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The Matildas are assured they’ll contend for a maiden Girls’s World Cup title on dwelling soil however celebrity captain Sam Kerr insists the event’s legacy gained’t be depending on whether or not Australia wins it.
In-form Australia kicks off its event in opposition to Eire at what will probably be a packed Accor Stadium in Sydney on Thursday night time, trying to change into the primary host group in 24 years to win the World Cup.
No host nation has claimed the sport’s final prize since Brandi Chastain famously sealed america’ 1999 triumph.
When requested how assured she was that Australia may break that run, Kerr mentioned: “Everybody’s right here to win. So I’ll maintain my playing cards near my chest, however we’re actually assured.
“However for us, it’s simply in regards to the first sport. Eire’s a very powerful and proper now we’re taking part in that sport with no different sport in thoughts.
“In order that’s our remaining at this level.”
Kerr, attending her fourth World Cup, has seen the ladies’s sport explode in recognition and solely expects it to continue to grow.
“To return to the stadium and have the realisation that we actually have introduced the Girls’s World Cup to Australia is a very good second for all of us,” she mentioned.
“For years to come back this will probably be talked about – hopefully a long time to come back,” she mentioned.
“Hopefully with the success of the event, it’ll solely get larger and higher. You noticed what’s occurred in England with the Euros. So hopefully we will replicate that.
“The legacy has already been made by bringing this World Cup right here.
“We’ve already seen what internet hosting this event has accomplished for the nation and everybody’s right here to win however the legacy is not going to be outlined, the grassroots and all of that, by how this event goes.”
When requested to what he put the house group drought, coach Tony Gustavsson talked in regards to the high quality of opposition but in addition the apparent psychological issue.
“In all probability it represents somewhat little bit of the psychological aspect of issues – taking part in on dwelling soil, how folks deal with that, whether or not they use it as stress or they use it as perception and assist,” Gustavsson mentioned.
“That’s one thing we’ve talked so much about. We really feel the assist.
“Like after we performed in entrance of fifty,000 in opposition to France (in Melbourne), we felt the assist and we felt the assumption, rather more so than feeling pressured.”
Gustavsson saved his playing cards near his chest on the health of his squad and his beginning XI.
After the pair mixed beautifully in opposition to France, Alanna Kennedy may associate Clare Hunt in defence, with Clare Polkinghorne nonetheless constructing minutes as she returns from a foot harm.
All 23 squad members educated on Wednesday, together with Charli Grant, who has recovered from sickness.
Tameka Yallop and Kyah Simon have been each on the observe however on totally different coaching applications, and seem unlikely to characteristic within the opening sport.
The Irish can have midfielder Denise O’Sullivan obtainable after she recovered from a shin harm suffered in final week’s aborted ‘pleasant’ in opposition to Colombia.
-AAP