Matildas superfans explain why Australian supporters haven’t been loud enough at World Cup matches as they urge them to finally find their voice for Denmark’s knockout clash.
- Matildas superfans want more noise
- The group urges Australian fans to sing songs
- Caitlin Foord wants Sydney stronger
While the crowds for the Women’s World Cup matches have broken records, Matildas fans don’t think the Australian supporters have been rowdy enough and urge them to make some noise on Monday night.
The Matildas are gearing up for their do-or-die clash with Denmark in Sydney as they hope to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
On Sunday, Caitlin Foord said she was impressed with the support from the Aussies but would like more noise from the Sydney fans.
“I’ve said it before, and I still think Sydney could be stronger,” Foord said.
I hope it’s tomorrow. By far at the moment Melbourne have definitely taken the top position so I definitely want my home team to do it.”
Matildas’ active support group (pictured before Australia’s World Cup game against Nigeria) hopes more fans will find their voices on Monday for Denmark’s game.
The group hopes Australian fans will become more involved as the tournament progresses and get used to the way hardcore soccer fans cheer on their team at big games.
Cat Gaggin, a member of the active Matildas support group, hopes more supporters will find their voice.
‘As Australians, we love sports. No matter what it is, we’ll always show up’, Gaggin wide world of sports.
“We are a group that is showing up and getting loud, and we hope that the more we win and the more games we play, the louder we will be.”
His bandmate Liam Parslow says Australian rules football fans are content to sit back and enjoy the show rather than talk like other footballing nations around the world.
“I think Australian sports crowds are generally conservative,” he said.
‘Australian sports fans like to be entertained, but football crowds are different; we like to be involved, more hands-on, and we are very vocal and passionate.’
For many Australians, the World Cup is their first experience of big football matches, so the supporter group anticipates that fans will become more involved as the tournament progresses.
“It’s a lot of people’s first football game that they get to watch live and it’s also their first chance to see Matildas play,” Gaggin said.
The Women’s World Cup is the first time many Australians have experienced large crowds of soccer and the culture that goes with it.
Matildas Active Support have plenty of songs and chants ready for Monday night’s game
“With this World Cup at home, we need to build on the people who want to come to football and then we can build the chants from there.”
European and South American soccer have been doing it for generations. Their chants have been around for generations.
“We cannot compare because that is their life, football is everything to them.”
Matildas Active Support have a well-developed songbook of team songs, Australian anthems and individual player chants, and on Monday night it will be hard not to see them at Stadium Australia.
‘We are trying to get everyone to participate with the same songs. They’re pretty easy to learn once you get to know them,” says Gaggin.
Group member Majella Card adds, “Even if you don’t want to get up and sing, clap along with the beat of the drums because the drums are always beating.”
If you want to familiarize yourself with the chants and songs of the group, you can find them here.
