From Canberra to Norwegian countryside, teenage Matilda Roestbakken's call-up delights
When uncapped teenager Karly Roestbakken was brought into the Matildas’ World Cup squad as a last-minute replacement on Friday, the reverberations extended far beyond her home town of Canberra.
Her father Jack, once a second league player in Norway before emigrating to Australia, said messages from his home town of Elverum – population 20,000 – have been lighting up his phone since Karly, 18, was first flown to France on Monday as an injury back-up.
“She will have plenty of support,” said Jack from the family’s Canberra home.
“People have called me from Norway saying, ‘I’m not really interested in football, but this year I am’.”
After experienced defender Laura Alleway, 29, was ruled out of the World Cup with a foot injury on Friday, highly touted Canberra United defender Roestbakken was parachuted into the final squad of 23 ahead of the Matildas' opening game against Italy in Valenciennes on Sunday evening (AEST).
While Roestbakken isn’t the youngest player in the Matildas squad – 16-year-old Mary Fowler holds that mantle – her rise since graduating high school last year has been turning heads.
Having debuted with Canberra United as a 15-year-old in 2016, she most recently captained the Young Matildas through an undefeated tournament in Myanmar in April.
A school friend and a backyard trampoline will be among the ones to thank if Karly does make her national team debut, according to Jack.
“Karly started playing soccer at 10. Before that she was playing tennis, and she was adamant she only wanted to do one sport and have one training a week. Then one of her best friends dragged her into playing a bit of school soccer,” he said.
“Then we started playing in the backyard, with some five-a-side on a trampoline, learning to keep the ball and keep balance.”
Karly honed her craft with backyard duels against older brother Sam, who plays for local National Premier League side Monaro Panthers.
“Playing some one-on-one, Karly taking on someone like me with a bit of size and strength has benefited her. Although she’s young, she’s quite strong on the ball,” Sam said.
“Her standout is her work ethic. Playing right-back – which I play too – she can literally run for days. She doesn’t stop.”
The Matildas, ranked sixth in the world, are expected to at least make the knockout rounds of a World Cup that has been attracting unprecedented attention, with more than 45,000 packing the Parc des Princes to see hosts France beat South Korea 4-0 in Saturday morning’s (AEST) opener.
Jack has no doubt Karly would handle the transition from Canberra backyard to the 25,000-capacity Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes – and said the thought of her doing so gives him “shivers”.
“She’s not a nervous person at all. Normally she gets in her bubble, and we don’t affect her a couple of days before a big match starts,” he said.
“She always goes out with pride and consistency. I’d say you won’t see many people going past her.”
The Roestbakken family is planning to gather at home to watch Sunday’s match before Jack flies back to Norway for a long-planned visit on Tuesday.
“It’s too late to change that first flight – but I’m already looking at airfares from Norway to France,” he said.
“Before then there will be a lot of emotions running. I will definitely be on the edge of my seat the entire match.”