Matildas’ vice-captain Steph Catley says they’ve the uncommon probability to alter the way forward for girls’s soccer in Australia perpetually – however it’ll solely occur if they will embrace the strain to carry out on the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Catley, who has simply penned a brand new take care of Arsenal within the Women’s Super League, has seen first hand the influence a nationwide workforce delivering outcomes on dwelling soil can have on the sport after England’s girls’s workforce gained the Euros in 2022.
It is a shift, Catley speaking in her position as an Optus ambassador, mentioned would encourage the following technology of Matildas.
“The (English) national team is selling out stadiums, the WSL is now thriving and selling out massive stadiums that in the past, when a women’s team was playing, would only have two or three thousand people in the stands,” Catley mentioned.
“Doing well in a home tournament has the power to do that and to change women’s football forever for a whole nation.
“It’s a lot of responsibility and there is a bit of pressure there.
“But it is also a really great responsibility to have and something that I’m proud of and excited to try and achieve with our team.”
The Matildas’ defender mentioned the important thing to coping with strain was having a constructive mindset.
“I know I’ve had moments where I have been nervous and I have almost said no to things but I think there is a power in saying yes and jumping into things, my football career is sort of credit to that,” Catley mentioned.
“When things have been tough I’ve always said yes and kicked on.”
But staying constructive may be simpler mentioned than completed – notably when your workforce is just not performing.
Before the Matildas discovered their latest successful type that they had a bumpy patch, some large losses and have been closely criticised.
“We’ve been through a tough time,” Catley mentioned. “A lot of our senior players take to be rested during the build up to this tournament and we’ve blooded young players and we have taken some big hits and some losses.
“But the main thing for us is that we were always on the same path. We were always together.”
Catley mentioned the bumpy street to the World Cup has the Matildas in the absolute best place.
“We have had lots of young players who were able to show that they can absolutely handle the pressure of playing against the world’s best,” Catley mentioned.
“The last few games we have played you can see that it’s worked out for the best.
“We’ve created some really good depth in our team. We trust each other and believe in each other and that’s all sort of come around at the right time.”
Australia will play Ireland on July 20 at Stadium Australia in entrance of 83,000 individuals.
It is a second that has been constructing for Catley since FIFA introduced Australia and New Zealand’s joint bid had been profitable in June 2020.
“I’ve been counting down the days since it was announced, It’s been the longest build up, like nothing has felt this long in my entire life,” she mentioned.
“I’m (most excited) for the first game, because that’ll mean the tournament has started. Playing in front of a sold out crowd, I literally get goosebumps thinking about it.”
All the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup video games will likely be streamed reside on Optus Sport.
Originally revealed as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Steph Catley on Matildas’ probability to create legacy
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
