World Cup torment behind Emily Gielnik’s refusal to give up on Matildas dream

Football is life for Emily Gielnik and no amount of pain will stop her pursing her dream to once again play for the Matildas.

Emily Gielnik of Melbourne Victory poses for a portrait during an A-League media opportunity at Birrarung . Picture: Getty Images

Football is life for Emily Gielnik and she plans to play through the pain of her almost career-ending ankle injury for the chance to represent the Matildas again.

The striker missed the chance to represent Australia at the home Women’s World Cup earlier this year – her ankle so badly injured she couldn’t even run.

Despite coach Tony Gustavsson finding a winning formula and the side finishing fourth in the world Gielnik is refusing to give up on her dream to don the green and gold again.

It’s not the first time the forward has been on the outer – being dropped from the 2015 World Cup squad and 2016 Rio Olympics team before working her way back in for the 2019 World Cup and Tokyo Olympics campaign.

She was let go by English Women’s Super League side Aston Villa after injuring her ankle in March.

Far from ready to hang up her boots, a revamped A-Leagues’ women’s competition convinced her it was the right time to come home and re-join Melbourne Victory.

Emily Gielnik is back in Australia after re-joining Melbourne Victory. Picture: Getty Images)

WORLD CUP TORMENT

Gielnik has played a key role in many of Matildas’ big moments but has also missed a few after being dropped from the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics squads.

Sheer determination saw her back in the green and gold for the 2019 World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics – it’s a feat she hopes to perform again.

The 54-capped player said she didn’t want to experience the pain of missing out on a major tournament again – especially after the recent Women’s World Cup.

“(Missing the World Cup) was the toughest point in my career to date, most definitely an emotional one,” Gielnik said.

“It was a hard one to miss out on but that’s life and I’ll grow from it. Things were out of my control with the injury and I just wasn’t anywhere close to being back in time.”

Gielnik is still unsure on when exactly she will be back on the pitch but is adamant her triumphant return isn’t far away.

“I’ve managed to avoid surgery but it’s still not off the cards,” she said.

“I have a high pain tolerance so it might just be something that I manage all season – it’s always going to be painful, but I chose playing football over having a bit of a sore ankle.

“I’m just going to push through it, I just have to be able to push through it safely from a medical perspective.”

Missing out on the World Cup was one of the toughest moments of Emily Gielnik’s career. Picture: Getty Images

THE INJURY

The 31-year-old said she had wanted to be out on the pitch for the club’s opening match against Brisbane Roar, which Victory lost 2-1.

“I’ve been back with the team now for a little bit so we’re just evaluating the risk versus reward because we’re in no rush,” she said.

“For me I could play through anything but as I’ve gotten older I’ve tried to be less stubborn and voice what I’m feeling.

“I would have played that last round but it just wasn’t safe to do so.

“I can definitely push through this year, I’m extremely competitive and I’m dying to get out there and get on the scoresheet.”

Emily Gielnik has has played a key role in many of Matildas’ big moments. Picture: Getty Images

THE FIGHT

The chance to be back on the Matildas team, especially with an Olympics looming, is a motivating factor for Gielnik to push through the pain at training and on the pitch.

“I’m trying to put it in the back of my mind, even though it’s pretty much all I think about right now,” she said.

“First and foremost is my short-term goal of just getting back on the pitch and if I’m playing good football my opportunity will arise again.

“I’ve got to start from scratch again and get myself back in there.

“That’s the hardest part about it, staying in the team and I haven’t been a part of it for quite some time now. I’ve had a rough year with injuries.

“That’s the goal for me, but it only happens if I purely focus just on these games and what’s in front of me, being in good form and scoring goals.”

Emily Gielnik is eager to get back out on the field for Melbourne Victory.

MOVING BACK HOME

This is far from Gielnik’s first time in the A-League. She has made 109 appearances in the domestic competition, netting 46 goals. The striker was also part of the Victory team which took out the premiership in 2018/19.

It was the introduction of a full home and away season that convinced Gielnik to return home this year.

“It was one of the boxes I needed to tick, a good facility to start with but also a full season,” she said.

“In the past the league has been a three to four month season, you lose a couple of games and you’re out of the final, so now it’s full time and it’s professional and it’s what it’s needed for a long time.

“I hope it will get us more European players over here – the only issue will be the financial perspective. The salaries over in Europe are a lot higher, I’ve taken a big cut to return home but hopefully we can advance in that and then look to get some really high quality experienced players and some of the national team overtime back in the league.

“We need to keep growing off the back of this World Cup, it would be a shame for it to be at a standstill or to even go backwards.”

Melbourne Victory play Western United on Sunday at 4pm (AEDT).

Originally published as World Cup torment behind Emily Gielnik’s refusal to give up on Matildas dream