Westfield Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams believes the side are “quietly confident” about their chances of topping Group C at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019.
Australia will face old foes Brazil, Italy and Jamaica in the group stages of next year’s showpiece event in France.
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And Williams was pleased with the fact Australia avoided the ‘group of death’ scenario they faced in 2015, when drawn with the United States, Sweden and Nigeria.
“I think we’re quietly confident with our group,” she told matildas.footballaustralia.com.au.
“We’re definitely not going to be in a 'group of death' - it’s really exciting. I think all the groups are exciting.
“We’ve played Brazil in, I think, every World Cup now so we really know how they play.
“Italy, we haven’t played them in, I think, six or seven years now, so [it is] interesting to see they how they’ll be, watching video and stuff, and then Jamaica, I have no clue!”
The release of the draw has ramped up the excitement for Williams, who said there is nothing like playing in the biggest event in women’s football.
“Everyone’s kind of texting each other and being like ‘oooh, this is exciting, look who we’re playing, these are the places we’re playing at’,” she said.
“It’s a competition that is purely football based - there’s no other sports.
"There’s people that have come out that love their sport - love their country or just watching people play. For me, you can’t get anything better than that.
“In a place like Europe, Canada was great but being in a football-first place in Europe, like Germany was and what France is, the crowds will be amazing, the support from everyone will be incredible and they’re just intelligent football spectators which is always exciting.”
Williams also spoke about how much support means to the Westfield Matildas and how she would love to see as many Australian fans in France as possible.
“It’s amazing to hear the Aussies … you hear the ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ chant and it just motivates you even more,” she said.
“Even when Australians play overseas, when you see that green and gold, it just means the world.
“So anyone that’s tossing it up [about whether to come or not], France is a beautiful country and it’s going to be an amazing World Cup!”
