World Cup 22: It’s set to be one of the most exciting eight-month blocks in the history of Australian football. Melbourne City and Matildas defender Emma Checker believes it’s a “huge” opportunity for the game to grow Down Under.
Anticipation in and around football circles is building rapidly as the eyes of the footballing world turn to Qatar, with the FIFA Men’s World Cup kicking off in only a matter of days.
For Australian football fans, particularly, it’s shaping up to be the commencement of a monstrous eight-month period in the history of the sport in the country.
Not only will the Socceroos embark on their sixth Men’s World Cup adventure, where they hold the hopes and dreams of many back home in the palms of their hands, but Australia, along with New Zealand will host a Women’s World Cup on home soil in July and August next year.
Never before has Australia hosted a footballing event of this magnitude, which has the potential to have a seismic impact on the game, as the best in women’s football descend on the respective island nations.
One of the players hoping to be part of the festivities is Melbourne City defender Emma Checker, who is looking to put build on her eight Matildas caps and earn a place in Tony Gustavsson’s side come next winter.
When asked by KEEPUP about what she thinks the impact both international tournaments – that sandwich the Isuzu UTE and Liberty A-League seasons – will have on the sport, Checker summed it up in two words.
“It’s huge,” she said.
“And especially, not only with the timing of the leagues here, but also for youth football. I think it’s massive. It’s right when kids are registering for their club seasons next year and the reality is kids see everything on social media. They are drawn to sport and it will pull in more attention to football.
“I think in saying that, that will result in more numbers playing so I think from a youth aspect, it’s really important but I also think from a league aspect, it’s also being because it brings attention to the A-Leagues because of the World Cup and also the momentum that it brings to the Women’s World Cup and a home World Cup.
So it’s just like we’ve got this constant flow of exciting events and I think that it’ll be a massive eight months and I don’t think that we will have experienced something like this with football in Australia before.
Due to the Isuzu UTE A-League hiatus, the Liberty A-League will get clear air to run alongside the Men’s World Cup as the standalone domestic league over the next three weeks – before the former returns on December 9.
While the world will be keenly watching the events unfolding in the Gulf, Checker can’t help but see it as a huge opportunity for the women’s game to grow.
“It’s huge… everyone asks me if we’re pausing as well for the World Cup and I’m not quite sure how to answer it all the time,” Checker said.
“Because it goes two ways. Yes, it’s like everyone stops for those games, but it also provides us an opportunity to pull from those that would often just support the men’s game. So I think I think it is an opportunity for us and we need to really utilise it and it’s not to take away from the importance and the specialty of the Men’s World Cup.
“But it is also an avenue for us to start building a bigger audience and attention leading into our World Cup and for our league. So I’m just seeing a lot of opportunities. So I really do hope that we are able to grasp it and actually utilise it.”
During this Liberty A-League season, Checker will be one of many prospective Matildas hoping to put their hand up for selection.
After a stint at Swedish side Umea, the central defender was selected for the the October friendlies against South Africa and Denmark, but wasn’t called up for their most recent spate of matches on home soil due to injury.
With every game from now until June having that extra bit of importance given what’s at stake, Checker is trying to focus on what she can control without getting too overwhelmed.
“I have to stay grounded in my thinking because there’s a lot happening and I think it would be easy to drift off and get overwhelmed,” Checker said
“But I think for me, it sounds simple, but it is just focusing on what I can control and I think that is something I have got become better at applying and I feel like I’m making smart decisions leading into it and giving myself a chance.
“I do believe that going to Sweden gave me that opportunity to go to the last camp. I don’t necessarily think I would have been given that opportunity, if I wasn’t there… I was playing in a strong league. I was getting game-time and they’re obviously all important factors in terms of being selected.
So I think that that career wise was a smart move for me, but I also know that being back here now leading into the World Cup is is also where I need to be. So I think it’s just about knowing what the right choice for you is and I think it’s not a one size fits all. Everyone’s choice for them is different.
“For me, it’s about knowing what brings the best out of me and finding that place, so that when it does come to selection, I’m giving myself the best chance.”
