It says loads in regards to the Matildas’ goalkeeping scenario that it took 34 caps for Mackenzie Arnold to consider she was really deserving of the first-choice custodian’s spot.
And that thirty fourth nationwide group look solely got here within the Matildas’ most up-to-date match – April’s 2-0 win over England in London.
It was additionally a sport performed nearly 11 years after Arnold’s Matildas debut as a young person in November 2012 in opposition to Chinese Taipei.
Since then, Arnold has been a part of the Matildas’ World Cup and Olympic Games squads with out establishing herself as a everlasting fixture within the beginning 11.
Veteran keeper Lydia Williams had all the time been a hurdle to beat earlier than the emergence of Teagan Micah out of the blue relegated Arnold to being Australia’s third-choice keeper on the Tokyo Olympics two years in the past.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson’s fixed altering of his beginning keepers additionally didn’t assist Arnold’s confidence or perception that she was worthy of a spot in Australia’s greatest group.
“For the longest time it was just Lydia and me competing, and I felt like I was on the way, and then ‘Teags’ comes in and she’s competing with us too,” West Ham keeper Arnold, now 29, mentioned.
“The order has changed so much that … you’re always trying to figure out ‘where does he (Gustavsson) see me’ and ‘where am I in this pecking order’.
“It does get hard for sure when you’re over-thinking each and every decision he makes. It does get a little bit mentally exhausting.”
However, the uncertainty began to ease at February’s Cup of Nations match in Australia.
Despite being with the squad, Micah was unable to play because of lingering results from concussion, whereas Williams was a late arrival in camp due to membership commitments with Brighton.
“Automatically, I thought ‘he (Gustavsson) has to play me’,” Arnold mentioned in recalling the build-up to the Matildas’ opening match of four-team match in opposition to Czechia.
The Matildas received 4-0 in Gosford, with the Gold Coast product performing nicely between the posts.
“I had nothing to lose. I probably was third keeper at that point, so I thought if this was going to be the last game I got until after the World Cup, then so be it, but to do everything I could to at least make myself happy and put in a performance that I was proud of,” she mentioned
“Thankfully, I took my opportunity – in the past I hadn’t done that.
“The girls really got around me and that’s really what pushed me for the next couple of games.”
Arnold has now began in 5 successive matches for the Matildas, together with the memorable win over the Lionesses three months in the past.
“That was the first game that I really felt that (goalkeeper’s spot) was my position and that this was my team,” she mentioned.
“I felt like I belonged there, I felt more comfortable, and I was able to just play my game and be myself rather than rather than trying to focus on not making a mistake or not giving (Gustavsson) a reason to take me out of the team.
“It just felt normal and it felt really good.”
However, Arnold remains to be undecided if she might be beginning within the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup opener in opposition to Ireland on Thursday week in Sydney.
“I would like to think so, but we still have another game to go before the first game of the World Cup,” she mentioned forward of the Matildas’ pleasant in opposition to France on Friday night time in Melbourne.
“I feel like I’ve done all I can recently, and I feel like I’m moving in the right direction, but it comes down to Tony’s decision and that’s something that I have to respect, no matter what.”
Source: www.news.com.au
