Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has revealed she considered giving the game away after the Tokyo Olympics.
The 30-year-old has become a household name after her heroics in the Women’s World Cup in Australia last year.
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In a world record 10-round penalty shootout against France, Arnold was compared to a brick wall, making several saves in the dramatic finish.
After that, she was dubbed the “Minister for Defence” ahead of the semi-final.
Deputy Prime Minister and defence minister Richard Marles even jokingly resigned and “handed my commission to Mackenzie Arnold”.
But the life of a football goalkeeper isn’t an easy one and Arnold has had plenty of downs, including her Olympic experience.
Paris will be Arnold’s third Olympic Games, but after being selected for in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, the shot-stopper has only played one match, a group stage win over Zimbabwe in Rio.
She was overlooked in every match in Tokyo.
In a video shared by the Matildas, Arnold was asked: “What do the Olympics mean to you?”
“Nah, I’m not answering that — you know why. I’m not answering that,” Arnold said.
However, Arnold did eventually open up.
“When I think of the Olympics, obviously I haven’t really been part of the team directly in the last two Olympics,” she said.
“I think I only played one in Rio and obviously was part of the extended squad in Tokyo.
“When I think about potentially playing in Paris, it brings a lot of emotions up, and excitement’s obviously a big one.
“I think I’m just so proud of myself to have gotten to this stage, because if I think back to three years earlier to when Tokyo was, I was probably nearly ready to quit.
“So, if I fast-forward to now, I’m just really proud to see how far I’ve come, and my mindset and the change in that to get me to this place.
“So yeah, I’m excited.”
A lot has changed since the last Olympics however, with Arnold seen as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Having played for West Ham United over the past four years, she recently announced a move to the Portland Thorns in the American NWSL.
The Matildas finished fourth at the Tokyo Games and fourth at the World Cup – and Arnold believes Australia are primed to break through for a medal.
“Everything is now pointing to the direction that it’s time to get a medal, and I think the team is better than it’s ever been and I think we’re all in such the right mindset right now that we all believe in each other,” Arnold said.
“We believe in our team that it’s our time to get the success that we deserve, and I think this is the tournament to do that.”
While the Matildas are seen as a red hot medal chance, the side will be doing it without inspirational skipper Sam Kerr, who is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered earlier in the year for Chelsea.
The Aussies will be desperate to prove women’s football legend Julie Foudy wrong, after the two-time Olympic gold medallist for the US shut down the Matildas’ chances.
“They can get out of their group but I think (a medal) might be a bridge too far this time without Sam Kerr, with Caitlin Foord coming off an injury, with Katrina Gorry in the midfield coming off an injury,” Foudy told News Corp.
“I worry they don’t have the health to sustain them.
“We know you’re going to need all 16 players (this tournament), it’s a grind.”
The Matildas open their campaign against Germany on Friday morning at 3am AEST.
Source Agencies
