When: Thursday, July 20
The place: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Kickoff: 8pm (10:00 GMT)
If Australia captain Sam Kerr is carrying the burden of a rustic’s expectations on her shoulders, she has executed properly to not let herself get slowed down by them.
The event co-hosts open their much-anticipated marketing campaign towards the Republic of Eire in entrance of a packed Stadium Australia in Sydney on Thursday.
Kerr, the Matildas’ ahead and largest title on the pitch, mentioned going into the match that may kick off her crew’s journey within the event appeared “a bit unreal.”
“It’s truly taking place. All of the prep work that we’ve executed for years, all the times of exhausting work, and now it’s lastly coming collectively in 24 hours,” she mentioned throughout the pre-match press convention alongside coach Tony Gustavsson.
Tomorrow in our sights 👀
🇦🇺v🇮🇪: 20.7.23 (8pm AEST)
🏟️ @accorstadium#Matildas #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/ete1DUAD9X— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 19, 2023
Kerr pointed to the Matildas’ versatility and skill to play completely different roles as a motive why they’ve gained 9 of their final 10 matches, together with a 1-0 win over France in a pleasant final Friday and a 2-0 win over England in April that ended the Lionesses’ 30-game unbeaten streak.
A file crowd of about 83,000 is predicted for the match, probably the most important sporting occasion Australia has hosted because the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The 29-year-old Kerr, who made her debut for Australia at 15 and is collaborating in her fourth World Cup, mentioned slightly than feeling the burden of stress, she and her teammates are embracing the assist.
“I imply, Aussies love their sport, don’t they?” the Chelsea ahead mentioned. “However to be at house and get the texture for it, stroll down the streets and see folks which can be excited or flying across the nation to observe us, it’s good to have the ability to really feel the love.”
![Women's world cup Perth](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-07-19T091539Z_1734668410_UP1EJ7J0PQ06T_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PREVIEW-1689790844.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C494)
In distinction, Eire are at their first World Cup and head into the conflict with no big-time expertise.
However they obtained a lift with skilled midfielder Denise O’Sullivan declared match after being harm in an deserted pleasant with Colombia final week.
Captain Katie McCabe mentioned the Irish have been prepared for Australia.
“We’re Irish, we don’t shrink back from physicality. It’s ingrained in us, the hard-working crew we’re,” she mentioned.
“So sure, we’re prepared for Australia to be bodily tomorrow, we’ll be ready to match it.”
Eire’s coach Vera Pauw admitted that Australia’s larger World Cup expertise might show essential.
“They’ve big expertise, they’ve class gamers, they’ve immense tempo so we all know what we’re going to face,” she mentioned.
“We’re very lifelike of our probabilities right here, however we play each recreation to win and hope we are able to additionally present our qualities.”
![Vera Pauw Ireland women's world cup](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-07-19T061228Z_1921792392_UP1EJ7J0H8P0L_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-AUS-IRL-PREVIEW-1689779789.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C512)
Australia crew information
Regardless of damage issues round midfielder Tameka Yallop, coach Gustavsson has not disclosed any details about the health of his crew.
Eire crew information
Eire’s coach Vera Pauw mentioned O’Sullivan has made a “outstanding restoration” to be match for the opening recreation. “We’re very open, we’ve nothing to cover. Denise is match, she is going to play,” Pauw mentioned.
Type and rankings
Australia: W W L W W
The Tenth-ranked crew are among the many favourites after a string of robust latest outcomes.
Eire: D L W L L
Eire are ranked twenty second however will hope to placed on a struggle towards the favourites.
That Irish love 💚
We really feel it, Sydney 🙌#COYGIG | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/Ov4o5xLrfC
— Eire Soccer ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 19, 2023
Face to face
Eire upset the Matildas 3-2 in 2021, the one time the 2 sides have met.
Gamers to observe
Australia: Kerr, a Golden Boot favorite and an icon within the sport, would be the native followers’ favorite to steer her crew to the ultimate phases of the event. With 55 objectives in her final 72 internationals, followers will hope to catch a glimpse of her trademark cartwheel-backflip objective celebration.
“It’s about leisure and having enjoyable and exhibiting what soccer is about. Possibly it would [happen], possibly it gained’t,” the captain mentioned.
For the crew, the pursuit of greatness by no means ends, each on and off the pitch. The time is now.
We’re fearlessly staring down the #FIFAWWC, and gained’t relaxation:
‘𝗧𝗶𝗹 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲 💪#TilitsDone pic.twitter.com/V0TYnM6cY4
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 27, 2023
Eire: Arsenal’s Katie McCabe is an all-round participant who brings the crew collectively as its younger captain, and can be important to Eire’s probabilities within the event.
Off we go 🇦🇺✈️ thanks for an unbelievable ship off yesterday ☘️💚 pic.twitter.com/IhF1sedI3g
— Katie McCabe (@Katie_McCabe11) July 7, 2023