By Genevieve Henry 3/8/23
Above: Emily van Egmond scores for Australia against Nigeria: Image: Football Australia
Since slotting into the Matildas starting lineup against Nigeria, Emily Van Egmond has barely put a foot wrong. Yes, she scored a goal, but her impact has been far more meaningful than just that moment.
Van Egmond is one of the most experienced and consistent midfielders that Australia has available. She has 131 appearances and 31 goals for her country, making her the fourth-most-capped player with the sixth-most goals for the Matildas. These statistics show how trusted she has been over the years, especially before the Tony Gustavsson era. Since he took over, Van Egmond has been riding the bench and playing in roles where she does not thrive. Hopefully, these two performances have regained the trust that was formerly placed in her. She has a knack for goals in important games and world cup experience, making her the perfect player to carry the team throughout their world cup campaign.
Van Egmond is a calm player. She makes the correct decisions almost every time the ball comes to her feet. She keeps the tempo of the game at a reasonable pace, hyping up the team and bringing them down at the necessary moments. Although she may not be the most eye-catching or spectacular player on the pitch, she puts in the hard yards. She plays the simple passes, makes the runs to occupy the opposing defence, and uses her body to effectively win and keep possession. She has excellent ball-playing abilities, often sending her teammates perfect balls straight through the defence or switching the field to release an open player. Van Egmond has shown her talent for years, and her skills are being brought to light once again.
When she was announced in the starting lineup against Nigeria, almost a whole year since her last start for the Matildas, there were many sceptics. People were saying that she was too slow, uninspired, and a variety of other insults.
These people clearly had not seen her play recently. But, alongside these critics were pundits and experts that were full of praise ahead of the match. Fellow Matilda Emily Gielnik spoke highly of her to Dubzone, saying, “She has a wealth of knowledge. She’s a composed player.”
Van Egmond slotted into the team like she had never left, marshalling the side in the number ten role she plays so well. The moment the ball ended up at her feet there was barely an intake of breath at the stadium, because a player of her quality has gained the trust of the fans to get the job done. She proved that she belongs in the starting lineup, and leading up to the Canada game, no one was even a bit surprised at her inclusion.
Van Egmond has played all over the world at top clubs where she has been utilised in vastly different roles. Currently, at San Diego Wave, she is a defensive midfielder, even occasionally slotting into defence and having one of the highest defensive ratings in FIFA for the NWSL. At West Ham United, however, she was one of their primary goal scorers, playing an important role in avoiding relegation. She has had many short stays at clubs, such as Wolfsburg, Frankfurt, and many high-level teams in Australia and the United States, that have shaped her game. She has played with and against some of the world’s best players. She knows all the different styles of the game inside and out.
There are many things that Van Egmond brings to the team, but as they enter the knockout rounds of the world cup, an important thing to consider is penalties. Steph Catley has stepped up to the spot in the absence of Sam Kerr and she has stunned in these high-pressure moments, but in a shootout, they need five kickers. Van Egmond is a reliable spot-kicker, having been Australia’s go-to player to seal the deal for years. She can step up and deliver for her country. If the occasion arises that the Matildas’ regular set-piece takers are lacking in creativity or effectiveness, Van Egmond can also consistently deliver free kicks and corners.
She can play all over the midfield but excels in the number ten role. When she is utilised in that attacking position, she can relieve pressure on the striker, but it works better if there is a single nine. When Kerr inevitably returns, she and Van Egmond could become a lethal duo because they know and understand each other’s game so well. If a team has begun to figure out the impact of Katrina Gorry or Kyra Cooney-Cross, Van Egmond can be pushed back to free up her fellow midfielders. Her distribution as well as tackling abilities make her a perfectly adequate six. Wherever she plays, she will make a difference.
Van Egmond is useful everywhere. She finds herself in the right positions at crucial moments, either to put the ball in the back of the net or out of the box. She can be used to drive the team forward or soak up pressure. She is versatile, experienced, and ultimately knows what to do. Emily Van Egmond could be the key to controlling the Matildas’ world cup campaign.
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