AUSTRALIA captain Sam Kerr has appealed to fans to cheer her team to victory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicking off next week.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup, its biggest edition in history with 32 teams, will be held from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Kerr’s side are in Group B along with Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Olympic champions Canada and newcomers Republic of Ireland.
Chelsea striker Kerr believes the home crowd can propel the Matildas to their first Women’s World Cup triumph, just like they inspired the iconic athletics star Cathy Freeman to Olympic gold in women’s 400m in Sydney in 2000.
“Just watching how one person can be so focused and have the weight of the nation on her back, that really appealed to me as a kid,” Kerr said as she previewed the World Cup in Melbourne yesterday.
“I feel we can have a ‘Cathy Freeman moment’. Everyone knows where they were when Cathy ran that race.”
Australia are one of the form sides going into the World Cup, winning eight of their last nine matches, including a 2-0 upset of European champions England, and they face nine-time African champions Nigeria on July 27 in Brisbane.
The co-hosts open their campaign against Republic of Ireland on July 20 and end the group phase against Canada on July 31.
“We’re going to need you for this World Cup,” she told a crowd of fans as Australia prepared for their final pre-tournament friendly against France billed for Friday.
“So pack the stadiums, wear your yellow, green and gold, and we’ll do everything we can to make you guys proud.”
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