Australia women prepare for home World Cup against backdrop of historical abuse allegations

It seems random that a national team should complete a series of inconsequential friendly matches and the captain be rewarded with a 20-minute TV interview in a prime-time slot.

But such is the hero status of Australia's women's football team — the Matildas — and of their phenomenally talented skipper Sam Kerr, the country's Channel 10 jumped at the opportunity while the Chelsea striker was home to play the United States.

Presenter Sandra Sully's chat didn't reveal much we didn't already know about Kerr and her long list of awards and achievements, but the interview had an uncomfortable caveat.

«Serious questions and allegations have been levelled at the team's culture recently. And Sam made it clear she didn't want to jeopardise the ongoing investigation by Sport Integrity Australia by talking about it in detail,» Sully said in a piece to camera.

As the Matildas prepare to host the World Cup in less than 18 months' time, this is supposed to be a moment of intense excitement and anticipation for a squad that is arguably the country's most talented ever.

More pressingly, the team play their first match of the Asian Cup group stage on Friday, going into the tournament among the favourites having made the past three finals and winning in 2010.

But allegations of historical abuse have become something of a dark cloud over the team and their image, and it remains to be seen if the Matildas can fulfil the promise of a golden generation against the backdrop of public and private conversations about team culture.

In October last year, ex-Matildas striker Lisa de Vanna told an Australian newspaper she had been subjected to predatory behaviour and propositions from team-mates when she was a teenager.

She told Sydney's Daily