ParaMatildas aiming to go one better at World Cup in Spain

ABC NEWS (Australia)

No Australian team has ever won a soccer world cup, but that could change this month. The ParaMatildas are about to kick off the cerebral palsy world cup in Spain as the top ranked team.

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00:00In 2022, the Paramatildas were mere moments from World Cup glory, losing to the USA in

00:07extra time.

00:08Now, on the eve of the second ever IFCPF Women's World Cup, the team wants to avenge that heartbreak.

00:14I think that that has really fuelled our fire and our motivation to take out that number

00:20one spot.

00:21So my expectation that the girls will come in absolutely firing.

00:25The expectations are high for us this time around.

00:28We're really keen to win the whole thing.

00:31The Paramatildas are Australia's national football team for women with cerebral palsy,

00:35acquired brain injury and symptoms of stroke.

00:37All-time top scorer Bykoff has been integral to the team's success.

00:42It's been really cool being able to play para football and really test my body and really

00:48test my skills and my talent.

00:52Since the 2022 World Cup, the Matildas effect, as well as the continued growth of para sport,

00:57has seen the emergence of a new generation of young stars.

01:00One of them is 16-year-old Anne-Marie De Oriate, who is in line to make her major tournament

01:05debut.

01:06I think everyone feels a little nervous, but yeah, I maybe get some nerves just being the

01:10youngest one out there, maybe not being as experienced, maybe.

01:16The Paramatildas' tilted football history begins on Friday morning, when they take on

01:20Japan in Sulu.

01:21Paramatildas!

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