Women’s World Cup: Matildas star Mary Fowler opens up on preparation after limited game time
Matildas star Mary Fowler has shrugged off a worrying lack of game time leading into the World Cup — and says her time spent on the bench has made her a better player.
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Mary Fowler played just 170 minutes in the Women’s Super League this season — her first with powerhouse club Manchester City – but the Matildas forward says sitting on the bench has actually improved her game ahead of the World Cup.
Fowler, who joined City last year on a four-year deal, took to the field in 11 of City’s 22 WSL matches this season with all but one appearance lasting less than 25 minutes.
She also played in two Cup games, racking up an extra 150 minutes of game time.
While she is a key piece to the Matildas strike force Fowler was up against some of the best in the game for minutes at City, including Aussie teammate Hayley Rasso and Jamaican star Khadija Shaw.
Her rise to signing with one of the biggest football clubs in the world followed stints with W-League club Adelaide United and then three years with French side Montpellier HSC.
Game time is what players, at any level, strive for, especially in the lead up to a World Cup. But Fowler, talking in her role as an Adidas athlete, isn’t concerned she hasn’t had much of it.
“I believe that everything happens for a reason and once you accept the kind of role that you’re playing for your team you can show up for them in other ways,” the 20-year-old said.
“That’s the kind of growth I’ve had as a person, where even though I’m on the bench I still want to show up for my team and I want to support them as much as I can because everybody that’s out there deserves to play and the team is the most important thing.
“I have to remind myself that I’m young and I’m at a big club and it’s okay to take time with things. I’ve got a lot of time ahead of me.
“Looking back to when I first got there to how I am now I definitely see progression in my game but also in me as a person so for me it has been a successful year, regardless of how it looks from the outside.”
Fowler said the extra time on the bench had driven her to put even more effort into training and make the most of her game appearances.
“I don’t think it has impacted my preparation for the World Cup,” she said.
“I think it just happened in a different way than I probably would have expected but at the same time I’m training with world class players every day, with staff that are world class so I’m getting top level exposure to football every single day.
“It is still a great environment for me to prepare for the World Cup.”
The tournament will be Fowler’s second World Cup – she was named in the 2019 squad, as a 15-year-old, but didn’t get on the pitch.
“I think back to that World Cup and I was just very young and so excited to be there,” she said.
“I didn’t really know who I was. I’ve had quite a few years to grow up a bit and I feel much more comfortable in knowing who I am, what I bring to a team and my value.”
WORLD CUP PAY PACKETS REVEALED
FIFA has revealed that every player at the Women’s World Cup will receive a pay packet this tournament with the players in the winning team set to take home $400,000 each – it’s a big increase from the 2019 cup but still a far cry from what the men earned.
Fowler said she didn’t play for the money.
“For me personally I’m always so grateful for what I’ve got and I’m always of the opinion that there’s people out there that do really tough jobs like nursing, that get a fraction of what we get,” Fowler said.
“I feel like as much as there is this whole thing between men and women in sports and their comparisons, the change definitely needs to happen for people at all levels of sport but for me personally where I am at and for what I’ve got I would not feel comfortable asking for more.
“From meeting people and understanding the kind of work that they do there are a lot of people with really hard jobs that get a fraction of what we get so I just always want to remain super grateful for what I have because I have more than enough.”
RANKINGS RELEASED AHEAD OF WORLD CUP
The final rankings ahead of the World Cup have been released with the USA still the top ranked women’s team globally.
The Matildas kept their spot at 10th place.
Interestingly Canada, in Australia’s pool for the World Cup, dropped from sixth to seventh – swapping places with Spain.
Ireland, the Matildas’ first opponent of the World Cup, have accumulated their highest FIFA rankings points putting them 22nd.
RUSH FOR WORLD CUP TICKETS
Social media groups for the Matildas and World Cup are flooded with requests from desperate fans trying to snag tickets – with more than one million sold they are now hard to come by – especially for the Aussie games.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said a total of 1,032,884 tickets had been sold – officially passing the total sales for the French Cup in 2019.
“Australia & New Zealand 2023 is on track to become the most attended FIFA Women’s World Cup in history,” he said.
“The future is women – and thanks to the fans for supporting what will be the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever.
“The momentum is building in the host countries and across the globe, and I look forward to seeing you there to witness the stars of women’s football shine on the world stage.”
MATILDAS STAR OPENS UP ON SIX-MONTH BATTLE WITH HORROR INJURY
The Matildas' keeper ranks have been bolstered with rising star Teagan Micah cleared for her first game in six months, after recovering from a nasty concussion that left her “bed bound”.
Micah, 25, was injured while playing for Swedish club FC Rosengard in December 2022 in a Champions League match.
The keeper made a brave challenge but caught a blow to the head from Benfica’s Cloé Lacasse’s foot early in the second half.
Micah had been in impressive form, with Matildas’ coach Tony Gustavsson pulling her into the squad to replace injured keeper Lydia Williams in the four games Australia played leading into December.
She posted on social media overnight that she was finally fit to take the field after a very long recovery.
“Six months on the sideline and I’m back,” she wrote.
“I don’t think words can express the journey I’ve been on, but I’ll try my best.
“The last thing I expected was to be hospitalised with a major concussion in December just eight months out from the Women’s World Cup.
“I spent about two months struggling to get through a ‘normal day’ and found myself bed bound for most of it.
“My mental health declined so fast and this injury has given me a whole new perspective and appreciation for my everyday health.
“From not being able to even go on walks to feeling so nauseous and dizzy with chronic headaches after training, I struggled so much with the idea of ever being able to play professional football again.
“I’m so grateful for the people that helped me along my journey to recovery.
“The coaches and staff at the Matildas and FC Rosengard have helped me immensely in my recovery back to the field.
“I would also like to give out so much love to my family and friends who during this time saw how much I struggled and were always there to pick me back up each day.
“I think most importantly Dr Brandi and our SSSM staff I wouldn’t be playing football without you and I’m endlessly grateful.
“I can’t wait to keep pushing and see where the next few months take me.”
The Swedish season is only halfway through so Micah still has a few weeks to prove her fitness before the Australian Women’s World Cup squad is named.
Micah was part of the 2019 World Cup extended squad but didn’t make her debut until 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics. She now has 14 caps to her name.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on July 20, with Australia playing Ireland in their oepning match.
Originally published as Women’s World Cup: Matildas star Mary Fowler opens up on preparation after limited game time
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