togetherness has them well-poised.
“All the players sacrificed playing overseas for the last four months just so we could prepare,” he said.
“It just shows what sort of effort and spirit they’ve got.”
They’ll need every ounce of that spirit if they are to get out of their group, which also features powerhouses United States and African champions Nigeria.
It’s a task Foord is solely focussed on rather than any individual acclaim.
“Obviously it’s going to be a tough group but we’re at the world stage so there’s not going to be any easy steps,” she said.
“Playing tough teams makes your team step up.
“We’re not here to compete, we’re here to win so we’ve got to beat these sides to win it.
The Matildas open their tournament against the USA on Tuesday morning (Australian time).
Bfc
Guest
Ford, Catley, Kerr...and Gorry! How good is 'Mini'...? She has no equivalent in the Socceroos but is almost anonymous outside of Matildas fans...fabulous ball control and a cracking long range shot (watch her youtube highlights...). On a negative...pity the scumbags at FIFA insisted that the Womens WC be played on synthetic turf...the ladies are getting ridiculous 'burn' injuries from sliding on the turf. Footy should be played on grass! "C'mon Aussies"...!
Bondy
Guest
A typical article from people who wont accept the sport .. On the eve of their World Cup a story of them and the sport being irrelevant .. America an almost secretive or shut out state when it comes to sports .
Courtnie Hayes
Roar Rookie
Good luck to the girls, they might need it when faced with the likes of Wambach, Rapinoe & Klingenberg.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Vandaag gaat in Canada het WK voor vrouwen van start! Met Oranje tegen Nieuw-Zeeland (vannacht om 03.00 uur) So the Oranje playing New Zealand 10am tomorrow morning (by my reckoning). Canada hosts China a few hours earlier.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
For those interested in women's soccer, and women's sport more generally, an article in the New York Times talks of the travails of women's professional soccer in the US: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/magazine/why-is-us-womens-soccer-still-fighting-to-exist.html?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0
Chris
Guest
All games on SBS. Go you Aussies