Arsenal defender Catley wary of the threat of understrength United States | OneFootball

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·26 November 2021

Arsenal defender Catley wary of the threat of understrength United States

Article image:Arsenal defender Catley wary of the threat of understrength United States

Arsenal defender Steph Catley says that Australia cannot take world champions the United States lightly this weekend despite the nation having an understrength squad.

The 27-year-old is a member of the Australian squad which will face the United States in two international friendly games in Sydney tomorrow and in Newcastle on Tuesday.

The United States have travelled without a number of star players including Catley’s Arsenal teammate Tobin Heath. Despite the nation having a more youthful squad with less experience, Catley said that Australia cannot underestimate their latest opponents.


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“Obviously, you look at those names that are missing and you think that it is a young team, it is inexperienced but I think that they’ve got so much depth in their team that these players that are coming over are going to be so hungry and so excited to be playing and having their opportunity to perform,” Catley said when speaking in the pre-match press conference.

“You have to be very wary of players like that because they’ll bring a lot of energy, they’ll run all day and give everything that they can. That’s a different challenge in itself, they have got so much depth – they’ve still got the likes of Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Cat Macario, Lynn Williams, they are just a team that are full of pace and power.

“They are going to be hungry to take their chance and show what they are made of so that’s something that we are going to have to be very wary of.”

Australia may need to defeat the United States at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand in 2023 if they are to win the tournament and Catley said that this weekend’s game acts as a good dress rehearsal.

She added “It is a really good opportunity to get your mindset in that game, obviously, that is where we want to be (challenging the United States for the World Cup) in that point in time.

“Being on home soil, in that stadium, it would be sold out, it would be absolutely incredible. As players, you want to be as prepared as you can for situations like that and this is like the perfect training ground to get your mindset locked into it and into a situation like that.

“We are playing against the number one team in the world, we are going to have a big home crowd so it is perfect for us. We are excited for what that game might hold in the future as well.”

Australia’s international friendly against the United States in Sydney kicks-off at 4am (UK time) tomorrow morning.

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