Fears over defensive frailties are mounting after 5-3 and 3-0 losses to the United States and Netherlands respectively ahead of Sunday’s Group C opener against up-and-coming Italy in France.
That fragility has injected a dose a sobriety into talk of a golden generation of Australian players reaching unprecedented heights over the next month.
Foord, though, contends that the goal threat posed by herself and the likes of Sam Kerr, Lisa De Vanna and Tameka Yallop can go a long way towards negating any fissures at the other end of the field.
The Sydney FC and Portland Thorns attacker is heading into her third World Cup buoyed by the belief that - despite the question marks - the sixth-ranked Matildas are credible contenders.
“We have quality all around the pitch but it’s certainly the case that the most depth we have is upfront,” she told The World Game.
“We have a lot of players who can score and create goals, and that makes us dangerous to any opponent.
“The competition is quite intense for spots and really anyone can start and do a good job. It’s a huge positive for us.”
Foord - now 24 - became the youngest Australian to play at a World Cup when at just 16 she appeared at Germany 2011, where she was crowned Best Young Player of the tournament. She was also the AFC’s Player of the Year in 2016.
Approaching France - where Australia tackle Brazil and Jamaica after Italy - she said the feeling is “very different” from her previous World Cup experiences
“I’ve got a different mindset going into this one than the previous two,” she added.
“Especially over the past four years where we’ve proved we can compete with the best and beat the best.
“That has triggered the belief in our team that we can go to France and come home with the trophy.
“I don’t think we ever had that level of confidence and that feeling going into the previous World Cups.
“That’s one one reason why I’m extremely excited.
“The first time I was very young and didn’t quite appreciate how big a deal it was to play at a World Cup.
“The second time around we were growing and had a better team and knew we were good.
“But we just hadn’t taken it to the next level yet.”
Foord thinks they have now, and despite the gulf which still exists between themselves and powers like USA and England, she sees a path laden with possibilities.
“We’ve got that extra bit of experience now and I truly believe if everyone in our team is at their individual best, and we play as we know we can, we can beat anybody on any given day.
“You always need that bit of luck and hopefully it’ll come our way.
“The gap in women’s football has closed so dramatically that it’s going to make every game in France extremely tough.”
Lauded by coach Ante Milicic as potentially “one of the best players in the world”, Foord hasn’t set any personal targets in France, insisting she gets as much pleasure from creating goals as scoring them.
“I don’t care who puts them in the net, so long as we win,” she said. “If we do that then I’m happy.
“To me an assist is just as good as a goal. I love setting up my teammates. It’s a team sport and it’s the team that wins, not the person he scores a goal.”
