by Ben Gilby (12/7/24)
Above: Hayley Raso in training this week at the Matildas pre-Olympic camp in North Spain. Photo: Rachel Bach / Football Australia.
Whilst Australia have evolved their style and added depth to their squad since last year’s World Cup, attacker Hayley Raso feels that experiencing high pressure and overcoming adversity in ways like never before at last year’s tournament will be the key lessons that will assist the Matildas to head towards a medal at the Olympics.
Speaking to the media yesterday from the squad’s pre-Olympic training base in Marbella, the former Manchester City and Real Madrid star said: “Playing in the World Cup, we were able to feel what its like to play in these pressure moments, play in these big tournaments, so we kind of know where we are at with that, we know we can play under immense pressure.
“Coming into the Olympics now…you are always going to be playing a hard game, but for us we know there’s a medal on the line and that’s something we’re looking to achieve. Every game will be tough but we’re up and ready for it.”
Whilst the majority of the Matildas side have tasted the unique experience of an Olympic Games, this one is going to be very different from the last one in Tokyo, and Raso reflected on both the enormity and excitement of what is about to hit her and her team mates.
“The last Olympics for me was really special, it was my first, it was such an exciting time, but…with COVID it was a little bit different, playing in the stadiums and having no fans, none of our friends and family were there, so in terms of the actual tournament, it was a little bit different.
“So for this time around, I’m really looking to having my family there, the fans, a little bit more of a different experience. Being an Olympian is such a special feeling, I think it’s something you dream about from a child, I did, so to be here, to be at my second Olympics and represent Australia and hopefully go one better (than fourth place last time) is something I’m looking forward to.”
Saturday evening (local time) sees the Matildas take on Canada in their final friendly before departing for France. Raso believes that playing a top quality opponent in the defending Gold medallists is vital to get Australia ready for the intensity of such a short tournament.
“It’s important to play a stronger team like Canada as we know in the Olympics there are no easy games, all the groups are tough, all the games are tough because there are not that many teams (12) so I suppose…it’s about going into that game freshening things up, working on things and we’ll peak for come the Olympics,” the attacker said.
As with the World Cup, Australia are heading into a major tournament with a question mark over the fitness of their captain. For Sam Kerr in 2023, read Steph Catley in 2024. A leg injury has kept the Arsenal star out of tomorrow’s game. Raso feels that whatever transpires, the Matildas have a plan for every eventuality.
“I know she (Catley) is on an individualised plan, working on that, so I think she’ll be trusting the guidelines of the physios and we’ll go from there.
“Injuries are part of football, it’s pretty normal to have players in and out. We are a good, strong, solid squad. No matter who is in the team or who is out of the team we know that whoever is playing in the moment will step up, it’s the same in training.”
Raso comes into the Olympics on the back on less game time than she would have liked at Real Madrid, a club she departed at the end of the Liga F season. Despite that, the attacker has been a constant top performer in the national team and is confident of continuing her influential run for the Matildas.
“I’m feeling really good, really excited. It’s nice to finally be here, back with the girls where I feel most confident. Coming back off of the club, I was training hard and I had a nice little rest and refresh.
“Scoring goals is obviously a great thing. As a striker it’s something I want to do. Playing for the national team I’ve been able to do that a lot recently, and I think it’s really important in these moments, in these pressure games, in these high intensity games that I’m able to do that. Having players out, other players have to step up and I think a few of us have done that, but I hope to be able to continue that and get my first Olympics goal…
“When I think about my time at Real Madrid, I think about how much I enjoyed it. Going into a new environment, a new culture, and not speaking the language, I was nervous, but I felt like I really fitted in well there. Playing that style of football, obviously the Spanish won the World Cup, so the standard is so high, every game, every day in training, playing in the Champions League, all of those things were things I wanted to do, so I leave there very happy and content that I did all that I could.
“European football and the growth of it there has been huge, and it’s been amazing to see, and that’s why a lot of us are over there playing so we are able to be at a top level when we come into the national team.”
In terms of her next club move, Raso was tight lipped: “All of that will come into focus in due course, at the moment all my focus is on the Olympics. We’ve got this period now to prepare for that…I’ll sort all the rest out after that.”
Right now, The Matildas are lasering in sorting out their preparations for a medal at the Olympics, and you would not bet against them achieving that.
Images of Matildas training from Thursday from Rachel Bach / Football Australia
Keep an eye out for Impetus‘ detailed preview articles on every one of the nations competing at the Olympics Women’s Football competition, starting on the site tomorrow with the first Group A nation.
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