A commentator for Australian network Channel Seven has been criticized for a comment he made about Matildas star Katrina Gorry during the team鈥檚 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in the Women鈥檚 World Cup on Thursday.

鈥淐ertainly, motherhood has not blunted her competitive instincts, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� David Basheer said during commentary of the match. 鈥淪he is one fighter for Australia.鈥�

CNN has contacted Channel Seven for comment.

Gorry, 30, gave birth to her daughter Harper in 2021.

Social media was rife with criticism of Basheer. One Twitter user described the comment as 鈥減ainfully ignorant,鈥� while another asked: 鈥淗as he met many mothers? If anything鈥檚 going to make you formidable and fierce it鈥檚 motherhood!鈥�

Australia鈥檚 hard-fought 1-0 win over Ireland got the co-host鈥檚 campaign off to the best possible start, despite being dealt the blow ahead of kick-off that captain Sam Kerr would miss the opening two matches of the tournament with a calf injury.

Seven said its coverage of Australia鈥檚 match against Ireland attracted an average audience of 1.94 million, peaking at peaking at 2.28 million viewers.

The match also registered a 47.6 per cent share of the country鈥檚 audience.

The Matildas return to action next Thursday when they face Nigeria.