Matildas superfans explain why Aussie supporters haven’t been loud enough during World Cup matches as they urge them to finally find their voices ahead of Denmark knockout match
- Matildas superfans want more noise
- Group urges Aussie fans to sing songs
- Caitlin Foord wants Sydney louder
While the crowds for the Women’s World Cup matches have been record breaking, Matildas superfans don’t think Aussie supporters have been loud enough and are urging them to make some noise on Monday night.
The Matildas prepare for their deadly showdown with Denmark in Sydney, hoping to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
On Sunday, Caitlin Foord said she was impressed with the support from Aussies, but would like more noise from Sydney fans.
“I’ve said it before, and I still think Sydney could be louder,” Foord said.
‘I hope it’s tomorrow. At the moment Melbourne is by far the best position, so I definitely want my home team to take that on.’
The Matildas Active Support group (pictured ahead of Australia’s World Cup match against Nigeria) hopes more fans will find their voices ahead of Monday’s match against Denmark
The group hopes Aussie fans will become more involved as the tournament progresses and get used to the way hardcore football supporters pump up their squad during big games.
Cat Gaggin, a member of the Matildas Active Support group, hopes more supporters will find their voices.
“As Australians, we love sport. Whatever it is, we always show up,’ Gaggin Wide world of sports.
“We’re a group that shows up and gets rowdy, and hopefully the more we win and the more matches we play, the louder we’ll get.”
Her group mate Liam Parslow says Aussie football fans are content to sit back and enjoy the spectacle rather than get boisterous like other football nations around the world.
“I think the Australian sports public is generally conservative,” he said.
‘Australian sports fans like to be entertained, but football audiences are different; we like to be involved, more hands-on, and we’re very vocal and passionate.’
For many Aussies, the World Cup is their first experience of major football matches, so the supporter group expects fans to become more involved as the tournament progresses.
“It’s the first football game for so many people to see live and it’s also their first chance to see the Matildas play,” Gaggin said.
The Women’s World Cup marks the first time many Aussies have experienced a huge football crowd and culture
Matildas Active Support has many songs and chants ready for Monday night’s game
“With this World Cup on home soil, we have to build on people who want to come to football and then we can build the chants from there.”
‘European and South American football, they have been doing that for generations. Their chants have been around for generations.
“We can’t compare because that’s their life, football is everything to them.”
Matildas Active Support has a well-developed songbook of team songs, Aussie songs and individual player chants – and on Monday night they’ll be hard to miss at Stadium Australia.
“We try to get everyone on board with the same numbers. They’re pretty easy to learn once you know them,” says Gaggin.
Groupmate Majella Card adds: ‘Even if you don’t want to get up to sing, clap along to the rhythm of the drums, because the drums are always going.’
If you want to familiarize yourself with the group’s chants and songs, you can find them here.