My Matildas Story: Aivi Luik - 'I hope people become aware of how good we really are'
Matildas midfielder Aivi Luik hopes France 2019 can be the catalyst for another surge in interest in the ever-growing women's game.
It's nine years since Luik, then playing for Brisbane Roar in the fledgling Westfield W-League, broke into the national team.
Now 34 and playing her club football with Levante in Spain, she has seen the level of backing grow to unprecedented heights and will get another first-hand view of just how feverish the support can be at her first FIFA Women's World Cup this month.
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"I would hope it increases the interest in the women's game," Luik, who has collected 21 caps for Australia, told www.matildas.com.au.
"A few years ago, whenever we were in camp, in hotels, you would get in an elevator and one or two people say 'who are you guys?'.
"Football was the very last thing they thought of.
"These days, people kind of know who we are, thanks to the growing talent and our rankings in the world, and our success.
"I hope that continues to grow and people become aware of how good we really are."
Watch the full interview with Aivi Luik in the video at the top of the page.
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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)
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