Mackenzie Arnold started the Women’s World Cup largely unknown by the Australian public but finishes it a national hero.
The Australia goalkeeper was immense in the 2-0 loss to Sweden in the bronze medal play-off at Suncorp Stadium after a memorable tournament.
The Matildas went into halftime 1-0 behind but could easily have conceded three or four goals had it not been for Arnold’s heroics in goal.
There is a stoicism and resilience about Arnold that captivates.
She has a steely look in her eye and an ironclad determination to do herself and her teammates proud.
Her four clean sheets before the 3-1 loss to England in the semi-final were evidence of that.
In the bronze medal play-off she was called on to make a diving save in the first minute from a vicious shot by Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius save first minute.
She made two more incisive claims in the air inside the first 12 minutes as the Matildas were under siege.
Arnold swatted away a shot by Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani in the 40th minute and did well to hassle Blackstenius into error after a poor back pass by Clare Polkinghorne.
She made a critical diving save in extra time in the first half when Fillipa Angeldal appeared certain to score.
There was nothing Arnold could have done about the two goals Sweden scored – one from a penalty where she dived the right way and the other a sublime finish in the top corner by Asllani.
Some of the biggest roars from the crowd were for Arnold touches of any kind.
The 29-year-old West Ham goalkeeper only became a regular starter this year for the Matildas and is now one of the first picked.
The Matildas were defensively frail against Sweden and it was clear that Arnold missed the presence of her defensive general Alanna Kennedy who was ruled out of the clash with delayed concussion symptoms from the quarter-final against France.
There is no doubt Arnold will be a pillar the Matildas look to build their next World Cup campaign around.