When the Matildas gained the Ladies’s World Cup penalty shootout in opposition to France at Brisbane’s Lang Park final yr, Sharn Freier was at a rustic music live performance 20 kilometres throughout city.
A Brisbane native, Freier was within the stands because the Matildas misplaced to Nigeria on the identical venue within the group stage, however was not even within the crowd for arguably their most vital outcome — once they defeated France within the quarterfinals.
“I used to be at a Luke Coombs live performance,” admitted Freier, who made her Matildas debut in opposition to Mexico earlier this yr.
“To be truthful, I watched the penalty shootout. They performed it on the live performance, so I did not miss it.”
No person is extra shocked than Freier, 23, at her speedy rise this yr, which has included enjoying on the Olympics and scoring in back-to-back begins in opposition to Chinese language Taipei.
“I used to be a fan lady myself,” she mentioned.
“I went to one of many Suncorp [Lang Park] video games in Brisbane … and I used to be one of many ones sitting within the stands with my household.
“To be trustworthy, I did not assume enjoying for the Matildas [was an option]. I wished to, 100 per cent, however did I feel it was going to occur this quick. Completely not.
“It has been a really large yr for me personally … I get misplaced for phrases generally once I nonetheless sit again and give it some thought.”
‘She’s bought actual uncooked potential’
Freier is shortly changing into a fan favorite.
The left-footed winger has a depraved flip of pace, slaloms between defenders and takes on opponents at each alternative.
“Sharn’s Sharn. I do not know learn how to describe her. You simply have to observe her play,” Matildas teammate Tameka Yallop mentioned.
“You by no means actually know what she’s going to tug out of the hat, which is why it is so thrilling to observe her play.”
Freier (left) impressed for the Matildas throughout their friendlies in opposition to Chinese language Taipei. (Getty Pictures: Daniel Pockett)
Interim coach Tom Sermanni, who debuted Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, has admired Freier’s “X-factor”.
“For those who take a look at a type of wildlife movies, she appears to be like like a type of lions that simply kind of float about after which instantly there is a little bit of prey after which, whoosh, they’re off they usually get them,” Sermanni mentioned.
“You simply by no means know what she’s going to do.
“She appears to be like like she simply lobs alongside, however then her tempo is so misleading, and her capacity to go previous gamers. She’s bought actual uncooked potential. “
Freier isn’t wanting too far forward however is getting used to her rising profile.
“When it comes to the media, my mum simply places it in my face,” she mentioned.
“She’s like, ‘Have a look at this.’
“It is usually just a little bit good to see and it goes again to perhaps believing in myself just a little bit extra and being like, ‘OK, that is fairly cool.'”
AAP
