Premier League legend hugs Steph Catley and showers Matildas with praise after they saved their Women's World Cup with victory over Canada
- Matildas advance with win over Canada
- Premier League great gives huge praise
- Even managed to hug skipper Steph Catley
One of the English Premier League's greatest and most popular players has lavished the Matildas with praise after their 4-0 win over Canada - even managing to hug skipper Steph Catley.
Australia had to beat the reigning Olympic champions in order to progress to the knockout stages at their home World Cup; and they did so in style thanks to goals from Hayley Raso (2), Mary Fowler and Catley, who expertly converted her second penalty for the tournament.
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium was buzzing, and the Premier League cult hero, who scored 113 goals from 213 appearances across a brilliant career primarily for Arsenal, was pitch-side to take it all in.
The English football great has since turned into a hugely popular pundit, and is also a very respected voice in the women's game.
So fans have gone wild over his lavish praise and genuine happiness for the Matildas, including the moment when he hugged stand-in skipper Catley, who plays with his alma mater, the Gunners, alongside star striker Caitlin Foord.
![Matildas players (L-R Clare Polkinghorne, Ellie Carpenter and Cortnee Vine) celebrate the side's fourth goal, a penalty converted by stand-in skipper Steph Catley (right)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73824495-12358703-image-a-10_1690852390757.jpg)
Matildas players (L-R Clare Polkinghorne, Ellie Carpenter and Cortnee Vine) celebrate the side's fourth goal, a penalty converted by stand-in skipper Steph Catley (right)
![Hayley Raso celebrates the first of her two goals against Canada. The Real Madrid star was crucial in the win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73795769-12358703-image-a-11_1690852413402.jpg)
Hayley Raso celebrates the first of her two goals against Canada. The Real Madrid star was crucial in the win
Ian Wright, who played for England at the 1998 World Cup in France, was clearly overjoyed to see the Matildas secure their passage to the Round of 16.
As well as pumping up Catley, the legendary striker singled out young midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross, Foord and Fowler for their brilliant performances.
But it was the way the Matildas accounted for Canada, who are ranked No.7 in the world, with the weight of the entire nation on their shoulders that impressed Wright.
'Difficult to describe (what the win means), especially with the pressure Australia were under this game, and everything with Sam (Kerr); (but) the girls came up with the goods tonight,' the Arsenal great said on Channel 7's post-match coverage of the Matildas' win.
'They have absolutely hammered them right from the start ... unbelievable result for them.
'They dismantled them. They did what they needed to do, Australia. We know Canada are very defensively strong ... so I'm really pleased.
'To be honest, I'm so proud of them. The pressure that they are under at a home World Cup, having to perform without your star player, it is amazing. Delighted for them.'
![Arsenal great Ian Wright is impressed with the manner of Australia's win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/01/73823129-12358703-image-m-8_1690850308622.jpg)
![Pictured pitch-side for England's win over Denmark, Wright was at the Matildas game, too](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/01/73823095-12358703-image-m-6_1690850289641.jpg)
Arsenal great Ian Wright is Down Under for the Women's World Cup, and he was full of praise for the Matildas after the win
![Catley celebrates converting a penalty, giving Australia an unassailable 4-0 lead in the must-win clash](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73824485-12358703-image-a-15_1690852726354.jpg)
Catley celebrates converting a penalty, giving Australia an unassailable 4-0 lead in the must-win clash
![Caitlin Foord was brilliant for the Matildas, often linking up with Catley down the left side as they 'bamboozled' the Canadian defence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/04/73822253-12358703-Caitlin_Foord_was_brilliant_for_the_Matildas_often_linking_up_wi-a-41_1690861193312.jpg)
Caitlin Foord was brilliant for the Matildas, often linking up with Catley down the left side as they 'bamboozled' the Canadian defence
Wright reserved particular praise for the left-side attack of the Matildas, which primarily went through Catley, Foord and Emily Van Egmond - with the former two relentlessly bombarding a poorly-performing Canadian defence all night.
But when asked whether Catley was overjoyed with the win when he saw her - he said she had one very simple emotion that was a reaction to the 'incredible' atmosphere in the stadium and around the country.
'It felt a bit like relief (Catley's reaction), because they were under a lot of pressure,' he said on the Counter Pressed with Flo Lloyd-Hughes and Friends podcast.
'The thing about it, I don't think people understand the amount of pressure they were under from the whole nation, especially when it gets down to the last game.
'I can't emphasise enough how much they would miss Sam Kerr and the star she is. The team making it happen, scoring four goals and beating a team like Canada, the Olympic champions like they did, fantastic.
'She (Catley) is very dangerous. The left side of Australia was great all night, the way they really hammered Canada down the side. I thought they were brilliant and bamboozled them down the left side.
'It was amazing, unbelievable atmosphere. Going into the game, it felt like something was in the air.
'They (Australia) came out of the blocks exactly how you'd want to, they didn't get too emotional about the crowd. Ellie Carpenter, I saw her ramping up the crowd at one stage, and that was really cool.'
![Ellie Carpenter was pumped after the win, lauding the incredible Australian fans](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73824511-12358703-image-a-12_1690852683823.jpg)
Ellie Carpenter was pumped after the win, lauding the incredible Australian fans
![The atmosphere at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium was electric, according to Wright](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73824547-12358703-image-a-14_1690852702247.jpg)
The atmosphere at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium was electric, according to Wright
![Enthralled fans cheer on the Matildas at a live viewing site in Adelaide](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73824529-12358703-image-a-13_1690852691920.jpg)
Enthralled fans cheer on the Matildas at a live viewing site in Adelaide
Wright singled out a few players who stood up in Kerr's absence, though she is expected to be able to play in the Round of 16 game (expected to be against Denmark) next Monday, provided her calf has healed.
The Premier League legend said what the side could achieve without Kerr, or risking her calf, was so important.
Wright was unequivocal that Kerr is the best striker in the world, but lauded a number of Matildas who stood up.
'We mentioned Mary Fowler. We know what she does creatively, and she was unbelievable. She did very well with the link up play,' he said.
'What you want from Mary Fowler is to get a couple of goals while Sam Kerr is not playing (and) get her confidence up ... she came to the fore tonight.
'The longer they can go without Kerr, the better. When she is needed hopefully it won't be a problem with respect to her ankle or calf regarding how bad that is. If you can get the further you can go with a player like
'Sam Kerr is half-chance specialist. She is the greatest striker in the world for me at the moment, the best No.9 in the world. The longer you can go where you don't need her ... the better it will be for Australia.
'I have to say, Caitlin Foord (was) brilliant today. Cooney-Cross? Player. I've already tried to tap her up.'
![Ian Wright said goalscorer Mary Fowler was 'unbelievable' in Kerr's absence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73822219-12358703-image-a-16_1690852742290.jpg)
Ian Wright said goalscorer Mary Fowler was 'unbelievable' in Kerr's absence
![Wright was also very impressed with young midfield star Kyra Cooney-Cross (right)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/04/73824713-12358703-Wright_was_also_very_impressed_with_young_midfield_star_Kyra_Coo-a-40_1690861193310.jpg)
Wright was also very impressed with young midfield star Kyra Cooney-Cross (right)
![Sam Kerr (left, pictured hugging teammate Alanna Kennedy after Australia's win) didn't play a minute in the side's victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/01/02/73824585-12358703-image-a-19_1690853226703.jpg)
Sam Kerr (left, pictured hugging teammate Alanna Kennedy after Australia's win) didn't play a minute in the side's victory
For all his praise of Australia, Wright was scathing of the reigning Olympic champions, who looked completely lost in defence and barely generated a chance in attack.
A tearful Christine Sinclair, who has scored the most goals in International women's football history, played her final game for Canada, but Wright said that unfortunately it wasn't a good one.
He also singled out the high-profile pair of Manchester United star Adriana Leon and Carpenter's Lyon teammate Ashley Lawrence.
'They (Australia) played the perfect team, because Canada had nothing ... unfortunately Christine Sinclair ... didn't offer anything, same with Leon,' Wright said.
'(Jessie) Fleming (Chelsea midfielder), Ashley Lawrence, it was just a very poor performance. Australia blitzed them.'
Australia are expected to play a strong Denmark side in the Round of 16, with the game being played at what will be a sold-out crowd of more than 75,000 people at Sydney Olympic Park at 8.30pm next Monday, August 7.
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