Ireland skipper Katie McCabe has vowed her side will fight fire with fire and match Australia for physicality as they aim to spring a Women’s World Cup upset.
The Irish have had a disrupted build-up to their first-ever World Cup game after an ill-tempered friendly with Colombia in Brisbane was abandoned last week.
Coach Vera Pauw declared veteran midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who picked up a shin injury in the Colombia game, would be available for selection against the Matildas on Thursday night.
And McCabe said her side held no fears as they ready themselves to play before a pro-Australian crowd at a sold-out Accor Stadium against host nation Australia.
“For us now it’s full focus on Australia, we knew Colombia were going to be physical but that’s the same as every other game,” McCabe said on Wednesday.
“We’re Irish, we don't shy away from physicality.
“It’s ingrained in us as the hardworking team we are.
“We’re prepared for Australia to be physical. We’ve seen that in the game they played against France and we’ll be prepared to match it.”
Ireland might be World Cup newcomers but the novelty, Pauw said, would not overawe her side.
The coach’s faith is backed up by their results over the last 18 months.
They pushed world champions USA close in two friendly defeats and secured draws with China and Sweden.
“We know what we are going to face,” Pauw said.
“We do know the pressure that we’ll be under.
"We are realistic in our chances here, but we start every game to win and we hope we can show our qualities.
“So far we haven’t collapsed under higher pressure.”
The Irish enjoyed a 3-2 win over Australia the last time the two sides met back in 2021.
But even though they got the better of the Matildas in Dublin, McCabe is enjoying being billed as underdogs in Sydney.
“As a small nation that’s a title we carry.
“We know we are debutants in the tournament and for us we know what we want to do - we don't want to just be here to be happy to be here.
“We want to compete and we want to give Australia, Canada and Nigeria the hardest games possible.
“We know what Australia have but we know what we can do on the pitch as well.”
