We know the current generation of Australian sporting heroes, but we want to bring light and know who is ‘Next Up’ in Australian sport. Next Up showcases the next generation of Australian sporting heroes and establishes the impact they could have in the future.
The roaring success of the 2023 Women’s World Cup was evident to all over the last month. The Matildas swept the nation up in the idea that they could become Australian Sporting heroes and win the entire thing on home soil. Despite the eventual 3-1 loss to England in front of over 75,000 adoring fans, the Matildas had already changed the fate of Women’s football in Australia as well as impacting the lives of the players who became household names over the last month.
Every Australian sports fan loves when a team competes for world glory on home soil but often the players competing are unknown to the everyday sports lover. Going into the Women’s World Cup Aussie fans would most likely have known Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, and Emily Van Egmond but outside of those three senior players majority of the World Cup squad would have been unknown to the vast majority of the Australian public. However, if we asked an Australian sports fan today who the Matildas were, those three names would be named alongside younger players Clare Hunt, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler & Courtney Vine whose penalty in the quarter final brought the country together and showcased what the win and entire tournament run meant for the country.
Australia as a nation has never been successful on the world stage in football ‘soccer’ however on an individual level the Matildas squad prior to the 2023 Women’s World Cup consisted of one of the biggest names in the game. Sam Kerr ‘the spiritual leader of the Matildas’ is held as one of the greatest female football players of all time and has often at times been viewed as Australia’s only way to goal during world tournaments. In the lead up to the tournament Kerr suffered a calf strain that would see her sit out the opening group games up until the last group matchday which made us wonder who would fill her shoes whilst she was out with injury.
This brings us to asking who is ‘NEXT UP’ for the Matildas…
The question was asked and heard across the country and the global environment, and the answer was given in the first group game against the Republic of Ireland. Throughout the tournament World Cup debutant Kyra Cooney-Cross (21) showcased that she and her fellow young matildas have what it takes to lead Australia in the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Cooney-Cross, Vine, Fowler, Chidiac, Hunt, Vine, Wheeler these are the names that will become household in 2027. They are NEXT UP, and the experiences that they gained during the semi final run will hold them in good step when the Matildas try to bring home a medal in 2027.
For a long time, the question of ‘Who’s Next’ gets asked when a team makes a run deep into a tournament but can’t get the job done especially when the team has a large proportion of experienced players. But the question doesn’t need to be asked of this Matildas team. Cooney-Cross (21), Fowler (20), Hunt (24) all played vital starting roles throughout the tournament, with Cooney-Cross and Hunt starting in every game. Vine (25), Chidiac (24), Nevin (21) all made appearances off the bench throughout the tournament, and all had pivotal moments during there playing time culminating in Courtney Vine squaring Australia’s place in the semi-final after her goal in the dramatic 10 goal penalty shootout against France in the Quarter final.
Ultimately the Matildas came up short at the 2023 Women’s World Cup on home soil, but the players, coaching staff, and fans were all united and brought the country together. It is a sure thing that with the ‘NEXT UP’ players leading the Matildas in 2027 the run that we had this year will only be a precursor to the run that will be had at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
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