Arsenal’s Matilda’s Catley & Foord face Les Bleus in Women’s World Cup Quarter Finals by Michelle
FiFA Women’s World Cup 2023 co-hosts Australia, with a FIFA ranking of 10th, will face 5th ranked France in the quarter-finals. But the main question is: Can the Aussie’s progress further than the quarter-finals, for the first time in their history, down to their belief and with the Australian continent behind them 100% as their 12th player? Home turf under your boots is a mighty thing! Just look at our Lionesses on home-turf when they won Euro 2022 last summer..
Australia (The Matilda’s) World Cup History:
1991 Did not qualify
1995 12th in the group stages
1999 11th in the group stages
2003 12th in the group stages
2007 / 2011 / 2015 – Reached the quarter-finals
2019 Round of 16
2023 The Matilda’s finished top of Group B, with Katie McCabe‘s Ireland and Cloe Lacasse‘s Canada being forced out of the tournament at the group stage. The Matilda’s laid on a strong performance against Kathrine Kuhl‘s Denmark on Monday 7th August in the Round of 16, beating the Dane’s 2-0 to progress to the quarter-finals, with Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord scoring the opening goal of the match, which her Arsenal teammate Steph Catley captained.
France (Les Bleus) World Cup History:
1991 / 1995 / 1999 Did not qualify
2003 Did not progress from the group stage
2007 Did not qualify
2011 4th place in the tournament
2015 / 2019 Progressed to the quarter finals
2023 France finished top of Group F, and reached the quarter-finals after a dominant 4-0 win over Morocco. Les Bleus are looking sharp and together, after a faltering start to the tournament.
The Matilda’s most recently beat Les Bleus 1-0 on home soil, on 14th July 2023, during the final pre-Women’s World Cup game against France at Marvel Stadium Melbourne. Is that an omen?
Do you think Arsenal’s Australian duo can help Australia to reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals, for the first time in their history?
C’mon Catley! C’mon Foord! You can do it!!
COYGW!
Michelle Maxwell
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