Women’s World Cup Co-Host Australia Fueled By Pressure

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson said the Women’s World Cup co-hosts will use the weight of expectations as fuel as they prepare to face France in the final warm-up game before the tournament begins next week.

The Women’s World Cup will begin on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, with Australia’s opening match with Ireland expected to host a record crowd of more than 80,000 in Sydney.

Before taking on Ireland, the Matildas will face France in a sell-out friendly in Melbourne on Friday, where 50,000 fans will be in attendance.

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With home advantage playing a huge role, Australian fans expect the team to bid for the title at the World Cup, where the team is in Group B with Ireland, Nigeria and Olympic champions Canada.

Asked about how they plan to deal with the pressure, Gustavsson told reporters on Thursday: “I think we look at it as fuel, as belief.

“That (the big crowds) is a source of strength that this team will embrace. And also use it when we play this high-octane pressing and attacking-minded game.

“Sometimes we’re a bit fatigued and tired in the game – to be carried by the fans, and to be able to put those extra runs in … to be energetic and high intensity, that’s the football we’re always going to play no matter who we play against.”

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How will the team cope with the noise from outside?

“Tomorrow, we will bring it all on because we all want to unite and connect with the fans any bring it in,” the coach added.

“When it comes to opinions about things we do, whether it’s about the line-up or tactics, then we need to shut it out and believe in what we have done for two years and stick to what we have always done – nothing new, don’t listen too much and believe in what we have done and prepared for.”

Defender Ellie Carpenter said she is excited about playing in front of a sell-out crowd.

“That just gives me goosebumps talking about it. I don’t think many of us have played in front of more than 50 or 60 thousand people,” she said. “The feeling (on Friday) is you’re going to think, ‘woah, this is incredible’, and then having in the back of your mind next week is going to be double this,” Carpenter said.

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“When can I ever play in front of my home country, my family like this ever again, so (I’m) just making the most of it.”

Gustavsson expects to field his World Cup line-up in Friday’s friendly against France, though some players such as Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop would have limited game time. Forward Kyah Simon is unlikely to feature as she continues her recovery from a serious knee injury.

“I think it will be a good indicator of the starting line-up but also finishing line-up,” Gustavsson added. “The one thing that will be different is because it’s a send-off game and the last before the World Cup; I’m also going to consider any type of niggles and minutes played because it’s all about the Ireland game.

“If this was a quarter-final, I’d probably treat game time and players differently, so you will see some adjustment according to that.”

Australia has played at seven World Cups, reaching the round of 16 in the last edition in 2019. The team’s finish has been the quarter-finals, which they reached in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

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