US captain Lindsey Horan predicts Australia will be "absolutely fire" at their home Women's World Cup, saying they will reap the rewards of in-form stars and their meticulous coach.
The Matildas kick off their campaign against Ireland on Thursday night and, like many, Horan will be watching to get a gauge on their potential rivals for the title.
Horan has seen enough from Australia's recent form under Tony Gustavsson, an assistant during the US World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019, to be concerned.
"Australia is going to be one of the best teams going into this World Cup," she told AAP.
"They're going to be absolutely fire coming out of the gate with quality.
"I know Tony well and I know how he's going to set up the team and and he's going to be the most prepared ever and make sure the team is the most prepared ever.
"That is very, very exciting for that group."
Horan, recently elevated to co-captain by US coach Vlatko Andonovski, knows several Matildas well through club tie-ups.
While at Portland Thorns, she counted Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso as teammates, and moving to Olympique Lyon last year, she was delighted to count Carpenter on her side once more.
The pair are "close friends", with Horan there for the 23-year-old when she suffered a career-threatening knee injury in the 2022 Champions League final.
"The most admirable thing that I saw this past year was just how seriously she took her injury and how professional she was with it," she said.
"I made sure to tell her that, 'we are looking at the World Cup. That is all that matters right now and you want to be at your very best 100 per cent ready for that World Cup"
"I didn't need to say it to her ... everything she did was about getting back and and being prepared.
"That was really cool for me to see. It's admirable for a young athlete like that."
Horan was less pleased to encounter Foord at club level last season, when the winger scored twice in the Champions League for Arsenal in a 5-1 away win in Lyon.
"Oh, I hated her ... it was super annoying," she laughed.
"She had an absolutely incredible season. I was so proud for my friend, also because I'm an Arsenal fan."
Horan said she was thrilled to see the 28-year-old hit her stride as her home World Cup nears.
"She seems so free and so confident. Everything has been flowing: every step, every touch, every finish," she said.
"She's going to be incredible in this World Cup. Up until she plays against the US, hopefully in the later stages."
Horan and thetwo-time reigning world champions begin their campaign against Vietnam on Saturday at Auckland's Eden Park.
