Injury has price stalwart defender Clare Polkinghorne her spot in Australia’s beginning crew, however the Matildas’ most-capped participant stays grateful for having the possibility to play in a FIFA Women’s World Cup on dwelling soil.
Polkinghorne, 34, has featured in every of the three matches Australia has performed within the event, however all of her appearances have come off the bench.
The Queenslander had appeared destined to be the Matildas’ first-choice central defender within the event till she suffered a critical foot harm in April along with her Swedish membership aspect Vittsjo GIK.
Despite nonetheless being named in Australia’s World Cup squad, Polkinghorne wasn’t match sufficient to start out in Australia’s event warm-up conflict towards France on July 14.
It opened the door for the returning Alanna Kennedy to companion rising star Clare Hunt within the coronary heart of the Matildas’ defence.
And such have been the performances of Kennedy and Hunt in Australia’s 1-0 win over the French in Melbourne, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has stored them collectively for the event, on the expense of the unfortunate Polkinghorne.
However, the veteran centre-back isn’t complaining forward of the Matildas’ round-of-16 battle with Denmark in Sydney on Monday night time.
“That’s sport – anything can happen,” Polkinghorne stated.
“I picked up an injury, which probably wasn’t the ideal time but it wasn’t the end of my World Cup dreams either, so, in that sense, it was good timing.
“It didn’t rule me out. It gave me enough time to get back. For me, my focus was making the squad and making myself in the best position possible to help the team out.
“Look, you’re at a home World Cup, and I’d rather be here than then watching.”
Polkinghorne, who has made 160 appearances for the Matildas and is enjoying at a World Cup for the fifth time, stated she was joyful for brand new sensation Hunt and Manchester City’s Kennedy.
“Clare, from her first game, she’s just slotted in like she’s been there for years, so I’m not surprised in the slightest with how she’s handled the World Cup, and playing alongside Alanna, they’re both fantastic players and really feed off each other’s energy,” she stated.
“For me, it’s a pretty good thing to sit back and watch them do what they do. It’s pretty good for me to come on when we’re 3-0 up.
“Whatever is best for the team. I’m ready to do that job.”
Polkinghorne stated the Matildas have been able to on the very least go a step additional than they did on the World Cup 4 years in the past after they have been knocked out within the round-of-16 stage by Norway in a penalty shoot-out.
“We’re in a position now where we’ve got four more years of experience, and that showed (in Australia’s 4-0 win) against Canada that we can play good mature football, and when we need to step on it we can,” she stated.
“Just that added experience of players playing in top leagues and big competitions around the world has really benefited us, and the four years of added maturity is really going to take us far.”
Originally revealed as Matildas nice Clare Polkinghorne is joyful to be at one other World Cup regardless of shedding her place in Australia’s beginning crew
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
