One recreation for the Matildas would have been sufficient for Clare Polkinghorne.
Such a selfless perspective is among the many explanation why 17 years after her nationwide staff debut, the favored Queenslander has made extra Matildas appearances than some other participant and is about to embark on a fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup finals marketing campaign.
And it’s not simply any World Cup. It’s a World Cup being co-hosted by Australia, one thing Polkinghorne doubted would ever occur throughout her life, not to mention a membership and worldwide profession that has taken her to all elements of the globe.
It’s additionally a profession that isn’t fairly completed regardless of her being 34 and having donned a Matildas jersey 156 occasions.
A call about when she is going to hold up her boots is more likely to come after subsequent 12 months’s Olympics in France.
However, for now, a grateful Polkinghorne needs to take advantage of a World Cup in entrance of household and associates on house soil.
“It’s extremely special that it’s a home World Cup – it’s definitely not something that I thought would happen in my lifetime,” she mentioned.
If Polkinghorne wanted any reminding to not take something with no consideration forward of the event that begins on July 20, it got here with a current foot damage that price her a number of matches for her Swedish membership facet Vittsjo GIK.
But for the skilled central defender, damage and choice setbacks have been part of a tremendous and rollercoaster soccer journey she has embraced and accepted since her junior days on the Wynnum Wolves and the Capalaba Bulldogs.
“That’s sport. There are ups and there’s downs along the way, and you’re never too high for too long and you’re never too low for too long,” she mentioned.
“Something I’ve always focused on is just doing things that are in my control and making sure that I’m doing everything that I can to put my hand up for a starting spot.
“Sometimes it’s not enough and other times it is enough. Sometimes you’re playing good football and other times you’re doing everything you can and you’re still not performing the way you want.
“You’ve got to roll with the punches, and that’s something that I’ve been pretty good at through my career – just having that drive and determination to continually want to be better.
“That’s probably what’s kept me going. I was just happy to play one game for the Matildas, so to do it this many times is something I’m really proud of.
“To look back on my career and what I’ve been able to achieve, and how many times I’ve been able to represent the Matildas is something I’m really proud of.”
Polkinghorne is simply as pleased with all her teammates.
Whether it was “awesome” captain Sam Kerr, rising star Mary Fowler, unheralded defender Clare Hunt, or long-time pal Katrina Gorry, who final 12 months made a triumphant worldwide comeback after changing into a first-time mom, Polkinghorne mentioned each member of Australia’s World Cup squad had “earnt” the possibility to take in the adulation and “pressure” that awaited them in the course of the month-long event and celebration of soccer.
“There’s always pressure on the home nation to do well,” she mentioned.
“Over the years, there’s been an expectation on the Matildas to win things, and that’s something that we’ve had to deal with a lot, but we’ve earnt that pressure and expectation.
“If people are expecting those things from us, that means that they’re paying attention to us and want us to do well, and that’s a good thing.
“For me, it’s also really exciting that the World Cup is about giving the next generation of players the opportunity to fall in love with the game by being able to see the best players in the world in their backyard and to see what’s possible for them as footballers.”
Originally printed as Matildas legend Clare Polkinghorne’s legacy to final effectively past FIFA Women’s World Cup
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
