Local soccer enthusiasts are actively cheering on the Matildas as they take the pitch in the Paris Olympics, with strong hopes the women’s soccer team will come away with a medal.
As the Olyroos failed to qualify for the Paris 2024, the Matildas are the only Australian representatives in the Olympic football tournament.
The Matildas are in a pretty tough pool as they face Germany, the USA and Zambia.
On Friday morning the Matildas played their first match in the group stage, taking the pitch against Germany where they did not have the most ideal start to the games, losing 3-0.
Yesterday morning the Matildas took on Zambia in their second game of the tournament which was a must win.
The Matildas trailed at half time 4-2 before rallying in the second half to secure the comeback victory with a 6-5 win.
The Matildas play their final game in the group stages against the USA this Thursday.
With the Olympic hype now taking over the country, Football SA has been very vocal in showing its support to not only the Matildas, but also all of the other Australian Olympians competing.
“We are always excited and proud to celebrate the achievements of our athletes, not just in football but across all sports. Our social media channels are frequent with posts highlighting successes, ensuring we join in the Olympic excitement and promote a sense of community pride”, Football SA’s Karina McDonald and Seb O’Neil said.
The duo believes the popularity and success of the Matildas competing on the world stage helps encourage not only women in Australia, but also young boys and men to become involved in the sport.
“The Matildas are a source of inspiration not just for women and girls, but for everyone. Their success on the world stage motivates young boys and men as well, showcasing the unifying power of football and its ability to inspire across genders,” the duo said.
As the Matildas are one of the biggest showcases at the Olympics in Australia, McDonald and O’Neil believes their success will have a roll-on effect in years to come in Australia.
“Featuring football at the Olympics can immensely benefit the sport in Australia,” they said.
“The global exposure can inspire young athletes and attract more investment in infrastructure and facilities.
“Success on the Olympic stage enhances national pride and engagement, driving long-term growth and development in Australian football, especially here in South Australia.”
On a more local level, Football SA’s Regional Development Officer for the Limestone Coast Nathan Koopman said he had noticed a lot of hype around the Matildas competing in the Olympics at the local clubs.
“In regards to the local community and the Olympics with the hype around it with football, I would say that for the first time that I can remember you can hear the women’s game and the Matildas spoken more than the men’s.
“We have definitely seen an increase in numbers of girls taking up the sport, not only at clubs but also at school programs and things like Futsal have increased which is great,” Koopman said.
“Another point to make is that young girls – especially in regards to the Matildas – are mentioning names when they have conversations talking about soccer players.”
Koopman believes the South East and the overall state will see another boost in participation level due to the success of the Matildas in the Olympics, similar to what happened following their 2023 World Cup campaign.
“There is a direct link between their success and how they play to girls and young players who are watching now, so results matter, if they are on television and make it further through the stages and into a semi-final or even final, then that can be seen as a huge positive for young players in the region,” Koopman said.
