CommBank Matilda Caitlin Foord said that she was excited to be back in camp, and was looking forward to starting a new cycle with the national team.
The Arsenal forward was speaking to members of the media as the CommBank Matildas prepare to take on Switzerland and Germany as part of the October international window.
“I’m excited to be back in camp,” she said.
“It’s been a while, and our last camp was the Paris Olympics. I’m excited to be back in and start again.”
She explained that, after members of the squad had a well-earned break, there wasn’t much time to dwell on what had been a disappointing Olympic Games.
Instead, her focus immediately turned to what was ahead for both club and country.
“When we came in [for Arsenal’s pre-season], I don’t think there were too many conversations around it [the Olympics],” she said.
“It was: let it go, move on. Then the focus was into Arsenal and the season ahead.”
Like many in the squad, Tom Sermanni was Foord’s first national team coach. She expressed her excitement at having him back in the fold as Interim Head Coach.
“It feels like almost a full circle having him come back in,” she said.
“I’m really excited. I know Tommy knows our roots from the start and knows what this team’s about. I think he’ll bring that back into the team.
“As we’ve seen in the past with him as well, he’s got an eye for the youth coming through, so I think that’s another important thing.
“I know he’s been watching us since he left. He’s been on the journey with us, just from a different view. I’m excited to see what he’s seen when he’s been out, and what he now brings to the team.”
Foord is expecting a more pragmatic approach from the new coach.
“In football, there’s so many different solutions,” she outlined.
“Tony [Gustavsson] had his way that was very successful with us. Tommy’s going to have probably a different approach, maybe something similar.
“It was our first day on the pitch today, so we’ll see what we’re in for once we get started.”
The 29-year-old reflected on her good form despite upheaval in club land, with Arsenal changing coaches last week.
“Off the back of the Olympics I was feeling like the team, and myself personally, didn’t perform the way I would have liked,” she said.
“I think the start of the season was another opportunity.
“I’m just enjoying my football. I love playing for the club, and I want to give everything to the club despite what’s going on around me.
“I can control what I can control. For me, that’s just to do my job. I had my head down, not really letting the noise get in, and my full focus has been on my football.”
For Foord, the key to progression while Sermanni is in as Interim Head Coach is a positive environment.
“Right now, we’re here with Tommy. What he has planned for us, that’s our coach and that’s who will lead us throughout these games coming up,” she said.
“It was quite a negative [environment] from the Olympics just not going the way that we wanted it to.
“Just getting back to that Matildas fun, positive football feeling, and hopefully two good results off the back of that, will help us.”
She reiterated the importance of the upcoming games to re-establish a positive feeling around the group.
“I think it’s just about trying to get back to our winning ways and getting results,” she said.
“We have two great opponents in front of us in Switzerland and Germany. We’ve always known European teams are tough to play against.
“So playing a fun kind of football [is based] purely on what we had, on what’s last in our memory from being in this Matildas environment.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | OCTOBER 2024 INTERNATIONALS
Switzerland v CommBank Matildas
Date: Friday, 25 October 2024 (local) / Saturday, 26 October (AEDT)
Kick-off: 8.00pm CET (local) / 5.00am (AEDT)
Venue: Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: Ticketmaster (Switzerland)
Germany v CommBank Matildas
Date: Monday, 28 October 2024 (local) / Tuesday, 29 October (AEDT)
Kick-off: 6.10pm CET (local) / 4.10am (AEDT)
Venue: Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: DFB Ticket Portal
