As she prepares to make her World Cup debut, Kathrine Kuhl has been reflecting on a “crazy” period in her life that has seen her career skyrocket.
In the past year, the Danish midfielder has featured in a European Championships as a teenager, before making a move to Emirates Stadium in January and now is heading into the World Cup.
It’s been quite a rise for the former Nordsjaelland player, and she is relishing the latest opportunity to fall in her path as Denmark look forward to competing at their first finals since 2007.
“It’s a dream come true being able to play in a World Cup, especially with me being so young,” Kathrine said. “I never thought this would happen to me at the age of 20. It was a crazy feeling being at the Euros last summer and I’m really looking forward to it again, but it’ll be even bigger this time.
“Any tournament on the big stage where you can really show your country and the world what you can do is an amazing opportunity. I hope we can do well and perform as a team most importantly; when you do well and stick together as a team that impacts your individual performance on the pitch.”
Kathrine will get the chance to make her tournament debut against China on Saturday, before coming up against clubmates Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo’s England six days later. Denmark then finish off their group games with a meeting with Haiti, hoping to make it into the knockout stages for the first time since 1995.
And having gained valuable experience in the latter stages of the Champions League following her arrival seven months ago, Kathrine feels that she will be well-prepared should a similar situation arise in Australia and New Zealand over the coming weeks.
“I am quite new to [Arsenal] having just joined in January and it’s obviously been a crazy journey since then!” she added. “It’s really been a great experience for me playing at the highest level here at Arsenal and with some of the best players in the world.
“Now going into a World Cup I feel prepared the best way I can. Training with these girls every day just makes me feel confident playing in the World Cup so I’m really looking forward to it.”
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