‘Special night’ awaits retiring Matildas great Clare Polkinghorne in Brisbane

The “team first” attitude that has been the mantra of Clare Polkinghorne’s entire Matildas career is again evident ahead of the retiring veteran’s farewell match on Thursday night against Brazil in Brisbane. Queenslander Polkinghorne, whose 167 national team appearances make her the most capped Matilda in history, will fittingly close an 18-year international career in front of more than 40,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium. While she is no longer in Australia’s best 11, Polkinghorne is expected to start against the Brazilians before coming off at some stage in the match to ensure she is properly acknowledged by the crowd. However, the 35-year-old defender on Wednesday said she wanted what was best for the team, even if that meant interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni naming her among the substitutes. “For me, the main thing is the team comes first … and making sure that we do the job,” Polkinghorne said. “Whatever Tommy decides, that’s up to him, but for me, it’s just about being part of the night and enjoying it and celebrating the career that I’ve had. “The focus is just on enjoying the last little bit and soaking it all up.” Sermanni, who gave Polkinghorne her first cap in 2006 during his first tenure as Matildas coach, was thrilled the former Brisbane Roar captain was retiring on her “own terms”. “It’s (going to be) a very special night,” Sermanni said. “In elite sport, it’s not often that a player or an athlete gets to go out on their own terms and in such special circumstances. “If anybody deserves it, it’s `Polks’. We use the word legend very loosely these days, but it describes her. “She’s been, not just within the team on the field, but off the field, when people talk about the team player, the absolute team player. “From my times in charge, I could play her anywhere and everywhere, and she just did it with aplomb. “It’s going to be a fantastic night and a great way to finish a fantastic career.” Thursday night’s game is the first of two matches against Brazil for the Matildas, who also meet the South Americans on the Gold Coast on Sunday night. Australia will be without a host of stars, included injured pair Sam Kerr and Katrina Gorry, playmaker Mary Fowler, who withdrew from the squad to “refresh mentally and physically”, and midfielder Cortnee Vine, who has stepped away from football to focus on her “mental health”. Experienced striker Michelle Heyman has also been hampered by an ankle problem. “It’s precautionary with Michelle. Her ankle had a bit of swelling after the weekend, but she didn’t actually have any pain in it or any impingement, but we just wanted to be careful,” Sermanni said. “With the group that we’ve got in here, everybody, touch wood, at this stage is fit and healthy. “Unfortunately, leading into the camp, we’ve had seven players for a variety of reasons that have been unavailable, so that’s been a little bit challenging.” However, Sermanni won’t be seeking excuses and has promised to field the “strongest team possible”, regardless of whether players have had little time in camp due to hectic schedules with their European clubs. “This is where I come from – old school,” he said. “If we ask the players if they want to play, I can guarantee you 100 per cent they want to go out there for 90 minutes.” Matildas v Brazil Thursday, 8pm (local)/9pm (AEDT) Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane