Australian coach Tony Gustavsson has developed a Matildas squad with enviable depth in every place over the previous three years.
That depth will probably be on full show once they kick off their World Cup marketing campaign on Thursday evening towards the Republic of Eire in Sydney at 8pm.
Captain Sam Kerr on Wednesday declared her facet assured about contending for a maiden Ladies’s World Cup title.
Listed here are a number of the recreation changers who might take Australia deep into the event and current it with the possibility to seize the best prize of all – the FIFA Ladies’s World Cup on dwelling soil.
Steph Catley
The crosses from open play and set items of the Arsenal defender, normally deployed at left again, may very well be pivotal to tapping into Sam Kerr’s aerial prowess. Versatile sufficient to deputise at centre again if wanted, the Melbourne-raised star is a relaxing presence and stylish contributor with that chic left foot.
Ellie Carpenter
A two-time Champions League finalist with Olympique Lyonnais on the age of 23, Carpenter has made a full restoration from a ruptured ACL and can doubtless be the energetic spark to launch assault after assault along with her surging runs ahead from her area at proper wing again.
Katrina Gorry
The lacking hyperlink amid the Matildas type droop, the influential midfielder took outing to begin a household (daughter Harper was born in 2021) earlier than returning with a bang to coincide with the group’s reversal in fortunes. A participant who seemingly all the time rises to the event, Gorry gained the 2014 Asian participant of the yr and continues to shine at dwelling and in Europe.
Caitlin Foord
The Arsenal ahead has all the time been integral to the Matildas’ attacking play, however the self-belief didn’t all the time accompany the undisputed expertise. Fortunately, Foord has come out of her shell and is able to turning a match in Australia’s favour with a second of magic.
Sam Kerr
Australia’s best-known consultant on the world stage, the star Chelsea striker even performed her half as our flag bearer in King Charles III’s coronation. The nation will probably be copying Kerr’s trademark backflip purpose celebrations if her scoring prowess can carry the Matildas deep within the event.
Honourable mentions
Mary Fowler – The Manchester Metropolis attacking midfielder brings a contact of sophistication and completed ending by way of her lethal left foot – as she demonstrated towards France. Has the knack of making one thing out of nothing.
Mackenzie Arnold – The West Ham United goalkeeper has made her mark within the Ladies’s Tremendous League along with her shot-stopping means to nudge veteran Lydia Williams out of the No.1 spot. Will probably be key to making sure Australia advances past the group phases.
Hayley Raso – Newly signed for Spanish big Actual Madrid from Manchester Metropolis, the feisty winger has an uncanny means of profitable 50-50 challenges within the attacking zone and utilizing her pace and boundless power to press and arrange probabilities for her teammates.