While commercial sponsors and media queue up to back the Aussie water babes, the world number 14-ranked Matildas are struggling financially in the run up to September's Women's World Cup.

“Girls love soccer in Australia,” Barbieri tells au.fourfourtwo.com after training in Melbourne. “They’ll all seem to be playing the sport, but they don’t know me. They don’t know our faces in the national team [the Matildas].

“I just hope if we make the [World Cup] final, we can become household names like those female swimmers. They get all the media jobs as interviewers and they get heaps of sponsors...they’re no better athletes than us. It’s ridiculous!

“Even other countries like the US, their national women's football team all live together in LA – and LA’s no Canberra – while the Chinese have been full-time in preparation for the World Cup.

“I’ve listed on my MySpace site I want to meet a rich man who’ll put some big money into female football in this country. Then I won’t have to worry about a husband always talking about my half of the mortgage!”

While the Richmond Eagles reserves keeper is quick to point out she’s happily married, her point about finances is stingingly accurate.

Barbieri and our budget Matildas are hoping the World Cup will take them to the next level of financial earning and recognition. And they’re using the Socceroos' World Cup 2006 exploits as motivation.

“The Socceroos inspired us. I can remember when they scored against Japan. It was inspirational. Dreams can come true… anything is possible. I can’t wait for us to make Aussies fans feel the same way about us when we play at the World Cup.

“In the last World Cup we blew two games - it’s time to put our foot down and show we can win something with our never-say-die Aussie attitude. It’s important for us to show people what we’re capable of.

"It’s no use getting big results outside the World Cup. Nearly enough is not good enough anymore."

And it all starts with a tricky tie against the Ghanaians on Wednesday September 12 in Huangzhou. “Ghana are ranked lower than us but they’re very skilful and quite unpredictable,” notes Barbieri.

“The last time we played them at the US World Cup they caught us out and we took a step back. This time we won’t underestimate them.”

If the Matildas make it through the group stages, the tournament moves straight into the quarter finals.

And even though some are saying meeting a side from Group B – featuring the US, North Korea, Sweden and Nigeria - would make it difficult to progress, Barbieri is having none of that.

“Football’s a funny game. You can perform outstanding sometime. You’d love to beat the US in the quarters wouldn’t you? The US is an old favourite of mine and to beat them this time that’d be very special,” says Barbieri, who is the only female player in Victoria’s Men’s Foxtel Cup.

The Matildas were also drawn in Group C alongside Norway and Canada at the 16-nation tournament.

"It's a reasonable draw for us but undoubtedly we will have to be well prepared and be on top of our game to overcome what are strong opponents," said Matildas coach Tommy Sermanni in a press statement.

"It could have been worse and it could have better, but what it does do is give us a chance and that's as much as you can hope for in a World Cup.

"I don't think there is a great deal of difference between all the teams. To be honest, Canada and Norway are very similar in style; closely matched in their ability. They are well structured, physically tough and very competitive.”

But a fired up Barbieri, 27, who made her national team debut in a 1-0 win over Canada, is looking to put some terror into the opposition this September.

“You just want to make sure you top the group. We’ve got to put the fear of the Aussies in their loins,” she says. “So they know, so their ancestors know, we mean business this time.”