After making her first start in nearly 12 months for Australia, goalkeeper Teagan Micah said that she was feeling “really good.”
Micah made a number of sharp saves in an eye-catching performance on Sunday evening.
“I felt really good, to be honest,” she said.
“I feel like I’m training really well, and I feel really good in my environment at Liverpool, so that helps as well.
“For me, it was just getting out there and just doing a job and having fun with the girls.”
The game was extra special for Micah as she got to play in her home state of Queensland in front of friends and family.
“It was probably the first time my Dad and my sister had seen me on home soil… it felt really good to be able to play in front of family,” she said.
“Anytime you put on the jersey, it’s an honour, no matter where you are. So yeah, really happy.”
The 27-year-old explained that with Tom Sermanni coming in as Interim Head Coach, and a new permanent appointment on the horizon, it was an opportunity for all players to impress and show what they can do.
“It’s a fresh slate,” she said.
“A lot of people haven’t played in our team for a long time, so it’s good to see a lot more rotation and a lot of players getting up and stepping out into their chances.
“It’s exciting, and it’s an even playing field now.”
Micah was first-choice goalkeeper during Tokyo 2020, before a combination of injuries – including a long-term concussion - and top-quality performances from teammate Mackenzie Arnold saw her remain on the bench for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and Paris 2024.
She expressed that she takes things one game at a time, acknowledging that the goalkeeping spot in the team is never guaranteed.
“One thing I’ve learned over the course of my years in the Matildas is that the number one is never really set,” she said.
“It’s always in and out. It’s always about your most recent performance. So for me, it’s just one game at a time.”
Finally, Micah acknowledged the impact of the crowd on the Gold Coast, particularly after some wild weather earlier in the day.
“It’s so exciting to still see everyone get around us, especially on the back of the World Cup,” she said.
“The support means everything, and we wouldn’t be here without it, so keep filling up our stadiums because we love it.
“The crowd gets around it, especially with the Brazilian playing style… any time we can use the crowd as energy is good for us.”