Matildas Cortnee Vine reveals how close she came to missing her World Cup dream

Cortnee Vine will play a pivotal role in the Matildas’ World Cup hopes, yet the speedy winger almost never made it to the highest level, revealing how she almost gave it all away.

You will be hard pressed to find a more determined player than Cortnee Vine on the pitch this World Cup.

Just a few years ago the speedy winger almost gave up on her Matildas’ dream.

Vine, 25, grew up playing football with boys a year older than her, until she turned 16 and was forced to join a girls’ team.

Things happened quickly from there – she was promptly recruited to the Queensland Academy of Sport Program and shortly after the Future Matildas.

Playing for her country and at a World Cup were two goals Vine had set for herself when she was just 12-years-old.

She wrote them on a list and stuck them to the back of her bedroom door.

While her World Cup dream became a reality on Thursday – it almost never eventuated.

When she aged out of the under-20s national side and didn’t get a call up to the Matildas her world came crashing down around her.

The lack of direction and being stuck in limbo left Vine questioning her love of the sport and she considered just packing her boots up for good.

Cortnee Vine in the girls U9 60 metre hurdles

Cortnee Vine playing aged 9

Vine’s mother Heidi, said her daughter had tried many sports including rugby and little athletics but it was football she fell in love with.

“It was easier for us to let the two kids play in the same team, at that age you can play two years up, so she was eight, playing under-10s in her brother’s team,” Heidi said.

“She basically did that right through her (junior football) career.

“When she was 16 she was told she had to go play in the girls competition. We trialled at Sunshine Coast Fire, she got chosen in the women’s team but didn’t play a game as she was called into the Queensland Academy of Sport program, then entered the W-League from there.”

THE STRUGGLE

While her World Cup dream is now a reality, a few years ago Vine almost gave it all up.

Vine had been in and around the Future Matildas squad, even playing in the under-20s national side – but when she aged out there was no offer to step up to the senior squad.

“I think in sport you go up and down. There was a bit of a low patch where I didn’t know if this is what I wanted to pursue any more,” Vine said.

“I was just kind of going through the motions with it and I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and with football at that point – it was probably the lowest point where I just was really weighing up what do I do – quit.

“Then what would I do if I did quit, because I didn’t really know what else I liked.

“I was in a really low point in life as well, like in my anything else other than football mentality.”

Instead of giving in and staring at the goal she would never get to mark off the list on the back of her bedroom door, Vine asked for help – reaching out to a sports psychologist through the Future Matildas Program.

It proved a turning point- allowing Vine to refocus and delve into why she was struggling to enjoy the one thing she had always loved.

“It was all about focusing on things I can control,” Vine said.

Cortnee Vine of Sydney FC take shoot a goal during the A-League Women's Grand Final

“At that point I obviously wanted to make Matildas and I wasn’t making it, under-20s was done so I had no national team other than Matildas at that point.

“(The psychologist) stripped it back and said to focus on things I was in control of, so I’m in control of getting better, if I want to improve my passing or if I want to improve my fitness or get stronger – focus on what I can control because I can’t control if I get selected in the national team,” Vine said.

“So I chipped away at the little things like that and started to do a bit more mental work, which I’m still doing and trying to get better mentally every day and stripping it right back to just trying to enjoy the game.”

Heidi said it was hard to watch her daughter struggle, especially as she knew how much joy football brought her.

“I think that challenges are there for a reason and you have to find a way to get through them; mentally, physically and emotionally,” she said.

“Trying to guide her to the right sort of people and mentors was the hardest thing to do.”

FRESH START

Then the opportunity to play for Sydney FC in the A-League Women’s competition came knocking.

Before that she had played for Brisbane Roar, Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers.

“I knew a lot of the girls were my age and I’d played with them before and I thought it was going to be really fun thing to be a part of and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made in my career and having Ante (Juric) as my coach,” Vine said.

“It made me fall back in love with the game and enjoy football.

“I look forward to every session and I think I’m in the best form I’ve been in, in my career as well.

Vine found herself at Sydney FC, picking up the Player of the Year Award in 2022.

Heidi said the change in Vine was recognisable on and off the pitch.

“I guess she felt like she was being valued and supported,” Heidi said.

Cortnee Vine of Sydney FC and team mates celebrate winning the A-League Women's Grand Final

“It’s about what’s around and the support and the network and the people away from the pitch.”

Juric said when Vine came to the Sky Blues she had things work on physically and mentally.

“She had a few mental weaknesses in a sporting context, she was down about herself sometimes and if she made a mistake she would get pretty down or hide herself in a game,” Juric said.

“But we worked on that and spoke about not putting as much pressure on herself. I think being in the supportive environment Sydney FC where we back our players regardless of mistakes helped.

“I’m big on the mental side of things. I believe in letting things go but working hard to improve – she has improved out of sight. While we expect wins at Sydney FC we still play with a smile on our face.”

Physically Vine had to work on her touch and dribbling.

“She was too quick for her own good,” Juric said. “Her touches weren’t quite there but she worked on that and her finishes – now she finishes more than she misses. She did a lot of stuff on her own, outside of training which showed a great commitment to improve herself.

“She has gone from someone with potential to someone who is world class.”

MATILDAS CALL UP

The reward for her success domestically was the long awaited call up to the Matildas squad.

Making her debut against the Philippines, in India, as part of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Now just over 12 months later Vine is part of the Matildas’ starting 11 and a key player in Gustavsson’s mission to win the World Cup.

Vine blitzed the field in the match- tearing up the wing, as if the Irish player’s boots were filled with cement. She played the first 75 minutes – never far from the action – and one of the few players able to break through Ireland’s tough defensive line-up.

With striker Sam Kerr out injured it is likely Vine will earn another call up against Nigeria.

Looking back Heidi said she never once doubted her daughter wouldn’t achieve her goals.

“She has always written her goals down and followed them,” Heidi said.

“She watched the Olympics with Cathy Freeman and said she wanted to run fast like Cathy, then she would watch soccer and Messi and say I want to go to the World Cup and be at the Olympics.

“I feel that she’s always had it in her. She has had to make lots of sacrifices and she’s grown up pretty quick but she’s always been grounded.”

Cortnee Vine in action against Ireland

This past season she played a crucial role in helping Sydney FC to their third straight A-League Women’s premiership and first championship since 2019.

She scored seven goals and registered eight assists for the Sky Blues this season.

Vine has even netted three goals in the green and gold – against Czechia, Spain and Jamaica in the Cup of Nations tournament earlier this year.

The versatile winger is the only Matilda still playing in the Australian domestic league – but it isn’t something Vine really thinks about.

“I think there are so many quality players here as well that you kind of forget that,” Vine said.

“Sometimes I forget I’m a Matildas and that I’m at the top and playing national games. I’m very happy playing in Australia but going overseas is not off my radar.”

Vine said it was “crazy” to look back to her struggles a few years ago and almost giving up. While Vine is yet to recommit to Sydney FC for the 2023/24 season – as she is waiting to see what opportunities present themselves after the World Cup – she still hopes the tournament helps grow women’s football in Australia.

“Hopefully the Aussies come and watch the games and get around and want to go and watch more female football and hopefully the elite leagues get more crowds – I look at what the Euros did for England and I just want that so much for Australia,” Vine said.

Originally published as Matildas Cortnee Vine reveals how close she came to missing her World Cup dream