Arnold: Every game is important

CommBank Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold emphasised that every game was important in the lead up to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027.

She was speaking in Karlsruhe, Germany, as the team prepares to take on the World No.3 side on Saturday morning (AEDT).

"I wouldn't say we really take any game as a friendly," she said.

"Every game is really important, especially around this time leading into the World Cup. Germany is a top side, and same with Haiti. We're going to come up against similar opposition, maybe the same opposition. So we've got to take every game very seriously. 

"It's going to be different, I suppose. Different people coming in, different people coming out. So it's a good opportunity for us to grow as a team, learn what we want to do heading into the World Cup, and face this opposition at such high quality."

She said that the camp was all about getting used to new faces while continuing to embed the team's fast-paced style.

"The biggest importance of this, the next couple of games, is just trying to get on the same page in such a short amount of time," she said.

"We don't ever have that much time when we're in camp, and we know it's limited time heading into the World Cup. So we're trying to get familiar with each other. We're still the same team. We're still very fast. We want to attack. We want to press. We always have pace up front. So I think we still have the same strengths. It's just going to be different things that different people bring to the team."

After the high of the home World Cup three years ago, Arnold said she was keeping calm when looking ahead to Brazil.

"I don't think I want to bring too much of the last World Cup into this one," she reflected.

"I know it's going to be a very different World Cup. It's a very different environment. We won't have as many home fans, probably. So, it's going to be very different. 

"I'm a very different goalkeeper as well. I've played a lot more. I'm in a different club. I would hope that I'm more confident. So, I've got a different perspective. Going into it now, we have a goal for ourselves and a standard that we want to achieve, and we want to get better than the last World Cup. It's going to be different. We're going to take the momentum from last World Cup into this, but it's going to be a very different experience for us than the last one."

There are plenty of connections between the Matildas and Germany at club level, with the likes of Jamilla Rankin and Hayley Raso plying their trade in the Frauen-Bundesliga. For Arnold, there will also be a familiar face amongst their opponents - Portland Thorns teammate Marie Müller.

"It's going to be cool to face Marie - this is her first time back in camp since coming back from her knee [injury], so it's going to be cool to see her back in there," she said.

"Germany as a whole is a very high quality team, and we're very well aware of that. We know that we're going to face this kind of opposition in the World Cup, and to be the best, you've got to beat the best. So we're really looking forward to it, and I think it's going to be a big stepping stone for us."

She said they had prepared well in training, and she was looking forward to getting out on the pitch.

"In training, we try and replicate as much as we can about what they're going to do, and different options that I can look for in a game," she explained.

"Obviously, you can't ever really predict exactly what they're going to do, but we try and get as close as we can and do all the research we need to. So I think we're prepared well. I'm looking forward to it."