Matildas star Ellie Carpenter tries to ease the pressure on her team to snare an Olympic Games medal
The Matildas will adopt an ‘underdog’ mentality in their bid to finish among the medals at the Paris Olympics.
While the Matildas are desperate to claim an Olympic medal, vice-captain Ellie Carpenter insists her team has “no expectations” of success at the Paris Games.
Finishing fourth at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics three years ago still stings a Matildas squad intent on finishing at least one place higher in France.
However, Carpenter has tried to alleviate any potential pressure on the Australians to finish in the top three of a 12-strong tournament featuring most of the world’s best women’s national teams.
“We’re going into this tournament with no expectations,” the 24-year-old right-back said.
“If you look at the teams, were ranked 10th out of the 12.
“We love a little bit of that underdog mindset, but we’re putting no expectations on ourselves. We’re just going to each game wanting to win.
“Our focus is on that first Germany game (July 26 AEST) to hopefully start the tournament off very well and get the three points in the bank, but like the World Cup, we’re going to go out there, do our best and see what happens.”
Despite there being no guarantees that the Matildas’ “best” will be enough to secure a medal, Lyon star Carpenter was confident Australia had learnt from past experiences and could lift when it mattered most.
“The big matches, the pressure moments, we’ve experienced them now at the World Cup, the previous Olympics, (and) we need to rise above it,” she said.
“We need to mentally come in strong and believe that we can win.
“I know this team has so much belief. Since I came into this team (when) I was 15, that never-say-die attitude, that belief, is instilled in his team.
“Everyone is on the same page and we need everyone to be on the same page to achieve our goal, to achieve to our dream.
“Everyone knows what is at stake, and we don’t want to let this opportunity slip.”
The Matildas’ Olympics’ preparations continue on Sunday morning (AEST) when they meet Canada in a friendly clash at their training camp in Marbella, Spain.
“It’s always nice to get … the cobwebs out. Some of us have been on a break. We’ve been training really hard here in Spain, so it’ll be nice to actually play a game together and put all that (together) in the match,” Carpenter said.
“Also it gives a chance to give (players) match minutes, fitness, and just that final tune-up really.
“I’m pretty sure there are multiple subs, so I’m sure a lot of players might be playing in different positions, and we can see what players’ roles will be coming into this Olympic Games.”
Sister charged over crash that killed brother
The 19-year-old was charged during a bedside hearing, with police alleging she was driving a car that veered off the road and hit a tree, killing her brother.
Workers reach new pay deal after strike
Nine journalists have accepted a three-year 11.5 per cent pay deal in-line with inflation, following a five-day strike where staff walked out of newsrooms.