Matildas star reveals the strange habit that got out of control at the World Cup as team get ready to go for gold at the Paris Olympics

Matildas star Kyra Cooney-Cross has vowed to keep things simple at the Paris Olympics - unlike what unfolded on home soil during the Women's World Cup last year as the team got carried away with a bad habit.

The midfielder - who is only 22 - admitted Tony Gustavsson's squad were 'so superstitious' as they reached the semi-finals for the first time.

'We were all wearing the same undies and bra or we all had to get our nails done,' Cooney-Cross told News Corp.

'If we changed something then we would say that was why we lost the game or why we didn't do so well.

'I didn't get my nails done against Nigeria and we lost. So then I had to get my nails done for every game.'

But come the Games in Paris, the Arsenal young gun only plans to have one consistent pre-game ritual - a shower before boarding the team bus.

Cooney-Cross firmly believes it leaves her 'feeling fresh' before lacing her boots.

She is also looking forward to playing in the middle of the park with Katrina Gorry, who missed the Tokyo Olympics as she was pregnant with daughter Harper.

'Mini [Gorry] took me under her wing [when she resumed playing] and she's just been so good,' Cooney-Cross said.

'She's a mum now and she brings that into camp as well. She has brought the best out of me and she does the same with Charli (Grant).

'I look up to her so much and I'm really looking forward to playing with her again.'

After finishing fourth in Tokyo and then the World Cup, the Matildas are desperate for a medal.

They take on Germany in their Group B opener on July 26 (AEST) in Marseille, before further matches against Zambia in Nice (July 29) and the US in Marseille (August 1).