Valenciennes: Injury concerns and a heavy defeat made for tentative final steps on Australia’s road to FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, but star striker Sam Kerr remains full of positivity ahead of their opening match, against Italy on Sunday.
Ranked sixth in the world, the Matildas’ stocks have never been higher at the beginning of a World Cup, but a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands last Saturday, coupled with the loss of injured defender Laura Alleway have provided a far-from-ideal final end to their pre-tournament build-up.
Despite those factors, talismanic striker and Australian captain Kerr revealed her belief remains strong ahead of the opening Group C fixture.
“We’re feeling really confident,” said the 2017 AFC Women’s Player of the Year.
“We feel like we’ve had a really good lead up to this World Cup, Obviously the result against Holland wasn’t what we wanted, but it was all part of the process. We thought we played good football and it was a learning curve for us."
Opening day feel got us like #FIFAWWC #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/NakgvwPNNf
— Caitlin Foord (@CaitlinFoord) June 7, 2019
“We’re always confident when we go into a game. When we play our football, we have one of the best forward lines in the world.
“(Italy are) a strong team – we’ve watched bit of film – but every game we go into, we’re confident we can score, and it’s not very often we get kept to zero goals.”
“By no means we think it’s going to be easy but we’re well up for the challenge,” she concluded.
While Alleway’s departure from the squad is a blow, particularly for a side which has conceded eight goals in their previous two matches, Australia have been boosted by the return to fitness of midfield anchor Elise Kellond-Knight, although head coach Ante Milicic ruled 16-year-old forward Mary Fowler out of the clash at Stade du Hainaut.
“(Kellond-Knight) has come through training today, so that’s quite pleasing for us,” said the former Socceroo.
“We’ll just have a look later today with the medical staff to see how she pulls up from the session, but all indications are, at this stage, that she will be available for selection.
“Mary felt a little bit of tightness in her hamstring a couple of days ago, so we’ve got some scans for her and the results are positive. At this stage - no need to take a risk, so she will not be taking part in the game tomorrow but moving forward she looks in a good place to be available for the second game of the tournament.”
Milicic has prepared extensively for this match, scouting several of the Italian players at club level during the latter stages of the Italian domestic season.
He was impressed with what he saw – identifying attacking par Ilaria Mauro and Daniela Sabatino as key threats – and the 45-year-old is anticipating a genuine challenge from the 15th-ranked side making their first World Cup appearance since 1999.
“I’m expecting a very difficult game. I think they’re probably one of the most improved teams in women’s football,” he declared.
“The big clubs in Italy have invested a lot in the women’s game. I’ve personally seen the majority of their squad play live so I understand the investment that they’ve made."
Our final session is underway before we take on Italy at the @FIFAWWC #GoMatildas #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/XrbSxTaze3
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 8, 2019
Italian head coach Milena Bertolini – who has led her side through nine matches without defeat so far in 2019 – confirmed the respect between the two sides runs both ways, and highlighted the importance of matching the Australia’s in the physical battle.
“Australia is a national team that is very strong,” she said. “The position they have in the rankings speaks for itself."
“It is a leading team, and they have a physical aspect, and then there’s a lot of strength in their play and their game in addition to having excellent athletes. Their forward players are very good and strong. They have a lot of physically and in the world of women’s football that can make the difference in winning.”
“When it comes to Australia, that is what I fear the most: Their physical strength, their aggression and the challenge that they represent throughout the entire game. This is where the Italian national team must be just as good.”
Australia v Italy
FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 Group C
Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes
Kick-off: 13.00 (local time)
Photos: Football Federation Australia, AFP
Source: the-afc.com