We won’t wilt under home World Cup pressure: Matildas

Anna Harrington | August 11, 2023

France know what it feels like to wilt under the pressure of a home Women’s World Cup.

The Matildas have no plans of emulating their opponents’ quarter-final exit on home soil.

Les Bleues were knocked out by eventual champions the United States in the final eight of their home tournament in 2019.

“We’re hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went through when they were the host country,” France coach Herve Renard said this week, citing the suffocating pressure that can come with hosting football’s biggest tournament.

Midfielder Grace Geyoro said: “We felt it four years ago at the World Cup in 2019.

“When you’ve got your public and when you are at home, that pressure is maybe double.”

Defender Eve Perriset, also part of France’s 2019 setup, agreed, but clarified: “We have seen that since the beginning of the competition it doesn’t seem to be a problem for the Matildas. 

“For now they’re doing very well with that. Let’s see what will happen on Saturday.”

The Matildas insist they’re not letting that pressure weigh heavily on their shoulders ahead of Saturday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

“The way we visualise it is that we don’t feel that pressure as a negative cloud,” defender Clare Hunt said. 

“We feel extremely privileged to be in that in that situation where we are a host nation fighting for a World Cup final and a World Cup win. 

“That pressure presents itself as a positive light. 

“We feel supported by the Australian public, we feel backed by the Australian public, we feel supported in what we’re doing. 

“There is a pressure but when we’re playing we’re not thinking about that pressure. 

“We’re thinking about representing our amazing country and we’re playing a style of football that we’re proud of.”

Midfielder Emily van Egmond believes the current Matildas side is far more mature a team than when Australia lost at the quarter-final stage to Japan in the World Cup in Canada in 2015.

“There’s always been belief within the group, that’s never been doubted,” Van Egmond said.

“The experience now that the core group of players have, that’s undeniable. 

“The preparation we’ve done (in) the last few years before this tournament, that’s put us in really good stead to be at this point.”

A newcomer to the international scene, Hunt is confident the Matildas are primed to fire.

“A lot of the girls have been in this team for 10 to 15 years and they’ve come to the realisation that this is the time,” she said.

All 23 players, including skipper Sam Kerr, hit the track at Brisbane’s Perry Park on Friday, though fellow forward Kyah Simon left the main group early.