FEATURE: MELISSA BARBIERI MY LIFE AS A MATILDA selection however. Simply because you were a part of the qualifying process does not ensure you a place to be a part of the World Cup team. That is football! So, you then start to ensure you are doing all you can to be selected. Always moving from one goal to the next, not many moments to rest on your laurels for too long. What is the qualifi cation process like? For the Matildas we have a tournament called The AFC Asian Cup. At the tournament play is setup into two groups INTERVIEW WITH FORMER and the top 5 fi nishers get to go to the World Cup. Asia as a football region now MATILDAS CAPTAIN gets 5 spots; when previously there was AND GOALKEEPER only 2.5 spots given to the region. Technically, it now makes it easier for MELISSA BARBIERI us to progress, but you still want to do well at every major tournament as it is Melissa Barbieri What’s the preparation like as a a precursor to the World Cup. If you want to be World Champions you need What are the emotions you team both through qualifi cation? to take every tournament seriously. experience as you go through the Qualifi cation is a nerve racking On a personal not you always want to lead up into a world cup game? experience. You know that you cannot perform your best not only for World have a bad game or the chances of you Cup Selection but also to achieve the So many things become a factor to qualifying reduce massively. There are best results. preparation. You can be worried about teams that you automatically compete game time, you can be comfortable harder against and raise your own What’s it like once you’re at the knowing you’ll be playing or comfortable performance level for because they are World Cup? knowing that you won’t be playing. You a better team than others. Then there can be angry, excited, content, focused is a chance that you take the lesser teams The World Cup is like a fairy tale for a and anxious. You’re extremely proud to too easily, however, they have an added footballer. You get put up in 5-star hotels be representing your country and just factor because they are so unpredictable. with security everywhere. You get police want to perform well. If you’re carrying You have to respect each and every escorts to all training sessions and an injury it can be a very stressful time as opponent or they can be your undoing games and when you’re in and about well. Pressure to perform under an injury and you may not even qualify or the task the community you are treated like cloud is tough and needs to be managed. at hand becomes harder than it should superstars. For many female players This can destroy a team if you don’t have been. it’s the fi rst time they really get noticed manage this well. You want to have your in public and get surrounded by fans best players playing but not to the What is the preparation like once wanting a picture or an autograph. In my detriment of their health and wellbeing, you’ve qualifi ed? opinion the women love to interact with as well as the teams overall performance. Once you have qualifi ed it is like this the fans because they really do appreciate weight is lifted off your shoulders and the support. It’s not about ego at all. What does your warm up/ pre- you can really start to relax. That feeling A real genuine heart felt thank you to match routine consist of? remains right up until the cut throat those that come and watch. preparation for the World Cup starts. I make sure that pre-game I have done There are no guarantees with team as much self-massage or stretching as 18 VOLUME 36 • JUNE ISSUE 2018