Caitlin Foord looms as Matildas’ trump card in FIFA Women’s World Cup

Sam Kerr often dominates the headlines, but there’s another Matildas attacker who is perhaps poised to star in the Women’s World Cup.

Caitlin Foord (left) and Sam Kerr are set to form a lethal attacking partnership. Picture: Brett Costello

Arsenal attacker Caitlin Foord is set to emerge from the shadow of her superstar Matildas teammate Sam Kerr at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

That’s the opinion of Matildas and West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who has encountered both Foord and Chelsea striker Kerr during recent English Women’s Super League campaigns.

“After this season, seeing how far Caitlin Foord has come, I think she’s really starting to come into her own,” Arnold said.

“Sam and her have grown up so much together and it was always ‘Sam and Cait’, and it still is, to be honest.

“Cait’s never really stepped down from that, but obviously Sam did get the limelight for a long time, but after the season that Cait’s had I think it’s really starting to be Sam and Cait again as the most important strikers for us.

“Cait’s always been an amazing player, but the impact that she can have is unreal. This is going to be really big World Cup for her, and it’s going to help out Sam a lot as well and take the spotlight off her.”

Caitlin Foord is hard at work preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Picture: William West / AFP

Capped 108 times, Foord, 28, said she felt “ready” and “prepared” for the World Cup, which starts on Thursday week.

“I just want to be there and experience it,” the former Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC and Perth Glory forward said.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

Foord isn’t fussed about the role she will be asked to play in a Matildas attack that will centre around the team’s all-time leading goalscorer, Kerr.

“Anywhere in the frontline is nice, being among the fun part of the game. I’m just happy to be wherever I’m needed going into whatever the game is,” she said.

“I’ve been trying to focus on consistency and just playing the best I can and that’s something I’ll continue trying to do throughout this tournament as well.”

Before their World Cup opener against Ireland on the first day of the tournament, the Matildas will get the chance to finetune their preparations when they meet France in a friendly on Friday night in Melbourne.

“We haven’t played together for a while – it’s an important game for us,” Foord said.

“France are a world class team and we’re going to come up against world class teams (in the World Cup) as well, so it’s great preparation for us.

“We could potentially face them (in the tournament) as well … it’s ticking off a box.”