Dances, kisses and ‘divas’: Matildas like you’ve never seen them before
The Matildas have given Australians a rare glimpse into their lives during the World Cup, with some interesting facts discovered along the way.
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It’s the side of the Matildas we have never seen before - and we want more.
Australia’s sporting darlings may have kicked serious goals on the pitch - bowing out at the semi-final stage of the Women’s World Cup - but was getting to know them off it that resonated with the public.
For instance, midfielder Katrina Gorry showed her lighter side in a TikTok video, dancing with daughter Harper and teammates.
The 31-year-old has already made headlines after being involved in controversy earlier in the tournament when Channel 7’s David Basheer was slammed for his comments about her becoming a mum.
yeah yeah england have hemp and greenwood but they don’t have harper gorry pic.twitter.com/NAKtIdbbWT
— micki (@micksawfc) August 15, 2023
“Certainly motherhood has not blunted her competitive instincts, that’s for sure. She is one fighter for Australia,” he said.
Gorry also won hearts when she kissed her wrist after a successful penalty against France, honouring the passing of her fiancee’s father earlier in the week.
On the lighter side, speedy winger Hayley Raso is the “biggest whinger” in the squad, according to cheeky responses from her teammates.
The youngest player in the squad, Queenslander Mary Fowler, sheepishly gave “Ras” the mantle when asked by teammates in a video posted on TikTok.
And who is the “biggest diva”?
Captain Sam Kerr didn’t hold back when it came to dishing dirt on veteran teammate Emily van Egmond.
“I’ve seen her throw a few punches,” she joked in the TikTok post.
Then there’s the cute vision of camera kissing Mackenzie Arnold, dubbed Australia’s new “Minister for Defence” after the goalkeeper’s show-stopping saves in the epic quarter-final penalty shootout against France.
All these questions, and more, have been answered during the World Cup, thanks in part to the players taking to social media to show the females behind the football.
The Matildas went down 3-1 to England in the World Cup semi-final, meaning they face Sweden in the third-place playoff in Brisbane on Saturday.
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