Clare Polkinghorne knows better than just about anyone what’s at stake when the Young Matildas hit the biggest stage of all.
Now Polkinghorne, capped 145 times for the Matildas and destined for legendary status in the Australian game, can look back and see the 2006 U20 Women’s World Cup as the tournament which solidified her Matildas aspirations.
Now, she’s urging the Young Matildas currently gathered in Costa Rica for the 2022 edition of the age-group tournament – the first Australia has qualified for since 2006 – to take nothing for granted, and enjoy every moment, as the next wave of senior Matildas get a genuine taste of World Cup football for the very first time.
It will test them like nothing before, says the Matildas veteran – and show them what aiming for the top involves.
“The U20 WWC exposes players to international football, which will be completely different to anything they have experienced as a player,” Polkinghorne told KEEPUP. “Once you are at a World Cup, whether age group or not, you have the best players from around the world competing for the biggest trophy there is.
“Players are more skilled, more technical, teams are more tactically aware and prepared, the coaching is of a higher standard and the game is played at a much higher intensity. Therefore it’s a great opportunity for players to challenge themselves against this, see where they excel and see where they may need to improve.
“Having this international experience at a young age will only benefit them as players moving forward in their careers.”
READ: THE A-LEAGUES TALENT GIVING YOUNG MATILDAS ‘A REAL CHANCE’ AT U20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Polkinghorne made her senior Matildas debut at the age of 17, in June of 2006 against China. It was cap one of 145 and counting accrued over the following 16 years.
Just months after her debut, Polkinghorne travelled with the Young Matildas to Russia for the U20 World Cup.
“The U20 Women’s World Cup was my first taste of international football and looking back now (it) was where my goal of playing for the national team was solidified,” she said. “There were players in the team such as Sally Shipard and Collette McCallum who were already playing for the Matildas and I remember seeing how they trained, how they performed on the international stage and wanting that for myself.
“I probably wasn’t thinking as much about making a career out of football, as I was aspiring to play for the Matildas.”
Polkinghorne played 90 minutes in all three of Australia’s group fixtures: a 3-0 win over New Zealand, a 2-0 loss to Brazil and a 1-1 draw with Russia.
Joining her at the tournament was Lydia Williams – who recently joined Polkinghorne in the 100-cap Matildas club.
The Paris Saint-Germain custodian looks back on her own experience at the U20 World Cup as an opportunity to experience what its like at the top table of international football.
“My advice I’d give to the young ones going over to represent Australia is: just have fun!” Williams told KEEPUP.
“Soak it all in. Enjoy it. Learn as much as you can from your coaches and people around you.
“Play for the people that have made it, that haven’t made it, your family and friends back home and people who are supporting you all around the world.
“Know that it’s the first journey into professional football. Just live it all up – and make sure you take lots of photos! That’s what I needed to do.”
Together, Williams and Polkinghorne have gone on to combine for nearly 250 senior Matildas caps throughout their careers after playing alongside one another in Russia in 2006.
“I don’t have too many specific memories of the tournament itself, but I do remember the preparation that went into such a major tournament,” Polkinghorne said. “It was a step up in terms of the way we prepared as a team. I do remember how proud I felt to walk out, sing the national anthem and represent my country at an international level.
“I also remember how much of a step up the intensity, technical and tactical aspects of the game were at the youth world cup, compared to what I had experienced before.”
It was Polkinghorne’s first experience of a major tournament; a year later, the then-18-year-old was starting in the World Cup proper, in the heart of the Matildas’ defence against Ghana at the 2007 tournament.
The opportunity is there for members of the Young Matildas squad currently in Costa Rica to follow suit, with the 2023 Women’s World Cup on home soil just around the bend.
There are players in Leah Blayney’s squad heading into the U20 tournament with senior Matildas caps to their names, with Jamilla Rankin, Bryleeh Henry and Jessika Nash all having debuted under Tony Gustavsson and set to take part in Costa Rica.
Then there’s Sarah Hunter, the Sydney FC midfielder impressing at every opportunity at Liberty A-League and U20 level, Charlize Rule, who terrorized ALW defenders bombing on from full-back for the Sky Blues last season, and Sheridan Gallagher, the Western Sydney forward and Young Matildas captain whose explosiveness could be key to Australia’s progression from the group phase.
But for all 21 players preparing to face host nation Costa Rica in Australia’s first game in Group A on Thursday (12pm AEST), Polkinghorne has a simple, encouraging message.
“I would say just enjoy the experience.
“These opportunities do not come around often. With 2006 being our last appearance at the U20 WWC, it’s evident that you can’t take anything for granted in this sport. Enjoy the challenge, perform to your absolute best and enjoy every moment.
“It’s a great opportunity to compete against the best players from all over the world. And it is no doubt going to be beneficial for their developments as individuals.
“It has been great to see these players developing and growing in the domestic league in Australia, and this is a great opportunity for them to go up against players from around the world on the international stage. It is exciting for us to be able to see our young footballers on the international stage, which is something we haven’t been able to see for a long time.”
Match Details
The Young Matildas are in Group A alongside host nation Costa Rica, Brazil and Spain. The 16-team tournament will see two teams progress from each of the four groups into the quarter-finals.
All games will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on SBS Australia.
Costa Rica v Australia
Wednesday, 10 August 2022 (local)/ Thursday, 11 August 2022
Venue: Estadio Nacional, San Jose
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm CST (local)/ 12:00pm AEST
Broadcast: SBS Australia
Brazil v Australia
Saturday, 13 August 2022 (local)/ Sunday, 14 August 2022
Venue: Morera Soto, Alajuela
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm CST (local)/ 6:00am AEST
Broadcast: SBS Australia
Australia v Spain
Tuesday, 16 August 2022 (local)/ Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Venue: Morera Soto, Alajuela
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm CST (local)/ 12:00pm AEST
Broadcast: SBS Australia
The squad
Blayney’s 21-strong squad includes 17 players who featured in the Liberty A-League last season:
- Sally James (Melbourne City)
- Naomi Chinnama (Melbourne City)
- Charlize Rule (Sydney FC)
- Ella Tonkin (Adelaide United)
- Jamilla Rankin (Brisbane Roar)
- Sarah Hunter (Sydney FC)
- Bryleeh Henry (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Hana Lowry (Perth Glory)
- Cushla Rue (Wellington Phoenix)
- Paige Zois (Melbourne Victory)
- Alexia Apostolakis (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Jessika Nash (Sydney FC)
- Sheridan Gallagher (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Chloe Lincoln (Canberra United)
- Kirsty Fenton (Newcastle Jets)
- Miranda Templeman (Adelaide United)
- Kahli Johnson (Sydney FC)
Abbey Lemon (Blacktown Spartans), Greta Kraszula (VCU Athletics), Jynaya Dos Santos (Football NSW Institute) and Daniela Galic (Football NSW Institute) join the 17 players above in completing Blayney’s 21-player squad.
READ: ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE’ AWAITS FOR 21 YOUNG MATILDAS SELECTED FOR U20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
