CommBank Matildas forward Emily Gielnik reflected on her first game back in the national team since late last year, explaining that it’s now all about performing in Australian colours.
The 33-year-old opened the scoring for Australia in the third minute in the team’s 3-0 victory over Slovenia on Thursday evening.
“Coming into camp was the first thing. Staying here is the most important,” she said.
“So I'll do everything I can to be a part of this team.”
She recalled her thoughts as the opportunity presented itself from a corner.
“It was a bit of a scramble, and I saw [the ball] kind of falling,” she recounted.
“I thought I was a bit out of luck when the opposing player rolled into the ball, but I launched through it anyway and somehow, it popped up.
“You make your own luck. It was just a toe poke, but I knew as soon as it left my foot that it was going through. So I’m pretty stoked.”
With 61 appearances for the national team, Gielnik is one of the more experienced players in the dressing room during this international window.
She revealed the sentiments that she shared with the group prior to the game.
“I’ve been thinking about this moment for a really long time,” she said.
“When you're out of it [the squad], you see things through a different lens, a different perspective.
“When you are not in this jersey anymore, all you do is think about it. You think about what you can do to get back into it. You think about what you can do to stay in it. When you finally get your hands on it again, you do everything you can to really live and breathe this jersey.
“I said to the girls, this is a gentle reminder that wearing this jersey is a privilege. We all need to play for each other, enjoy the moment, because we are privileged to play for our country. I just wanted everyone to take it back a notch, take a deep breath, and realise it’s a beautiful moment.”
The camp was the first under new Head Coach Joe Montemurro. Gielnik had nothing but praise for the new boss in his short time in charge.
“I’ve loved him – he’s been instrumental [already],” she summarised.
“We’ve had 72 hours with him, so there's been a lot of information to take in. I can already tell that he believes in me, and now it's up to me what I do with that belief. I've learned so much already in just three days of training.
“He gave me the opportunity to start in his first game as head coach of the Matildas - what more of an honour is there? I take a lot of pride in that. I don't want to disappoint him, and I want to do anything I can to help this team win.
“So far, I’ve really enjoyed it - the professionalism, the tactics, and the level of detail.”
This international window forms part of the team’s preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™.
Gielnik said games like the one on Thursday night against quality opposition will help prepare the team for that tournament.
“They might not be as good with us as with the ball and with the detail, but you can give teams moments, you can give teams chances,” she explained.
“So this was actually a really good game for us to learn from. We know what they are capable of now, but we also know that we're our own worst enemy. We probably need to capitalise a bit more on our chances as well. But this is a really good starting point and stepping stone. I think we can raise the bar.
“We've learned a lot tonight, and look forward to the second game against them.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | JUNE/JULY 2025 | MATCH SCHEDULE
Series One
CommBank Matildas 3 v Slovenia 0
CommBank Matildas v Slovenia
Date: Sunday, 29 June 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
Series Two
CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Saturday, 5 July 2025
Kick-off: 2.30pm WST / 4.30pm AEST
Venue: Hands Oval, Bunbury
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
