Matildas 2023 World Cup squad officially presented before 4,000 fans at Federation Square

The cheers were deafening at a packed Federation Square to officially send off the Matildas before a historic home World Cup.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Sam Kerr of the Matildas poses for a photograph during the Australia Matildas World Cup squad public presentation at Federation Square on July 11, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Australian captain Sam Kerr says her side will embrace the high excitement of its fans at the World Cup as a squad veteran calls the escalating interest in the women’s game “pretty crazy”.

The Matildas were presented their playing tops in front of a raucous crowd at Melbourne’s Federation Square on Tuesday, with Kerr telling supporters the tight-knit group would look to ride a wave of their energy in Friday’s send-off game against France and their group stage games later this month.

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“I think you’ve seen over the last couple of years we’ve stuck together, we’ve gone through a lot,” Kerr said.

“I’m really excited to represent Australia on home soil and show what the Aussie spirit is about.

“Having a stadium packed out on Friday, it gives you a buzz that you don’t get away from home, so it’s going to be amazing.”

Asked about what the difference was from a player’s perspective in hosting a World Cup, Kerr had jokes.

“We’ve slept better!” she laughed.

The Matildas will host France in a sold-out send-off friendly at Marvel Stadium on July 14 before their campaign officially begins on July 20 against Ireland in Sydney.

The full Matildas squad was unveiled in front of an adoring Melbourne crowd. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne, playing at her fifth World Cup after debuting aged 17 in the lead-up to the 2007 tournament, said it was remarkable how quickly women’s football had advanced over her career.

“I remember playing on home soil at the start of my career and we’d be lucky to get a few hundred people at the game, so to see all these people out here today, it just continues to keep growing,” she said.

“I think it’s definitely a long time coming, but just the speed that the game has grown has been pretty crazy, at a national team level but also clubs around the world as well.

“Everyone’s just really invested in women’s football and it’s really nice to see.”

The 34-year-old, who is the Matildas’ all-time most-capped player, said this tournament would by far be “the most special of the lot”.

She said the side appeared to have finally put together “all the pieces in the puzzle” after making huge strides under coach Tony Gustavsson in 2022.

“I think so – we’ve been challenged a lot as a playing group, but we’ve stuck together and we’ve believed in each other and believe in ourselves and the process,” Polkinghorne said.

“I think in particular the last year we’ve really started to reap some benefits of that, and we’re in a really good place as a group.”

Police figures state that approximately 4,000 fans had packed out to see the team presented with their playing jerseys, each by young footballers from around the country that were, in an adorable twist, all named Matilda.

Some fans had been camping out since the early hours of the morning to catch a glimpse of the squad.

The team were presented with their jerseys by young footballers all named Matilda. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Matildas fans Scarlet (right) and Darlene (left) camped out for prime position at Federation Square. Photo: Daanyal Saeed

11-year-old Scarlet and mother Darlene had camped out to be front row for the presentation and brought along a poster for star defender Alanna Kennedy.

Scarlet said she was excited to see the Matildas go “all the way”.

Federal Minister Sport Anika Wells called it a “nation-shaping moment”, comparing it to the Golden Generation of the Socceroos from the mid-2000s, with a nod to that team’s goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer in the front row.

Wells stressed how important it was that “nation-shaping moments such as this one are no longer viewed through a male lens.”

Coach Tony Gustavsson said he was “extremely privileged to work with (the selected squad)”.

“They represent so much,” Gustavsson said.

“They are a very special group.”

Gustavsson said that the team had been focused on conditioning, having prioritised a “high-pressing game”.

“We’re going to play a high-pressing game, we’re going to be an in-your-face team,” he said.

“It might cost us a goal or two but we’ll just need to score more.”

- with NCA NewsWire