CommBank Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond is set to make her 170th national team appearance on Tuesday evening, overtaking Clare Polkinghorne to become the most-capped Australian player.
The 32-year-old isn’t letting that get in the way of the team’s goal, however, which is to produce the performance they need to defeat China PR and advance to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ final.
She was speaking alongside Head Coach Joe Montemurro in Perth ahead of the semi-final at Perth Stadium.
“The most important thing tomorrow night is to go out and get the job done,” she said.
“We've worked incredibly hard this tournament to get ourselves into the semifinals, so tomorrow night will be all about the team performance. On a personal level, it's something that you'd obviously be quite proud of. Let’s wait and see.
“My debut was actually against Korea DPR in 2010 with [former Head Coach] Tom Sermanni, and a lot of the girls who are here today in the squad have been a part of my career since the start. It’s obviously really special. But what will cap off the night will be getting that win.”
She had a simple answer to what has made her international career so special, and that’s the people she has played with.
“I would probably just say the girls who have grown up with from a young age - the likes of Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso, the list goes on,” she said.
“That's also what makes our team quite unique, and a special group to be a part of.”
Her coach, Joe Montemurro, heaped praise on the midfielder.
“Her football intelligence, her reading of the game, her technique – I think she's one of the best footballers that we've produced, and that's the reason why she's here and spent so long in the national team,” he explained.
“We have good discussions about football and technique and things like that, and that's unique. I don't know if she wants to follow in her father's footsteps and be a coach or something like that. I'm trying to tell her not to be a coach!
“But even beyond football, I think what Emily can contribute to us and what her family has contributed - because her father [Gary] is an amazing coach, too - is really special. It’s about Emily, but it's also about the contribution that the Van Egmond family has made to football.”
Montemurro confirmed that both Steph Catley and Hayley Raso would be available for the match after missing the quarter-final due to symptoms of concussion, but would not elaborate in what capacity they would take part.
He explained that the team’s focus would be making better decisions in possession against China.
“It's probably been the emotion and the moments and the situation of the way games have gone [against Korea Republic and Korea DPR] that we haven't been brave enough to control the ball,” he said.
“As you all know, my way of thinking is with the ball. The focus has been on that. We feel that we're probably playing a team that is very well structured, very well organised. It’s going to be up to us, in understanding the moments with the ball and making the right decisions. That’s been the message going into this game. I'm looking forward to it because the last two games have been interesting.”
Van Egmond said she was expecting a tough battle against China PR, who won the competition’s previous edition in 2022.
“Every single time we face China, whether it's been a friendly match or in a tournament, it's always been a really good game,” she said,
“They're a tough opponent. Ante Milicic is the Head Coach who previously used to work with us. We’re expecting a tough game, but one that will be, hopefully, full of control for ourselves and just an enjoyable performance on the night.”