By da640 - 15 Dec 2010 10:30 AM
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/caitlin-foord-illawarras-next-world-cup-hope/2023375.aspx
The woman who delivered Australia's first major football trophy believes Illawarra wunderkind Caitlin Foord could join her at the World Cup.
Kyah Simon, who scored the decisive penalty for the Matildas in the Women's Asian Cup final last May, declared the schoolgirl could force her way into the senior national squad in time for Germany 2011.
Foord, 16, was dynamic as Sydney FC overcame a lacklustre first half to defeat Perth Glory 2-0 at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
Simon, who scored in the 71st minute after fellow Matilda Leena Khamis broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, lavished the Lake Illawarra prodigy with praise.
"Anything is possible, the W-League is [an] example of players who can make it and get a spot in the World Cup team, it's just a matter of whether she wants it more than someone else," she said.
"She has that pace to push forward and get in behind, she gives us something up the park."
Sydney FC coach Alen Stajic - who snapped up the promising teenager after the Central Coast Mariners withdrew from the women's competition earlier this year - ordained her a future international.
"She could be in any time, it's up to her to push out someone who's already in," he said.
"It could be any time, it could be next week, it could be next month. She's definitely got the capabilities to be a senior international."
Foord rose to prominence after carving up junior defences as a striker, but played at right fullback, right midfield and up front on Saturday.
Stajic said that new-found versatility could push Foord's case for a green and gold jersey.
"We've got three or four good strikers already and she's only a kid so it's good for her to learn a few positions," he said.
"She didn't look out of place today at all.
"Definitely [it could help her reach senior international level], we tried her at right back in a trial and she did really well.
"If Caitlin wasn't playing at right back she'd be trying to push Kyah Simon or Leena Khamis out of a position.
"In the long run it will be good for her progression."
Although Foord only has a handful of games left this season to attract the attention of Matildas coach Tom Sermanni, she admits to dreaming of securing a World Cup berth.
"It should be, if I perform well enough," she said.
"I've played a few W-League games now, so I'm feeling more comfortable.
"I thought I did pretty well today, I was better in the second half, I pushed up to right wing."
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