Jul 16 (Reuters) – Co-hosts Australia will head into the Women’s World Cup with confidence and look to continue their winning streak, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said, as she seeks her first world crown after fighting for years to be counted among the heavyweights of the game. .
Eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2019 World Cup, Australia arrives on the back of a 1-0 win against one of the main contenders, France.
The Matildas have won seven of their last eight matches and emerged as true contenders from a bleak period, never having made it past the quarterfinal stage of the World Cup.
France is probably the third team in the top 10 that Australia has beaten in recent months, Arnold, 29, who has been selected for her third World Cup, told reporters after training in Brisbane on Sunday.
“Getting results against those teams and a couple of clean sheets as well, I think it shows a lot of confidence and consistency,” he said. “So yes, a lot of confidence going into the first few games.”
Arnold said his mindset will remain the same when they kick off their Group B campaign on Thursday against Ireland in Sydney before playing Nigeria and Canada.
“I think as long as we stick to our game plan, take it game by game, I think it’s probably the most crucial thing we need to do to start this World Cup,” he added.
Over 80,000 people are expected at Sydney’s Stadium Australia for his World Cup debut, and the West Ham United goalkeeper said the fan support has been incredible so far.
“It’s starting to feel a little more real now,” Arnold said.
Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bangalore; Edited by Jamie Freed
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