There are less than 30 days left until the highly anticipated Women’s World Cup takes centre stage in Australia and New Zealand, which has sold over one million tickets – surpassing the previous tournament in France in 2019.
In a wide-ranging chat with Soccerscene, ex-Matilda and commentator for the upcoming Women’s World Cup, Elissia Carnavas, touches on the meaning behind co-hosting a World Cup, the women’s game in the country, preparations before commentating, pronouncing a difficult name, how the Matildas will fare and which players we will keep an eye out for.
What does hosting the World Cup mean for the nation?
Elissia Carnavas: It’s such a huge opportunity for Australia and Australian football, but l also think it’s such a huge honour for women’s sport.
From my angle as a football fan and former player, for the code it’s a fantastic honour with the trajectory of where things are going in the country for women’s sport and around the globe.
For us to host, this is enormous – l really hope it is everything that we imagined it to be and more.
Do you think people will become more involved in the women’s game, especially in Australia, after such a major tournament?
Elissia Carnavas: I think for any major sporting event that comes to Australia, both domestic and international, we are a sporting nation and we really do get on board and get behind these massive events.
What it is going to do to our sport is shine a massive spotlight here and internationally, but l do hope that as far as a take-up of football in our country and the sustainability of the code that we are able to build on it.
We need to get everyone behind it who is involved in the game to start to capitalise on that exposure to really take this game to the next level.
What are the few things that excite you in the commentary role for the tournament?
Elissia Carnavas: I love commentary and everything about it, personally it is just talking about the game day in, day out.
To be able to impart my knowledge of the game with the football public, given l have been around the game a long time over the years from an era that wasn’t as popular as what we are seeing now, l am excited to share the history with the viewers and the listeners.
What is involved in the preparation before a tournament or a game?
Elissia Carnavas: There is a lot of preparation involved in comms and the production of that, by actively keeping on top of players and squads, who is travelling, injuries to certain players.
There is a big research and development section in commentary that we need to be across and making sure that we are giving viewers and listeners accurate real time information to when we go live, a lot of it is in the build-up and keeping track of 32 teams and all their preparation.
How would you go about pronouncing a difficult name?
Elissia Carnavas: l come from an ethnic background, so l am used to difficult names. It is a bit of fun for me it’s not so much a challenge for me when you’re used to different pronunciations and different areas of the globe.
I personally believe in being completely respectful of correct pronunciations. l don’t have the easiest name myself, so l do make an effort just to get across pronunciations – sometimes l have reached out to players directly and said let me get this right for you because l think it is a respect for players and the different areas in which they come from.
How do you think the Matildas will perform?
Elissia Carnavas: The Matildas have got the hopes of the nation on their shoulders. While it’s a huge honour to have a home World Cup, it’s also an enormous amount of pressure when they do start to play.
The most difficult thing that Tony Gustavsson and the team have is the injury clouds at the moment, and l think that it will be the catalyst to how they will perform.
They will go well but l believe that it is the balance of expectation and making sure that they deliver on the day, however we should see a Round of 16 and quarter-final result.
Which players in the Matildas team do you think will be the one to watch?
Elissia Carnavas: I’m a huge fan of Sam Kerr and what she has done not only for the game, but also for herself in women’s football – it is a huge achievement where she has managed to get herself in terms of recognition and performance over the last few years.
For me, the player to watch is Caitlin Foord, as good as she is I sometimes feel she can be a little underrated just because of Sam’s presence in the squad and they play in very similar areas in the park.
Caitlin Foord is the linchpin between midfield and attack, she is a strong forward and a naturally gifted athlete.
The other player for me who is young but is the future, is Kyra Cooney-Cross. If she can step up and perform as she always does, with the injection of Katrina Gorry around her as well, they have been outstanding when they have played together. Kyra is another one to watch for this World Cup.
