Ireland international captain and Arsenal star Katie McCabe spoke to the media this morning as the Ireland WNT gather for their November training camp ahead of the Morocco friendly and World Cup preparations.
For McCabe, the chance to play the host nation Australia in the opening game of the World Cup next Summer is a dream scenario, as she put it “You couldn’t ask for a better kickstart for a first-ever world cup than that.” Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley both Australian internationals are of course teammates of the Arsenal midfielder and McCabe mentioned that she is well aware of the quality they possess from training with them day in and day out.
The former Raheny and Shels player is hoping to play at home once more before the tournament begins and potentially in the Aviva stadium to give the team a send-off from the home support. “Our fans have been monumental for us over the course of the campaign,” said Katie, and the support will only grow as we get closer to tournament time.
There will be huge Irish traveling support in Aus next summer, which will of course be aided by the Irish contingent living on that side of the globe. McCabe wants to urge these fans to buy tickets and come and support them at the World Cup if possible.
Katie is also hoping to be joined by some of her family including her Brother and Uncle who live in the Southern Hemisphere but also getting her mother on a flight to Australia which could be tricky with the journey length but McCabe called it as her “taking one for the team.”
The Irish captain had the opportunity to return to Ireland over the weekend for the first time since qualification due to her busy WSL and Champions League schedule and was taken aback by the amount of Ireland and Arsenal shirts on the girls that queued to meet her at a Dove event in Dublin yesterday.
“The excitement on their faces was a big moment for me to realise that this has hit a lot of people and brought a lot of joy for the kids, giving them something to dream about one day.”
The competition for places in the squad really heats up now as this along with two more camps in March and April. Ireland face Morocco next Monday in an International Friendly but the term Friendly will be loosely applied to a game that many of the squad might find as their only opportunity to show why they deserve to be in Pauw’s plans going forward.
Samuel Mansfield
26-year-old TV, Radio, and New Media graduate from MTU Kerry based in the Kingdom with a passion for a variety of sports.