The Matildas’ 6-0 win over Taiwan was the end of at least one era. In the 64th minute, Clare Polkinghorne looked up from her position at the back and saw her No 4 displayed on the fourth official’s board. This signalled her substitution for Jessika Nash and, in game 169, marked the last time she would leave the field as a member of the Matildas.
As Polkinghorne moved towards the dugout, she paused to embrace interim boss Tom Sermanni, the coach who had given her an international debut in 2006, and who was again taking charge in her final game as the side’s caretaker. “I just said, can you believe we were both here?” Sarmanni smiled post-game. “I mean, who would have thought, from 18 years ago, and then suddenly it’s back to that stage again.”
