By Isabelle Campbell 23/10/24
Above: Caitlin Foord in action for Australia earlier this year. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus
Just three weeks ago Caitlin Foord found herself in the defensive line for her club Arsenal, though not a position she finds herself in often in recent times, this was certainly not her first experience at putting in a defensive shift.
“I obviously started off as a forward,” Foord said in today’s media conference from the Matildas base in Switzerland.
“But I got made into a fullback under Tommy (Sermanni) because that was a position that was needed within the team and he thought that I could take on that role.”
In 2011 Foord received her first call up to the Matildas by none other than Tom Sermanni, the current interim coach for the team following Tony Gustavsson’s departure. Though already an established forward, the Australia coach made the bold decision to play the 16 year old at right back at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
“I just made it my own and stayed there for a couple of years but deep down I always was a forward and i think you could see that even when I was at right back as well.”
The star held her own even out of position and faced with the massive task of marking the formidable presence of Brazilian footballing legend Marta.
Though they were eliminated following a quarter final loss to Sweden, Foord was awarded Best Young Player for the tournament and later AFC Youth Player of the year.
“I wanted to get forward and create and be up on the, I guess I would say, more exciting end of the pitch, as every forward would say.”
Though it’s unlikely we will see our number nine playing in the backline in the Matildas upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Germany, the Arsenal star player did assure that she is willing and ready to play wherever she’s needed.
“It was a bit weird going back there these last couple of games with Arsenal just because it had been a long time but I’ve always said wherever I’m needed on the pitch I would be willing to play but I hope to think that I’ve got my spot up front somewhere to stay there.”
Following a busy three year stretch of back-to-back international tournaments, Foord spoke on the tournament-free year the Australian squad will have in 2025.
“I mean it sounds nice although a long way away but I think because we do have the year off these friendlies are even more important to get the results and to play the way we want to play”
2025 will likely prove to be a year of strengthening and building upon what was started in the Matildas home World Cup run, with the Asian Cup set for next year, also a home-soil tournament, the matches played between now and then are of extreme importance despite not being ‘competitive’.
“These are the opportunities we have to get it right and it has to be right come the Asian Cup and that’s what we’re obviously leading into and our focus is on, but every game up until then is important.”
Having just arrived at camp in Switzerland the squad have the next few days to reintegrate back in to National Team mode and prepare for the upcoming match against the Swiss side.
“Camp comes and goes so quickly,” said Foord.
“So it’s about making the most of it while we’re here”
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