by Ben Gilby (3/12/23).
Above: Remy Siemsen speaking as The Matildas begin their preparations for the second match against Canada this international window. Image: Football Australia.
Just under two years since her last international start, and within weeks of making a return to club football after a debilitating ankle injury, Remy Siemsen revealed the challenges of Friday night’s return against Canada and how she is relishing it all.
The former Sydney FC star has been doing it tough in the past few months, but things are now looking a lot more positive – and the international recall is a major part of that. “It’s something I always aspired to be part of…I love this group and the staff, so it’s great to be back in camp.”
Siemsen outlined the frustrations and challenges of getting injured just as her Leicester City side were about to kick off their WSL campaign.
“I’ve just come back from a ligament ankle injury. It’s pretty tough as it happened just a week out from my (WSL) season starting. It was pretty draining. It was motivating to get back and get game time at Leicester. It has helped being called back to the national team for my confidence.
“It feels amazing to be back. Being out for six to eight weeks was tough – sitting and watching your team mates play is not what you want to do. It was a challenge to get back from this ankle injury – I had a lot of pain around my body and inside my heart as I wanted to be played, but I’m so proud of my Leicester team mates, they’ve started the season so well.”
Friday’s game was Siemsen’s first start for the Matildas since January 2022, and it was an emotional experience. “I always get a bit teary singing the national anthem as it’s always been an ambition of mine to play for the national team…it’s something I hold close to my heart and do it alongside some of my friends in the green and gold…but obviously we played a very good opposition in Canada. They are a top ten-ranked team and you can’t underestimate any team, especially in that top ten.
“You can definitely see their quality from the goalkeeper, the backline, all the way up to the front line…as a young player as well as an inexperienced player, it was so valuable to get those match minutes in international football and play against some of the best. It shows the level and what we need to aspire to to get there. It gives you motivation for when you go back to club land what you need work on and get better at and transition into that high speed, high-intensity game.”
Whilst the result was painful, it has only made the attacker more determined to go away and work harder at her craft to ensure she does not have to wait so long for another start in a Matildas shirt.
“It’s all part of the learning of becoming an international footballer. It’s not all roses and daisies, it comes with tough spells, and it’s something as part of the growing in that. It’s sticking to the game plan that Tony (Gustavsson, head coach) wanted us to play in defence and attack, and learning how quick and how fast the game really does go. It’s a level really above anything you get. That’s why I wanted to push myself to move overseas and play in the WSL to prepare for these sorts of games and get closer to that level.”
Siemsen’s joy at making her first start for the Matildas for such a long time was allied with the first-ever starts for her former Sydney FC team mates Charlize Rule and Sarah Hunter. “I was extremely proud of them as they are both talented young players. I’m proud they have gone overseas to try two of the toughest leagues. It was a privilege to share the pitch with them and have some continuity with the (former) Sydney FC girls!”
Three years on from her Australia debut, the Leicester City striker considered how the international game has changed in that period – both on and off the pitch.
“It’s got significantly better. Quicker. Everyone is super talented…(but) it comes with a lot of public scrutiny. More people are invested with the game and have an opinion. But that comes with football, that’s something women’s football has tried to get to, be something that is always talked about.”
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