Australia will face defending Olympic Gold Medalists Canada in back-to-back matches over the coming week.
Following Mackenzie Arnold’s withdrawal from the CommBank Matildas squad, Liverpool keeper Teagan Micah looks to be head coach Tony Gustavsson’s first choice ahead of the fixtures.
After making her Barclays Women’s Super League debut last weekend, Micah is in high spirits. Liverpool’s summer signing recorded a clean sheet in what was a dominant display from The Reds as they claimed a 4-0 victory over Brighton Hove & Albion at Prenton Park.
After putting pen to paper at Liverpool in July, Micah reflected on the emotions that came with joining the Barclays Women’s Super League side.
“I was really, really happy,” Micah said when speaking in a Football Australia press conference. “Obviously, I hadn’t played a lot of football in the lead-up to signing, so I was really grateful that they wanted to take that chance with me and they wanted me and recruited me.
“To sign for such a big club is an honour and all my family and friends are super-proud of it as well. To say that I play for Liverpool is kind of what you dream of as a kid really, to play for a club like that.”
Reflecting on what it has been like working with Liverpool manager Matt Beard, as well as first team goalkeeping coach Joe Potts, Micah expressed her upmost enjoyment towards the experience thus far.
She said “It’s good. I think it’s a really good environment for me. I really like Pottsy (Joe Potts), he’s a really good goalkeeping coach and Beardy (Matt Beard) is a good head coach. They’re just very good people, very welcoming and it’s very much like a family, so I have enjoyed it.
“It obviously was tough getting in there and not playing and it felt like I was kind of on catch up because I missed a lot of pre-season with the girls. I knew I just had to be patient and just keep working at it and then your opportunity will eventually come.”
Australia proved to be a formidable force in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, the co-hosts only falling short at the hands of England in the tournament’s semi-final. Following what was an excellent campaign for the Australian side, the nation’s love for the CommBank Matildas has made its way across the ocean and into the Barclays Women’s Super League. Micah is pleased that fans are taking a keen interest in the players’ individual club careers.
“I like it because I feel like before it was mainly just the Matildas, but now they’re starting to follow our journeys with our clubs as well,” Micah said. “Obviously, that’s better for the club and better for the league over there, so I do love that people are now starting to have a bit more investment in not just what we do with the Matildas.”
Micah’s focus now shifts to Australia’s upcoming friendlies with Canada. Tickets for the fixture on 2 December are reported to have sold out in just eight minutes of their release. Following fellow goalkeeper Arnold’s withdrawal from the squad, Micah spoke on her confidence heading into the possibility of being head coach Gustavsson’s first-choice goalkeeper to face the Canadians.
She said “Obviously, I’ve just played with Liverpool, so that’s given me a bit more confidence and this is a big opportunity against Canada. They’re a top 10 nation, so it is a big opportunity for myself. I just want to get in there and give a good performance with the girls.
“I’m excited, they are such a good team. I think we’re both building towards hopefully qualifying and having a good Olympic campaign. They are Olympic Gold Medalists, so they do have a very good squad behind them. It will be a good hit-out and it’s important for us in our lead up as well.”
The CommBank Matildas’ upcoming friendly against Canada takes place at Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia on 2 December 2023.