Logarzo beaming with pride as she gets set for first FIFA Women's World Cup

John Greco 1559086705,1559086704

The pride she gets in wearing the Australian badge is a huge motivating factor for Chloe Logarzo as she heads to her first FIFA Women’s World Cup, an opportunity she was not sure she would get just a few months ago.

Logarzo experienced the highs and lows of football in February’s Westfield W-League Grand Final.

The 24-year-old scored the match-sealing goal in Sydney FC’s 4-2 win over Perth Glory, only to suffer a serious leg injury eight minutes from full-time.

There was a thought the injury could scupper her hopes of getting to France, but the Sydney-born attacker has worked feverishly to get back to fitness and force her way into Ante Milicic’s 23-player squad for the tournament.

Now on the cusp of fulfilling a childhood dream of playing at a World Cup, Logarzo is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

“To represent my country is an amazing feeling for me [not] just to make my family proud, but to be able to do it for my nation as well,” Logarzo told www.matildas.com.au.

“This is my first World Cup, on the world’s biggest stage, and something that means so much to me. I have given so much of my life up for football and to be able to be rewarded for that is an amazing thing for me.

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“In the last four months I didn’t know if I would be here. I fractured my leg in the Grand Final of the W-League and it was a long hard road for me to get back, but I am finally here and it is really amazing.

“The amount that we give up to be here and represent our country, I am really humbled and really happy to be here.”

Chloe Logarzo has worked hard to get herself back to full fitness for the World Cup — Chloe Logarzo has worked hard to get herself back to full fitness after fracturing her leg in the Westfield W-League Grand Final

This is Logarzo’s first time in camp with coach Ante Milicic, having missed February’s Cup of Nations and the USA friendly in Denver as she recovered from her leg injury.

The squad wrapped up their time in Antalya, Turkey, on Wednesday (AEST) and will now shift base to Eindhoven for this weekend’s final pre-World Cup hit-out against the Netherlands.

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Around 25,000 tickets have already been sold for the match against the reigning European champions, with a crowd of 30,000 expected inside Philips Stadium (kick-off Sunday 2.15am AEST).

“[The Netherlands friendly] is going to be good for us, especially for the younger ones if they haven’t played in front of that many people – it will be a good experience for them,” Logarzo said.

“It’s [the atmosphere] going to be exactly like [playing at the World Cup].

“We have got to take it not just as a practice match, but really take it in our strides and use it as good leverage [for the FIFA Women’s World Cup].”

Teigen Allen and Chloe Logarzo share a joke ahead of training in Antalya, Turkey — Teigen Allen (left) and Chloe Logarzo share a joke ahead of training in Antalya, Turkey

FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C – Australia Matches

Australia v Italy
Date: Sunday, 9 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes
Kick-off: 9.00pm AEST (1.00pm local time, same day)

Australia v Brazil
Date: Friday, 14 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Kick-off: 2.00am AEST (6.00pm local time, Thursday 13 June)

Jamaica v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Kick-off: 5.00am AEST (9.00pm local time, Tuesday 18 June)

Click below to #GetOnside for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ in Australia