Birthday wish for Matilda

Arnold dreaming of Paris

Games qualification looms as the perfect birthday present for goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, whose value to the Matildas continues to grow following her elevation to the captaincy at West Ham.

Arnold turns 30 on Sunday, the day after the away leg of the Matildas’ Paris Olympics qualifier against Uzbekistan.

However, festivities will be put on ice until after Wednesday night’s second leg at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

And provided the Matildas take care of business, Arnold won’t only be celebrating her birthday and Olympics qualification, but also the continuation of a stellar 12 months in which she has not only cemented her spot in Australia’s team and played a starring role in its fourth-placed finish at the World Cup, but also been appointed West Ham’s skipper.

“It’s so crazy to think that it was only 12 months ago that I was playing in the Cup of Nations and just trying to take my chance,” she said.

“I didn’t really know what was going to follow from that. To think this is where I am now 12 months later, and to see what we’ve done and what we’ve achieved as a team, to be a part of that is something that I’m so grateful for and something that I’ll hold close to my heart for a time.

“I’ve grown a lot in my confidence and my belief.

“I feel like I belong now.” Arnold was thrilled to have added another string to her bow with her captaincy role for her English Women’s Super League club.

“It’s definitely a new challenge, one that I haven’t had to focus on too much before. But I’ve always wanted to be a leader and I feel like the last four years at West Ham have been leading toward that,” the former Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory, Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra United keeper said.

“I feel like I’m someone now that the girls can look up to, and I love playing that role for them.”

Arnold’s leadership qualities also come through in her marshalling of the Matildas’ defensive unit.

“The last couple of tournaments I’ve played with them (Australia’s back four) have been really good,” she said.

“We’ve known each other for years so you’d hope that we could all play together.”

Arnold said it was essential she and the Matildas defenders remained “switched on” against Uzbekistan, with the Australians expected to dominate possession.

“It’s a bit easier to lose concentration in these kind of games if you don’t see too much of the ball, a goalkeeper especially,” she said.

“You never really know what can happen in these games.”