Matildas super sub Emily Gielnik has emerged as World Cup wildcard after stunning display
The Matildas have unearthed a potential menace to rock their World Cup opponents, with the powerful Emily Gielnik stepping into the spotlight with a stunning strike against South Korea.
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Powerful Melbourne Victory striker Emily Gielnik looms as the Matildas’ wildcard at this year’s Women’s World Cup in France.
Gielnik has scored in both of Australia’s Cup of Nations wins, including a screamer in her side’s 4-1 thrashing of South Korea at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night.
Standing at 183cm tall, Gielnik’s height and strength is a constant menace for opponents, as his her versatility, which has caught the attention of new Matildas coach Ante Milicic.
“(She) can play on the left and on the right, (and) she’s very good when she can get in those positions and face forward and be direct … left and right foot, very, very strong,” Milicic said.
“(She is) capable of taking players on as well one-(on)-one.”
Gielnik revealed that Milicic had given her the simple instruction to “play free”.
“We have that flexibility of whoever’s on there from the front line being able to adjust and swap positions at different times, which really puts off defenders, makes us unpredictable and gives us that bit more freedom to express ourselves,” Gielnik said.
“That’s whether I’m on the left or the right. It just changes things up.
“The fact that Ante is really open to us being free up there really gives us that confidence. He backs us to do the job in whatever role that we’re in.”
Being granted such liberty from Milicic gave Gielnik the confidence to unleash with a sizzling angled strike that flew into the net and capped off Australia’s win over the Koreans.
The goal was extra special for the ex-Brisbane Roar star as her Queensland-based family were in the crowd.
“It was nice. My mum, she really gets stressed watching my football and thinks I’m going to get hurt,” Gielnik said.
“It was the first Matildas game she’s ever come to watch, so that goal was for her.”
Milicic’s rotation of his squad, which will continue on Wednesday night when Australia meet Argentina at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, meant Gielnik had to wait for 80 minutes to get on the park.
But thanks to her super strike, the wait was worth it.
“There’s nothing better than playing on home soil and being able to put in a good performance,” she said.
“Ante did mention to me that he was going to put me on but things can change and you can never rely on that.
“I appreciate every minute I get. It’s such a great opportunity that you get to play for your country. It was nice to have gotten at least 10 minutes and I think I made the most of that opportunity.”
Originally published as Matildas super sub Emily Gielnik has emerged as World Cup wildcard after stunning display
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