Women’s World Cup: Chilled Aussies waltzing to the Big Dance

Moments of truth are approaching for Sam Kerr and the people’s team. The support will be immense for the Matildas at the World Cup – but the pressure will also be intense.

Sam Kerr, centre, hams it up at training with Mary Fowler, left, and Ellie Carpenter. Picture: AFP

Moments of truth are approaching for Sam Kerr and the people’s team. The support will be immense for the Matildas at the World Cup – but there’s a flip side to playing major sporting events in your own backyard. Unavoidably, the pressure is intense.

Winning at home isn’t easy. It can start in fits of giggles and end in tears. Tennis player Sam Stosur springs to mind as one elite Australian athlete who felt suffocated and fell short of expectations in her native land. Every Tom, Dick and Harriet is telling the Matildas to go get ’em but the fine print to these matters is always … please don’t let us down.

Mind games at a World Cup can be as challenging as the real games. The desire to please versus the fear of failure – and yet Kerr seems immune to it all.

Fans turn out at Melbourne’s Federation Square. Picture: Jason Edwards

Full of vigour, mischievousness, humour and good spirits at training on Monday, the Matildas captain picked up the ball and ran like William Webb Ellis was inventing rugby again. Let’s be honest. The Wallabies could do with her help.

“Home crowd advantage is a real thing,” she said when her squad was paraded at Melbourne’s Fed Square. “Just coming here and doing these things and seeing the fans … it gives you a buzz that you don’t get away from home. It’s going to be amazing.”

The Matildas’ 23 players were presented with their jerseys by 23 girls named, you guessed it, ­Matilda. A big crowd wandered in. They’ll be packed like sardines for Friday night’s send-off match against France at Marvel Stadium before the real show gets on the road in Sydney next week.

Can the people’s team handle the hype? “The outside noise is the outside noise,” said Caitlin Foord. “What we have in our circle, nothing really affects that.”

Easier said than done. World Cups are emotional rollercoasters. Victories are celebrated with champagne and trumpets. Defeats feel like the end of the world. These are the soaring highs and devastating lows of football. The beauty of sport. It’s all on its way for Kerr and the people’s team.

Some of the Matildas squad pose with their jerseys. Picture: Getty Images

They’re as popular as it gets but full-throated, banner-waving crowds are about to create the sort of atmosphere and pressure not all athletes can handle.

“It’s still early days and you never know what can happen but the focus is just on us and what we have in this circle. That’s all that matters,” Foord said.

Friday’s fixture is no kick and giggle. France is ranked No.5 in the world and the Bastille Day clash will be played at full throttle between two sides giving themselves a chance to lift the cup.

A crowd of 40,000 will watch the 10th-ranked Matildas receive a massive confidence boost or a sobering reality check before the tournament-opening clash on July 20 against Ireland attracts 80,000 like moths to the great sporting flame in Sydney.

“It’s an important game for us on Friday,” Foord said. “France are a world-class team. It’s great preparation for us. We could potentially face them in the tournament. It’s ticking off a box.

“The closer we get to the first World Cup game, and to have a game now, and to have a big crowd to prepare us for what we’re about to head into … it’s massive.”