If the Matildas are overawed at going further than the team ever has before, they are doing a good job of concealing it. When veteran duo Tameka Yallop and Lydia Williams faced the press on Monday, it was business as usual – the content of their answers may have betrayed the significance of the moment, but there was nothing in its delivery that suggested anything out of the ordinary. Unimportant friendly or the biggest game in Matildas history? It was hard to say from the pair’s composure, body language and demeanour.
It was more of the same 24 hours out from Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against England. Coach Tony Gustavsson was his usual affable self, ever-friendly, ever-willing to indulge questioning, eyes lighting up when a more tactical query was lobbed his way. Mackenzie Arnold, fresh from her starring role in the quarter-final win over France, was sticking to script and keeping her remarks brief – she is a woman of few words at the best of times.
