Women's World Cup: Australia 'can beat anyone', says Caitlin Foord after Matildas enter quarterfinals
Australia were in danger of a humiliating early exit after a surprise defeat to Nigeria but they are now into the Women's World Cup quarter-finals and belief is growing that they can go all the way.
Throw a returning Sam Kerr into the mix and add in the departure of holders the United States, and the co-hosts sense that a first World Cup triumph is within their grasp.
The 2-3 loss to Nigeria in the group phase put Australia's hopes in peril but they responded with a 4-0 thumping of Olympic champions Canada and beat Denmark 2-0 in the last 16.
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Skipper Kerr's belated appearance at the tournament after a calf injury made the headlines but it was Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler who together blew Denmark away in front of nearly 76,000 spectators in Sydney on Monday.
The Matildas will face France or World Cup debutants Morocco in the last eight and they have all the momentum as they close on a first World Cup semi-final and possibly more.
«If we play like this we can beat anyone,» Arsenal forward Foord said after giving the Danes a torrid time with her pace, movement and power.
The 20-year-old Manchester City forward Fowler was just as impressive.
It was her vision and inch-perfect ball down the left wing which teed up Foord for a clinical finish in the first half at a near-capacity Stadium Australia.
Fowler was instrumental again in the second goal, 20 minutes from time, with Hayley Raso applying a deadly finish.
But one of the biggest cheers was yet to come, when 10 minutes later talismanic striker Kerr climbed off the bench for her first action at the tournament.
There was a nervous moment for the home fans when she slipped late on,
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