Anthony Albanese Almost Promises Aussies Will Get a Holiday If Sam Kerr and the Matildas Win the Women’s World Cup
- Prime Minister stated that a public holiday could follow this year
- Matildas will have to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup
- Australia will host the tournament together with New Zealand from July 20
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has all but promised Australians will get a holiday if the Matildas win the Women’s World Cup.
Albanians declared that state and territory leaders will “race to declare a day off” when Sam Kerr hoists the trophy on August 20.
“It is up to each state and territory to designate holidays,” Mr Albanese told the Daily Aus.
“But rest assured – if the Matildas win the World Cup on home soil I think there will be a race by Prime Ministers to declare a holiday.”
In 1983, then Prime Minister Bob Hawke famously announced a quick and unofficial national holiday following Australia’s famous America’s Cup sailing triumph, proclaiming, “Any boss who fires someone for not showing up today is a bum!” ‘
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believes state premiers will ensure Australians get a holiday if the Matildas win the Women’s World Cup
The development comes as Matildas captain Sam Kerr urged her teammates to embrace the pressures of co-hosting a World Cup.
It comes as Kerr encourages her teammates to co-host a World Cup with New Zealand, with Australia’s first match against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney on July 20.
10th-ranked Matildas formed a real contender after a penalty shootout defeat to Norway four years ago dashed their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals in France.
And they will be led by a big player in Kerr, who played key roles as Chelsea recently captured their fourth successive FA Women’s Super League title and third consecutive FA Cup.
Kerr also found the back of the net on enemy soil in Matildas’ 2-0 win over England in April, handing the European champions their first defeat in 31 games.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a pre-tournament break at home in Perth and said overcoming the old foe boosted the Matildas’ confidence ahead of what looms as the biggest moment of her career.
“I was just saying to my agent over coffee, if we win the World Cup, I probably won’t see her for a few months,” Kerr said.
It would be the ultimate dream. “That’s why I play football. That’s why I do what I do every day. That’s why I sacrifice so much to win a World Cup.’
The Matildas are pictured after winning the Cup of Nations in February in Newcastle, NSW. If they lift another trophy at the end of the World Cup, the whole country will have time to party with them
Kerr, 29, loves being a role model and hopes the World Cup across Australia inspires more girls to play football from an early age
Kerr has risen to heights once unimaginable for an Australian female footballer and hopes the tournament will inspire a new generation to grow the game, even if she doesn’t get the chance to play in her hometown.
That will have to wait until October, when the Matildas will host the first of three Olympic qualifiers.
Kerr’s highly anticipated homecoming is already being marketed as the opportunity of a lifetime for local fans, but the Matildas skipper is fully focused on what lies ahead for her and her teammates.
“It’s such a big event, it’s such a big moment for us,” she said.
“The most important thing is that we focus on ourselves and focus on getting the best out of ourselves and enjoying it, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“You don’t want it to be a bad experience by being impressed by the audience or whatever, you want to enjoy this experience.”
The superstar striker admits the Matildas won’t be long to find their rhythm as they prepare to meet in Brisbane ahead of the group stage next month.
“We had a great result against England last time out, so I think that gives us a lot of confidence. But there is still a long way to go,” she said.
“We’re not at our best now, but that’s what we’ve been planning for the last four years, to be our best in four weeks.”