Ireland embracing underdog mentality ahead of matchup with Australia in Women’s World Cup opener

Overwhelming demand for tickets meant co-host Australia’s opening match on the Women’s World Cup needed to be shifted to the match’s greatest stadium, the place it is set to be performed in entrance of an anticipated file crowd of 82,500.

Entering into that cauldron to face the Matildas on Thursday is Eire, on debut on the World Cup and enjoying in its first major global tournament.

“We really feel like underdogs and we embrace it,” Eire ahead Marissa Sheva mentioned. “I believe it offers us somewhat little bit of vitality and we all know the stress will not be on us, it’s on them for this recreation.”

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The match was initially scheduled for a smaller downtown stadium however needed to be switched to Stadium Australia, at Sydney Olympic Park, which can be the venue for the Aug. 20 remaining.

“Ever since they moved stadiums we knew that it was going to be an enormous crowd,” Sheva mentioned. “Having the opening recreation of the match in opposition to the hosts is an unimaginable alternative.”

The hype round Sam Kerr and the Matildas has been rising Down Below because the countdown to the match Australia is co-hosting with New Zealand will get nearer to kick off.

The Matildas beat France 1-0 in a pleasant performed in entrance of a file 50,629 followers in Melbourne final week.

The earlier file crowd for a Matildas match in Australia was 36,109, set in November 2021 in a loss to the US at Stadium Australia.

Ireland manager Vera Pauw acknowledges the problem for her squad, however she is emphasizing the significance of her crew sticking to its recreation plan.

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Megan Connolly throughout a Republic of Eire girls coaching session on the FAI Nationwide Coaching Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty Pictures)

“In fact it’s not an strange recreation, however we’ve to convey it again to the duties of the sport,” Pauw mentioned. “On the finish of the day, it’s the identical pitch dimensions as we’ve again residence.”

Pauw’s squad upset Australia 3-2 in a pleasant in Dublin in 2021 in the one earlier assembly between the groups on the senior degree. Louise Quinn, a beginning defender on Eire’s World Cup roster, scored the successful purpose on a second-half header.

“I believe we’ve proven that we’re able to competing with the highest groups on the earth, so this must be no exception,” Sheva mentioned.

In April, Eire performed two friendlies in opposition to the U.S. crew, shedding 2-0 in Austin, Texas, and 1-0 in St. Louis, Missouri, to the back-to-back defending Girls’s World Cup champions. The U.S. enters this World Cup because the top-ranked crew and the match favourite.

The Irish hosted fifth-ranked France in a pleasant earlier this month, holding the sport scoreless for almost a half earlier than shedding 3-0.

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Abbie Larkin throughout a Republic of Eire girls coaching session on the FAI Nationwide Coaching Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty Pictures)

“We ready by enjoying one of the best, so we’re prepared to try this right here,” Sheva mentioned. “We all know that Australia is world-class so we’re going to get their greatest recreation.”

Australia is tenth in FIFA’s rankings, and followers within the host nation are assured the Matildas will advance to the knockout phases.

“We’re prepared and assured to offer them a recreation,” Sheva mentioned. “They’re in good type, however so are we.”