‘Dagger in my heart’: Recalled Matilda’s torment
Recalled Matildas forward Emily Gielnik says the prospect of playing in the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup on home soil has lit a “fire in my belly” as she prepares for two big opportunities in her home state.
The 32-year-old Melbourne Victory star hopes to play as a central striker in the friendlies against Chinese Taipei after being confined to roles on the periphery for the bulk of her previous 58 appearances in the national side.
Gielnik’s substitute appearance in the 2-1 loss to Brazil on Sunday was her first international match in 785 days after ankle and calf injuries cruelled her bid to play in the home World Cup and subsequent Olympic campaign.
Her return to the No.9 role for Victory has been a major success. She has scored six goals in four games to begin the A-League Women season, including a blistering first-half hat-trick against Western United last month.
“The second (the home Asian Cup) was announced, I had a fire in my belly,” Gielnik said before the friendly at her home AAMI Park pitch on Wednesday.
“Missing the home World Cup was the most difficult time in my whole football career.
“There was a burning desire to get this jersey back on, and coming back into camp and unfortunately falling short with another injury right before the Olympics put a dagger in my heart.
“It was probably the most difficult time I’ve ever had in my football career. I worked hard to get back here … and I’ll definitely work even harder to stay.”
Star striker Sam Kerr’s continued absence as she recovers from her ACL injury has presented a chance for Gielnik to play in her preferred position rather than in the wing roles she was commonly used in under Tony Gustavsson.
“I started my career as a nine but in the national team I’d been playing as a right or left winger … since Sam’s been out,’’ she said. “I find myself naturally gravitating towards a nine.
“I saw an opportunity there and at some stage she will come back in, but for me it’s all about being in good goalscoring form and playing well, whatever that looks like, to help the team win.
“I think it was a good decision for me to transition back … I’m an old-school nine. I know I’m a different kind of player to Sam and some other forwards that we have, so it’s all about just recognising that and staying in my lane.”
Gielnik said the inexperienced Matildas – who will become even more so in Geelong when Clare Hunt and Charli Grant return overseas following the friendly on Wednesday – needed to physically “assert dominance” over their opponents after a tough lesson from Brazil last week.
“I think that was important, that second game against Brazil, because it’s actually ignited something in us moving into Chinese Taipei,” she said.
“Australia’s always been known for its physicality and I think that’s something we can have dominance over Chinese Taipei.
“As frustrating as it was (against Brazil), it’s going to help us improve our game.”
